A GROUP OF TRA CKER S
O f the Vessels, at Dinner.
W hen the w in d o r tid e is u n fa v o u rab le to th e progress o f the vessels,
the sail an d oars are la id asid e, an d the more general mode o f tra c k in g them
is adopted. T h e n um b e r o f trackers em p lo y ed , depends on the size o f the
vessel, o r strength o f th e cu rre n t, w h ich often req u ires the efforts o f twen ty
men to c o u n te ra c t: these are k ep t in full exe rtion b y a task-ma ste r, who
most lib e ra lly applies the w h ip , whe re he sees a d isp o s itio n to idleness.
T h e cliie f food o f these p o o r laboure rs, is rice ; an d th e y co n sid er it a
lu x u ry , when th e y can pro c u re vegetables frie d in ra n c id o il, o r an im al
oftal, to mix w ith it. T h e y are re presented coo k in g th e ir meal o ver an
ea rth en s to v e ; th e s tanding figure is em p lo y ed ea tin g his ric e in the u su a l
way , w h ic h is b y p lac in g th e edge o f the bowl against h is lower lip , and
w ith the cho p stick s k n o ck in g th e contents in to h is m o u th .
T h e y sometimes we ar shoes made o f straw , b u t are more frequently
w ith o u t a n y . T h e pien-z a, o r queue , is often in co n v e n ie n t to Ch in e se la bourers
; to av o id w h ich th ey twist it ro u n d th e ir h e a d s , a n d secure it by
tu ck in g in its extremity.
T h e flat board s, w ith cordage to th em , are a p p lie d to the breast when
d ra g g in g the ju n k s , o r vessels.