3;I4 !
t' t H i 1 j
r Jt
Í i Í F F i
4 '4 ': : ’■ 7
.!
I
There is a track branching off from the main road to the
district of Dalcahue; but on it, I believe, there is no causeway.
As the only mode of supplying the town of San Carlos with
provisions is by water-carriage, it is frequently ill supplied
during winter, when N.W. winds prevent the arrival of the
piraguas. A southerly wind for two days, at that season, brings
from fifty to a hundred piraguas from Dalcahue and Castro,
laden with hams, potatoes, pigs, grain, fowls, calves, dried fish,
and charcoal, which are sold at a cheap rate, paying one-tenth
to the government.
The arrival of so many piraguas at San Carlos creates no
slight bustle in the neighbourhood of the mole ; and a stranger
happening to arrive at the time would think it a place of considerable
trade ; the return, however, of the N.W. wind, with
all its attendant “ vapours, clouds, and storms,” very soon dispels
the illusion : the piraguas depart, one after another, and
in two days all is dull and monotonous.
These piraguas, the boats used by the natives of the archipelago
of Childe, are all similar in form and material; but
vary much in size, according to the voyage they have to perform.
The largest are from thirty-five to forty feet long. The
head and stern are alike, and resemble those of a whale-boat,
being sharp at both ends. The transverse section is that of a
thick wedge, so that they have no bearings, and must be
extremely unsafe, (r) particularly with so lofty a sail as they
hoist; and yet these vessels have made long, and even dangerous
passages, as is fully attested in Agiieros’s account of the missionaries’
visit to the archipelago southward of Tres Montes.
These boats are literally sewn together, there is not a nail used
in their construction; every portion of the hull is of a vegetable
nature. The lower, or garboard strake, is sewn to the keel by
strips of the stem of a creeping plant, called Pepoi,* and the
seam is caulked with bark of the alerse, which, while under
CvJ When moderately laden they are stiff under s a il; and are not such
very bad sea-boats, if properly managed.—R. F.
* Molina, 1. Ifiy. A species of ‘ Dolichos.’
water, is admirably adapted for the purpose. The upper planking
consists of three or four broad boards on each side, sewn
together, and their seams caulked. The wood of which they
are made is the roble, or sometimes tiqui.
Agiieros’s description of the construction of a piragua cannot
be improved. “ They are constructed of five or seven planks,
each of which is from two to four fathoms long, half or three-
fourths of a yard wide, and two or three inches thick. These
are fashioned, or worked, narrow at each end, so as to form
the bow and stern, and afterwards are exposed to the fire, in
order to burn the outer surface on both sides. To unite these
planks, they bore or burn holes, two inches from each other,
along the edges of the planks, through which they sew them
together with a rope of solid reeds (soquillas), or twisted cane
(coligues), forming a junction as close as a seam of cloth. To
prevent water from passing through the seams, they apply
along the plank, within and without, pounded leaves of trees,
over which they pass the stitches, and with the same preparation
of leaves the holes are filled up. Thus constructed, it is
in appearance a perfect boat, or vessel, but without keel or deck.
That they may resist the pressure of the water, and retain their
shape, curved pieces (curbas) of wood, called ‘ bai-rotes’ are
fitted inside, and fastened by wedges of wood, instead of nails.
For all this, they are dangerous; and, since their sails, oars,
and otlier furniture are very inferior to what boats require,
they are much exposed to be easily sunk, and the risk is greatly
increased by want of care and management in those who navigate
them.”
In the above description Agüeros has given a very good
account of the rude manner in which thev are built, and has not
in the least magnified the danger attendant on their use. It
is, indeed, a miserable and unsafe vessel; and for the rudeness
of its construction, and the poverty of its equipment, is a perfect
prototype of the crew which it conveys.
The largest have from eight to ten people, each of whom
furnishes one poncho, and the ‘patron,’ who steers, and directs
Í ill
‘'ill