The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-19

hinges in the vicinity Of this reported find
there Is ample evidence, ia shells aud petri.
fed fish, Of water having at one time covered
the region.
As there Is strong resemblance between the
nautical movements Of the uucivilzed people
now aud the arts Of remote antiquity, some
idea Of the appearance of the prehistoric vessel
may be gathered from the
BOATS FOUND IL TIE PACIFIC ISLANDS,
and in tho various parts Of South America,
where 50 many other forms were common.
These boats were built with z number Of
planks, some Of which were four feet wide
raised from a keel or hollow log. scwed together
withcennet made from the cOcOanut husk aud
ln some cases fastened with wooden pins: made
tight with the help Of little gum from
the bread tree. ia the stem and stern they
had deck under which they could stow any
thing, form still preserved In the fOrecastle
and poop Of the modern ship.
IN most cases these boats were double. or
provided with an OutriPgcr float, aud the hull
proper bad cover for the crew; the stem aud
| stern high and pointed, with broad beam The
depth from the upper edge Of the midship sec-
ton % the keel was, IS rule, not less than -
| feet ia addition 10 the ordinary gunwale for
! long voyages al sea- planLs u or - inches
wide were fastened along the side after the
manner Of washbOards. The masts were sta
| iionary, and supported by a wooden ladder or
STROUD extending from the sides 10 the head OF
the masts, the sails being large and made Of
| fine mating.
Ia many South Pacific islands the san e sus.
| pended on two upright poles, which could only
/ be used before the wind, as was the practice i'm
/ Egypt paddles being used al other times for
propulsion. On the Nile and in India large
RATS, called rats" were constructed Of log5
/ dashed together, the middle one being tho
| largest and longest. Between these logs sew.
eral broad plauks were let down 10 give the
| proper resistance when sailing near the wind
Inc sail was triangular aud supported by two
/ masts, the kUcls Of which rested on the outer
] logs and The heads dashed together in the form
Of a derrick.
Along the northwest coast Of South America
/ the natives used tho balza identical In every
4 detail Of construction, indicating a common
! knowledge and application Of the mechanic
arts between these two widely-separated peo-
/ PIE. Again, from
THE CHINESE JUNK,
Ia many respects constructed as the above. and
an exact counterpart Of many Of tie Egyptian
vessels that were employed on the Nile, we
/ may form a t0lerdbly accurate representation OF
tho prehistoric vessel. These juuks were built
Of five plauks bent 10 the proper shape, with
/ the edges Joined together by wooden pins, aud
4 stitched with split bamboo, then sneared with
paste Of limo. They were strOug, standing the
| repeated shocks Of heavy seas, aud stiiT uudor
sail, aud, like the boats OF the Pacific islands.
oInamcnted with sculpture and painted with a
variety Of designs, custom practced by the
Grocians and Romans who borrowed the ant OF
thilbuilding from the Carthageniaus, tho Iii.
rect pupils Of Phpnicia Tho art Of shipbuild.
ing Was transmitted 10 tho Romans Jy means
/ Of the IhUniclans through the CaTthagegians
most accurate description OF the prehis.
toric vessel may be obtained in H0mer's &c.
! count VI tie bs!llag Vi = snip in lie supposed