Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1913-05-08
The CHINESE JUNK
a Curious Craft 1t Is, With Eyes
= Painted on Its Masts.
SOME ToPsY TURvY METHODS

The Crews Quarters Are Att, Not For.
ward, and John siandly Sets His
Course East South and Teila You tho
Wind 10 Blowing From West North.
junk. like all things Chinese, is in
yolved In some obscurity, but Its first
model seems to have been 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 10 starboard. represent the
awe Inspiring jaws. The sails are fms.
while the tail waving aIoft, 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 MS lie warily exclaims:
mo have eye, no Gun see; no can see.
no can 60"
John Chinaman. shipbullder. when
he takes Il 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
the superiority OF his method over ey-
cry other Fir, teak and pine are the
woods lie uses in his construction.
The seams Of the hull are caulked
| with rattan shavings and "payed" with
cement of oil and gypsum. The
| whole Of the hull Is well tarred. while
| the upper works are smeared with
| wood oil. Then comes final cont OF
paint-green, blue. white. red-in fact.
any color but yellow. which must be
reserved for the many fags the COM
| pleted ship will carry to proclaim her
nationality.
When 1t comes to equipments. they
Seem antiquated compared with the
ones we employ. The windlass is an
elongated, barrel shaped roller extend,
ing across the broad bow. on either
4 side OF which is arranged series of
fixed spokes bearing strong resem
blancc to II wheel without n tire. From
this Is hung great teakwood anchors
with iron bound fukes and cables of
coir or bamboo rope. This ingenius
contrivnnce 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 u
long mninmast carrying short lug sails
Is found. In the southern country the
sails are generally Of woven mat strips
sewe1 into single sheet and provided
with yards at the top and bottom. The
bamboo ribs crossing it serve to keep
the hoops OIL 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 tnffrail and q
small sail near the bow. But bowsprlts
are not considered at all necessary by
John Chinaman.
In the matter Of rigging we find John
quite familiar with everything he re-
quires. Halyards. sheets and braces
are used as with ns. His blocks, though
larger. are not MS shapely and are
fewer in number. Clumsy as the rud.
der appears. 1t is so contrived rs to re-
qufre little effort to manipulate 1t, for
willy John has understood the principles
of balanced rudder and centerboard
for centuries The inboard end resem
bles just what 1t is intended to repre-
sent-a huge oar hundle-nnd Is so cum
ningly rugged with guys and whips that
1t makes our own stiff jointed wheel
and short helm poor alternative.
His compass card is stationary. The
needle swings on its pivot and points
contrarily to the south pole. With
twenty-fonr divisions and some 1000
minor points or degrees on this filth
full guide, John insists on referring to
his course as g. s. or the wind blow
ing from the W. N How he would dis.
arrange such complex compass bear
ings as u. by N. " q. or N. W. by N. u
n. can be left to an Imagination sufi.
GENTLY vivid to embrace such calnm.
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 Pllmsoll mark
and no government inspector ready to
| check or the number of passengers
ns they so 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 his pratique
or clearance papers. whereby he Ia
commanded to refrain from many prac.
tees. These include about everything
from smuggling to the carrying of
stinkpots. This pratique also com.
mends his soul to the gods and bids
him an affectionate farewell and
wishes for safe passage.-Eorman
/ W. Browne 10 New York Post.