St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-01-22
The CHINESE JUNK
A Curious Craft 1t Is, With Eyes
Painted on Its MaStS.
SOME ToPsY TURVY METHODS


ward, and John 5landIy Sets His
Course East South and Tells You the
Wind Is Blowing From West North.
The origin of the ancient old world
junk. like all things Chinese, is in
vOIved In some obscurity, but its first
model seems to have been a Chinese
conception of some huge marine mon
ster. The teeth which are usually
shown in all the terrors of ferocity on
the bow denote the mouth. Long
boards running aft from the bow, both
to port and to starboard. represent the
awe inspiring jaws. The sails are fms.
while the tail waving aloft. an appen-
dix which all properly constituted
dragons of the sea must certainly have.
is denoted in the high stern. But most
of these characteristics have lost much
of their significance in recent years,
with the one exception of the eyes,
which are always painted on the masts.
Captain John is lOath to part with
them, for, as he warily exclaims:
mo have eye. no can see; no can see.
no can 60"
John Chinaman. shipbuilder. when
he takes a notion to build one Of his
junks does not bother himself much
about plans and specifications. Give
him the model. Then he will lay his
lines off on the floor or on an open
space of ground and build his ship as
he goes along by the simple rule Of
thumb. Considering the result he has
attained. he is no doubt convinced Of
cry other. Fir. teak and pine are the
woods he uses in his construction.
The seams of the hull are caulked
with rattan shavings and 'payed' with
a cement of oil and gypsum. The
whole of the hull is we'll tarred, while
the upper works are smeared with
wood oil Then comes a final coat of
paint-green. blue. white. red-in fact,
any color but yellow. which must be
reserved for the many flags the COM
pleted ship will carry to proclaim her
nationality.
When it comes to equipments. they
seem antiquated compared with the
ones we employ. The windlass is an
elongated, barrel shaped roller extend
ing across the bread bow, on either
side of which is arranged a series of
fixed spokes bearing a strong resem-
blance to a wheel without tire. From
this is hung great teakwood anchors
with iron bound f1ukes and cables of
coir or bamboo rope This ingenius
contrivance is capable of being Oper-
ated by either hand or foot.
In the way of sail the style depends
on whether you are in north or south
China. Among the northern Chinese a
long mainmast carrying short lug sails
is found. In the southern country the
sails are generally of woven mat strips
sewed into single sheet and provided
with yards at the top and bottom. The
bamboo ribs crossing it serve to keep
the hoops on the mast in place and en-
able the boatmen to haul the sail close
on the wind. This mainsail is the chief
dependence. though sometimes a
driver is placed on the taffrail and
small sail near the bow. But bowsprits
are not considered at all necessary by
John China man.
In the matter of rigging we find John
quite familiar with everything he re-
quires. Halyards. sheets and braces
are used as with us. His blocks, though
larger. are not as shapely and are
fewer in number. Clumsy as the rud-
der appears. it is so contrived as to re-
quire little effort to manipulate it. for
willy John has understood the principles
of a balanced rudder and centerboard
for centuries. The inboard end resem-
bles just what it is intended to repre-
sent-a huge oar handle-and is so cum
ningly rugged with guys and whips that
it makes our own stiff jointed wheel
and short helm a poor alternative.
His compass card is stationary. The
needle swings on its pivot and points
contrarily to the south pole. With
twenty-four divisions and some 1000
minor points or degrees on this faith
full guide, John insists on referring to
his course as e. s. or the wind blow
ing from the W. n. How be would dis
arrange such complex compass bear
ings as E. by NJ u e. or N. w. by N. "A
N. can be left to an imagination sufi-
cieRtly vivid to embrace such calam-
ity.
In the arrangement Of his ship John
again exhibits his consistency by be-
ginning wrong end foremost-that is.
considering the matter from our view
point. His provisions are carried
above deck and aft instead OF for
ward and below. The crew eat and
sleep near the stern. The passengers
are accommodated in the forward end |
In China there is no Plimsoll mark
and no government inspector ready to
check of the number Of passengers |
as they go aboard Neither Is there |
any instance upon such requirements |
as life belts. FIRE appliances and life
boats When everything Is ready john |
starts forth on his voyage feeling safe
In the happy possession OF bis pratique
or clearance papers. whereby be q
to refrain from many prmc-
ices These include about everything /
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