The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-06
The Chinese Junk.

Though the article we now lay before readers is
somewhat late in the day, yet we have doubt il will
still prove interesting, illustrated by the cut we have
procured, great variety of our readers We in
debted for this article TO junior partner who is
in New York-who is 'cannie" upon all such subjects
and who welds clear and able pen. He has made
suggestion us, upon which will go into cabinet coun-
Gil when he returns 1t give every number of the
''Weekly Union" wood-cut engraving Of some scene
that is calculated to mpart some historical knowledge TO
our and increasing readers for instance,
beautiful drawings of scenery in Mexico, &c. The exhi-
bon of the Chinese Junk is in the style that we might
employ.
THE CHINESE JUNK "KEYINci"
This curously constructed craft built at Canton, in
China, exclusively by Chinese shpwrghts, Is OF about
700 tons BURDEN and OF size equal TO an ordinary
Chinaman ofwar She is about $50 feet long by II feet
depth Of hold, and 25 feet beam Her, rudder is sus-
pended by cables made of split rattan and weighs tons
When lowered the rudder draws 90 feet of water, but
when hoisted only 49, 1t sometimes requires 20 men TO
her; but in fine weather, when running before the
wind, she goes steadily her tier requires but little at
tenton and then two men sufficient She is built in
water-tlght compartments, and has main deck raised
guar ha two and topgah oeeass
connected with a sailing craft, but ! do not know
what else to call i) above the whole Her main deck
arched, and her anchors, like the entire vessel
built of teak wood the shanks of which are 30 feet
long, pointed with IRON Her cables, rigging &C., &c,
made of split rattan and India grass Her sails of
India mating, formed in the laeen style, stretched
and shaped to the wind by bamboo rods They
ly lowered reeed, &c. &c. The cut send you gives a
very excellent view of the craft she would appear
der sail She is excellent vessel, very seldom,
the most boiserous weather, shipping Her main
cabin saloon is 80 feet long, % feet wide II feet
high and painted with representations OF various beasts
BIRDS &c She has also small cabins on the first poop
with the Josh idol house" in the centre, in which
light is kept constantly burning Her stern is 30 feet
above IL feet from the waterthat is from the water
to the top of the buwarks She is indeed very sngu-
lar looking craft looks Chinese all over and smells like
an old ea-chest She left China December 9th. 1916,
arrived at ST. Helena April 17th 1917 had light winds
in the Java and Sunda straits with southery and
very heavy weather the 22d and 23d March, in which
she proved herself TO be fine eaboa never shipping
drop of water, nor has she leaked since leaving China
When leaving ST. Helena, she fell into the trade winds,
which brought her the Atlantic, arriving at New
York on the 10th of July, having been about seven
months, or, in all, 2l2 days on her voyage Her mass
consist of iron wood and three in number They
each formed of single tree, with very little done to
them after leaving the forest except to peal off the bark
There three wooden windasses board-two of
which are placed amidshps, and in the bow; they
used for the purpose of hosting the udder, anchors,
&c. &c. This craft is worked by crew OF thirteen
Cinnamon, assisted by FIVE six Europeans. On
ing the vessel the first place OF greatest attraction is
the saloon; the floor of which is gaudy painted with