Page:The costume of China, illustrated in forty-eight coloured engravings.pdf/209

 A SHIP OF WAR.

The Chinese are so well supplied with the produce of their own country, as to require very little from distant lands; and it is to this native abundance the low state of navigation among them ought to be attributed.

Though they are said to have been acquainted with the use of the compass, from the earliest ages, yet they cannot be considered as expert seamen, either in their application of astronomy to nautical purposes, or skill in manoeuvring their clumsy ships.

The compass is, however, an instrument venerated by the seaman, as a deity; and to which they sometimes offer sacrifices of flesh and fruit.

The drawing was made from a ship (Pin-gee-na) laying at anchor In the river, near Ning-po. These vessels may properly be termed floating garrisons: as they contain many soldiers, that are generally stationed near their principal towns.

These soldiers often hang their shields against the ship's quarter: and the rudder is lifted, by ropes, nearly out of the water, perhaps to preserve it while at anchor.

The ports are false; as few ships of the Chinese navy are, at present, supplied with artillery.