New-York tribune., 1906-04-21
r, studg of the Sailing Craft of the
Eastern Hemisphere.

II.
>.n sAfI. IN EUROPE AND ASIA Bv
Wefne VITA SSS illustrations and diagrams 1,
X S.oT-ncs s. by L. W. Cooke, r. A: W u.
Wylis a & q s: Major NevIi smyth. " On On
6nythh, IsuiSl,r svo PIP. XXX, AS E. p. Dntton
& sc Co
may think he knows a great deal about
- selling before he takes up Mr.. Smyth's
bo''' w. ana entertaining book, and realize
t'""o, that he still has much 10 learn. BY
'ei' a.. he has finished the rather bulky vol
tn' 10 D-iu have ADDED greatly to his store of
'n 'no.;o,, and Pleasure, and will only regret
80. ,bs authors observations had not extended
"'- - western as we'll as 10 the Eastern HemIs-
80 Truly. the greater our knowledge. the
- r,e appreciate our Ignorance. Writing with
more ". enthusiasm that makes amends for
..h,r careless style. the author describes the
-, t.. ,,pes of fishing and coasting craft of
rr.-one aaa Asia. many Of which ne mas handled
t1'",r r,r,seig Incidentally he considers "the
io' -, have been at work in the develop
o@OsN =, ,,oats. and the results attained under
nv i.,,7,-ions with which they have had to
contend" ..,s.,. % ,f-,oa NJ
. - omitted the craft Of that continent
o. % ,.s ,r.arise. for the excellent reason that
-. - 81. none. such sailing vessels as pertain
,eu from il being OF distinctly Asiatic
- The navigation of the northern and
-, ,ossts Of Africa has been in the hands
~. Arabs from time immemoriaL The dhow
= -. lateen sail which are seen south as. far
zonzibar. are Asatic and not African" This
- - seagoinE initiative on the part of the
tive African the author accounts for on the
s.orv that the degree Of civilization of any race
: ..a.c,ea IN its boat architecture. He gives
,,n-esSon 10 his views in these words:
The highest degree Of civilization in maritime time
noes has always been marked by activity IN noat
sss hsF this been more notable than IN the history
~ China and Of Holland, and IN the AdTlauC n
- q Nefteenth century. in Europe during the last
,go certuries and in the United States SINCE l'e9
The Negro, the American lLalsI @ ana lle & oldr , @
te u, ~ cut sail It has not been for want of
bosl .,,s % - ~ opportunitv II has been simply
NAss s - lower Class of intelligence and to that
@snt ~ trs Negro race has been the death of the
essf-ttc essf-tcsr Tr6ian and will probably prevent the
ssy from ever attaining TO that influence in the
9orld's history which at one time seemed likely
70 be his
Such generalizations are safer to indulge in
,sen dealing with the past than with the future.
sDt the point made is interesting and tends 10
rr.ngthen the convictions OF those Americans
who see A rraver menace in a yellow than in a
Slavic peril The authors eXpicaton Of the
bsh degree Of development of marine archi-
t.cture IN the Far East will come as surprise
10 those readers who have generally regarded the
Chinese Junk as the extreme type Of naval
-lunsiness and Intellectually.
Following a system Of classification based
primarily upon marine geographical divisions.
Nr smyth begins with a consideration Of the
vessels Of the Baltic. thence sweeping down the
western. coast Of Europe. eastward through the
Mediterranean the Red Sea. and the Indian
Ocean and turning northward along the eastern
shores OF Asia Wherever he takes us, We meet,
sailing in every sort Of craft. men of a breezy,
genial interested, mutually helpful cosmopoh-
arsna 1T IS upon the water" he declares, las
eyer that political or racial differences are for
gotten. and the cruiser may be sure Of a hearty
welcome and q friendly hand If he needs ii,
whatever nationality he may light upon" Tc
he Baltic, the author gives the distinction OF
being the boat sailors paradise. Not even the
Mediterranean" he says, can surpass it in in
ierest and beauty
While IN the Mediterranean the sailors mind
goes cropping back 10 reconstruct II possible, the
:raft Of Egypt Phmnicia. or Rome; in the Baltic
rs eve may gaze upon almost the identical long
Morse hoatmen os old TO build up nations in the
West
Some OF the Norwegian fishing vessels, with
heir single masts stepped nearly midships, and
carrying large. square sail, show little advance
spon the earliest types. unlocked. shallow and
narrow Of beam, they seem 10 possess few OF the
qualities Of a steady going sea boat. For wind
gaTd work they are almost wholly dependent
9pon cars But the Morse fisherman Of to- day
retains the same faith in his open boat as did
bis forefathers. and as that plucky sailor, Bjorn
Rng Of old:
Salt IS IN my eyes,