The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-09-19
THE WELSH CORACLE.
THE ORIGIN AND CONSTRUCTION or
AN OLD TIME CRAFT.

SSAASy W HAohOrI1Gn ana DuC8
Hunters-EasiIy Repaired.
Every schoelboy knows, or, at auy
rate, has been told, that the coracle Is
NE ancient British boat; bat how many
people have seen coracle or know the
method Of its navigation? The case for
the antiquity OF coracles is a pretty
strong one, for there is evidence of their
use by the British In the time Of the Ro-
mans: but such has been Ahe uprooting
OF cherished beliefs in recent times that
few people probably would be surprised
70 hear that coracles had never been
heard OF before the middle Of the lasa
century, and that the first had been used,
not by Noah, as the prevalent belief in
Wales is, but by one David Jones (of
locker celebrity, of Llangollen There
D much in the coracle, however, which
favors the idea that it is primitive boat.
That large wicker basket covered with
skins would float is an idea which might
occur TO man at an early stage of civ
ilizati'n- that it might be made big
ensI :. TO hold man, or even two. and
t.. II would be convenient for crossing
n nd even for floating down them,
~ ightness would make it easily
~.'i,ri ~ them, would merely be de-
: !. nf the first idea We there
..,'' t"' 'H'!@ not rashly) believe in the
.r-;rnd of the antiquity of the
=. Aot going further back. however.
r'*-,..I than Roman times
r. .r present coracle is, as might
.~,ied, development, but by no
las " very advanced one; the wicker
Ms wen place to ashen laths and the
10 tarpaulin. Coracles vary in
< slightly, and also in size. There
:" single and double ones-i. e., to hold
person or two. The largest size
i !'nIble coracle weighs about sixty
r'ln!s. the smallest single one, per-
maps thirty pounds. The nearest thing
!" it in shape that we can think of is
"'ic OF those large walnut shells into
which Limerick gloves used to be
slowed. and which in bygone ages were
considered suitable presents for ladies'
There is considerable bilge, the bottom
OF the coracle being much wider than
the top; the largest and heaviest draw
only two or three inches of water; a
narrow plank is fixed across the center
for seat.
The extreme crankness of the craft
may be inferred from the method of
getting into it; you put one leg in, sit
ting down with the same action, and
then draw the other in carefully after.
To people of some temperaments it is
somewhat exciting to know that there is
only piece of tarred canvas between
them and raging food, and that there
are rocks and fallen trees under the dis
eolored water; but good coraclemaa
manages his boat very skillfully with his
single paddle held in one hand, and Just
rs you are in the middle of the turmoil
OF fearful rapid, with rocks ahead and
on each side. on which shipwreck seems
inevitable, dexterous sweep of the pad
die takes you between the breakers, and,
before you can wink comfortably, you
find yourself in the pool below. gliding
along in perfect serenity.
Coracles are USED in many Welsh
streams and on the Severn, but, we be-
lieve. little elsewhere in England. The
most systematic use of them, and the
longest voyages made, are on the Dee, IN
the Vale of Llangollen, the wizard
stream of Milton: the "holy Dee, ''thA
dear brother of Severn" of Drayton. the
sacred Dee" of Tennyson; and verify
the scenes through which the coracle
fisherman on the Dee passes are ever re-
curing scenes of enchantment.
From no position can river scenery be
80 well seen as from the middle of the
stream; and when one pictures to ones
self voyage of dozen miles along the
windings of river in such vale as that
OF Llangollen, it is easy to conceive that
lovely bits of scenery are repeated at
every turn.
Now the frail craft dashes down a
rapid, the waves boiling on either side of
it; now it glides on the surface of a long,
deep, silent pool, buried in the woods
over the tops of which the purple hills
appear. The foliage is rich beyond be-
lief, and in the spring and autumn its
varied colors give the most charming eff
feet "Cool MOSES deep" clothe the
banks, wild flowers peep forth.
Animals are not very shy of the
coracle, trout take the fly close to it,
sandpipers fit about with the most
transparent pretense Of being there only
tor amusement and of having no nest
anywhere in the neighborhood, water
Ousels show their white threats and lit
tie round bodies on the rocks for mo
ment and are gone, an occasional king
fisher flashes past, his splendid oo3oes
glowing in the sunlight, willow wreus
hop Ierkily about on the banks, and
bright eyed water voles eye you curious
~ before they take their plunge.
Accidents rarely happen in coracle.
Where the river is very difficult. the
'nan VIII" paddles makes the fisherman
.,i 'ut. and sometimes the ship itself is
...u,.,d and carried past dangerous
place Formerly coracles used to be
';'Ih-d for long distances on the mems
'..n,.. now the railway has come to the
liz r;nan i assistance, and his boat goes
~ u lhln to the station nearest to his
starring point, and from thence is carried
T. 3D., river If a hole is knocked in the