the appearance of a butterfly’s wings. The sails are reefed
in the easiest manner, simply by settling the halliards and
allowing the sail to roll into its place between two tricing
lines, one before, and the other abaft the mast. Almost every
boat serves as a dwelling, and has, therefore, a family on board
ready at all times for employment: the people are occupied in
fishing or in commercial pursuits ; and, as a matter of course,
culinary utensils and supplies of provisions form part of their
equipment.
The egg or The tanka, or egg-boat, the use of which is so general in the
harbour boat h a r b o u r s o f C h i n a ) ig of a widC) short, and flat construction,
having a spoon-shaped bottom, the smaller end being the bow.
She is propelled by means of an oar and scull, the former
which is placed forward, is pulled with a grummet on a thoul,
while the latter, which is aft, works upon a pivot on the
taffrail: this pivot enters a socket of hard wood, which is let
into the scull, and the extremity of the latter is hooked to a
short line attached to the deck, so as to permit it to move
from side to side, in order to give additional power to the man
or, as is more frequently the case, to the woman, who sculls;
assisted occasionally by a mat-sail at the bow. These boats,
serves as a though only from 10 to 14 feet long, accommodate a family, ,
dwelling- who are protected from sun and rain by a tilt-shaped sliding
place' cover of bamboo, which covers a part or the whole of the boat
at pleasure. The cooking-place and utensils are in the afterpart
of the boat.
A light kind of wherry, from 20 to 25 feet long, having two
mat lug-sails with spreaders and numerous braces, such as has
just been described, may next be mentioned. These either row
in the ordinary manner or sail, and are not only swift but particularly
manageable. The passengers sit on ratan stools or
chairs on the after-part of the deck.
Boats fishing The fishing-boat is stronger and more heavily built, but of
in pairs. tbe game r'g_ These boats go in pairs, using a net between
them. The crews possess perfect command over these boats ;
and, having the means of regulating their speed by taking in
any quantity of sail that may be necessary, they keep pace with
each other as to speed and distance so completely, that a large
trawl or drift net is dragged along as eyenly as, if it were done Fishing on
by hand. This kind of craft varies in size from 20 to 30 tons, kTthe^vers!
and the whole line of coast, from 50 to 60 miles out to sea, is
frequently thronged with them. The author, as he approached
in the “ John of Gaunt,”- counted about 150 pairs thus
employed. Various modes are adopted by the Chinese to
entrap the finny tribe, and one may here be noticed, as it shows
the skill of that people, in combined operations, and how
suitable their boats are for the purpose.
A group of eight or ten small fishing-boats may be seen
dropping down the Canton river, having at the scull, in each,
a woman with a child slung at her back, and a man standing at
the bow. Suddenly, these boats are formed into a circle, with
the bows towards the centre, and at a preconcerted time a
casting net is simultaneously thrown out by each man at the
bow, so that the whole covers the space enclosed by the boats.
There are, besides, various descriptions of cargo boats, some Cargo and
of large size, having a pair of shears resting on the sides instead pleasure boats-
of a mast, in order that the hold may be free for chests of tea.
Streets of boats, moored in parallel rows, present as animated a
scene as the streets of a town ; and it is calculated that 60,000
people live entirely on the water in the Canton river, with
floating eating-houses, gambling-houses, Joss temples, &c.
Amongst these may be distinguished the gorgeously ornamented
flower-boat, which is fitted up with suitable accommodation for
water-parties; and, when moving up the river, is propelled by
one large sweep, and sometimes by two such at the stern, thus
leaving the rest of the vessel free for the use of company.
The ordinary sea-going cargo-boat is of nearly the same rig as
the fishing-boat; having two large lug-sails of matting, with a
smaller one at the stern, and having very much the appearance
of a lugger when her jib is lowered. Between the fishing-boat Appearance
and the large heavy junk there are various intermediate-sized Chinese
vessels, of a peculiar construction, some of which are used for
smuggling, and others for warlike or piratical purposes.
The war-boat, though approaching the spoon shape, is of a The war or
fine form: she is very long; and, having a great many sweeps
on each side, with a numerous crew, she is exceedingly fast, armament.