Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/81

 DsDrSTEIAL PEODUCE, ETC. 57 SECTION OF JOIXT. wood, to the number of six or seven, being driven in opposite directions under the siniiet, whereby the greatest possible pressure is obtained. The ribs seen in canoes are not used to bring the planks into shape, but are the last things inserted, and are for securing the deep side-boards described below, and uniting the deck more fii-mly with the body of the canoe. Tlie outside of the vono is now carefully adzed into form, and the carpenter has often to look closely to find the joint. When the body of the canoe is cleaned off and rubbed down with pumice-stone, the surface is beautifully smooth. Of course no signs of the fastenings are seen outside. This process is not used in fixing the deep planks which support the main deck, or the triangular coverings of the two ends already de- scribed. These, as shown in the section, being on the top of the gunwale, and above the water-mark, the sinnet is seen, at regular intervals passing, like a band, over a flat bead which runs the whole length of the canoe, covering the joint and making a neat finish. Into the upper edge of planks, two or three feet deep, fixed along the top of the sides perpendicularly, the cross beams which join on the out- rigger are let and lashed down, and over these a deck of light wood is laid. The scuttle holes for baling are left at each comer. The deck also has six holes forward, and six aft, through which to work the scul- ling-oars, used in light winds to help the sail, or when dead calm or foul wind makes the sail useless. A small house or cuddy is built amid-ships, in which boxes or bales are stowed, and on a platform over it persons can lie or sit ; a rack behind it receives gmis and spears, and clubs or baskets are hung upon it. The projecting ends of the canoe are beautifully finished at the expense of immense labour, and are sometimes thickly covered with white shells [^Ovula oviformis). Any aperture inside not filled with the sinnet is tightly caulked with cocoa-nut husk, and such as are next the water are flushed up vdxh. the white pitch of resin. The lines of the two canoes forming the drua differ considerably. A long bow, slackly strung, would represent the longitudinal section of the outrigger, both ends of which finish in a circle less than the palm of the hand. The keel of the main canoe has not so much curve, and the ends differ. The small end is heart-shaped or circular, and several inches over ; the large end is like a great wedge, presenting its sharp perpen- dicular edge to cut the water. Such canoes seldom exceed one hundred feet in length. The fol- SECTIOX OF JOLXT.