Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-10-18
CHINESE BOAT BUILDERS.
TuTn Out Ugly and UnvyieIdy Draft,
with FIImsy Material, hut
BeawOrthy.

The main features Of Chinese ship
and boat building are the light, and
apparently frail, nature Of the mate
rial with which vessels Of every size
and shape are constructed, the clumsy
form given 70 his work by the celes-
tial artiheer, and the marvellous eass
and safety with which craft, both
large and small. ride out the toughest
weather on SEA and river, says the
London Mail.
This last IS no rash statement, the
writer well remembering witnessing,
when himself sailing the China SEQ IN
the teeth Of typhoon, the total
wrecking OF more than one European
vessel while the iunks, and even small
native boats within sight simply
reefed OF struck their mast sails, and
triumphantly passed with the British
ship through the Ly-ee-moon pass
Into the sheltered horbor OF Hong
Kong.
The reason for all this y not far 70
seek. The beam OF the junks Is usual
ly broad; they sit upon the water
like a fiat Moorish arch. Their sterns
are round, and by consequences, resist
I've Of any tendency to take nbacls."
a peculiar and noticeable thing
about them Is the BrobdinQnagian
"eye" which glares out from each
side OF the prov This is an ancient
superstition.
The ships bamboo planks. n such o
term b. allowable, are in many parts
put together with vegetable TOpe
nails, believe, being used only I'm the
hull proper. Right aft. "A large cabin
IS appropriated "a religious purposes
Here Is enthroned the image OF the
god OF waters, before which the aro-
matte joes stick Is forever burning
The Chinese sailor Is nothing IL not
q slave 20 his faith IN omens. and al
and sundry the supernatural beliefs
OF his countrymen.
He u, when he likes, a fairly good
hand on board ship, but. being by no
ture and educotive example "a coward
he more often than not seeks 20 save
his skin at the expense Of his duty
There Is very little difference In form
and ftment between the war Junk and
the commercial variety.
The weapons are not OF the same
Description ms are those In the few
European-built steam wnrships pos
sessed by the Chinese government. Oh
a long obsolete pattern, they are no;
very formidable except TO themselves
China has not Assimilated western
idees with the eagerness and rapidity
OF the japanese, az any ratio in the
mntter OF naval progress, whatever
she may have done OF late, as we ar,
told, In the acquisition and mighty
laying-up Of advanced types Of land
armOment
Primitiveness IA still writ large upon
her marine, warlike and domestic, and
although the present widespread rev.
olution may tend to bring about Ger.
tain Gilbertian "topsy-turvydJm," the
Chinaman may perhaps accomplish
that upside down" which In his nor
NAL position he hos for centuries
failed 20 appreciate and even attempt
The Nangtse-K -Kinng river boats; the
quaint "sampan,r seen by the new
arrival rocking on the gentle sw III in
Hong-Kong bay; the barbarie gor,
geousness OF the mandarin's barge
each and all are dear 20 the native
soul, and will be improved away only
when improvement can no longer b,
resisted. That John Chin aman cnr
learn much Of his western brother IL
this connection is. of course. beyond
question or argumnt. but that the 90
eident may not find something interest
ing and Instructive in the methods Of
the orient, as eXemplified by lis oldest
and vastest community, only the most
bigoted devotees Of European ctviliza
tion viii venture 10 deny.