The daily Alaskan., 1913-02-28
THE CHINESE JUNK
A Curious Craft t Is, With Eyes
 Painted on It's Masts.
SOME ToPSY rURVY METHODS

The Crews Quarters Are At, Not For
 wara. and John 5lsndly Sets His
 Course East South and Tells You ths
 Wind ls Blowing From West North.
 The origin of the ancient old world ! junk. like all things Chinese. is in- yolved in some obscurity, but It's first model seems to have been Chinese conception Of sorhe huge marine mon- ster. Tue teeth which are usually shown iu all the terrOrs of ferocity on the bow denote the mouth. Long | boards running alt from the bow, both | Co port and Go stnrboard, represent the awe inspiring jaws Tbe sails are fns, while the tail waving aloft an appen' dix which all properly constituted ! dragons Of the sea must certainly have, Is denoted in ;he 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 ls loath to part with them. for, as be Tarily exciaims:
 No have eye. no can see; no can see. DO eau go"
 Johu Chinaman. shipbuilder, when he takes notion to build one of his 1 junEs does not bother himself much about plans and specifications. Give him the model Then he will lay his lines of on the floor or on au open space or ground and build his ship as he goes along by the simple rule of | thumb. Considering the result he has attained, he is co doubt convinced Of the superiority of his method over ev- cry other. Fir, teak and pine are the woods he uses in his construction.
 The seams ot the hull are caulked with rattan shavlngs ard "payed" with cement Of oil and gypsum. The whole of the hull is well tarred, while the upper works are smeared with wood ou Then comes Q 6nal coat of | paint-Creen, 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 tU equipments, they | seem antiQuatet compared with the ones we employ. The windlass is an elongated, barrel shaped roller extend | ing across the broad bow, on either side of which is arranged a series of fixed spokes bearing a strong resem- | blance Co a wheel without a tire. From this is hung great lockwood anchors with iron bound 7ukes and cables of colr 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 must in place and en- able the boatmen to haul the sail close | on the wind. This maiDsail is the chief dependence. though sometimes a driver" Is placed on the taffral and small sail near the bow. But bowsprits are not considered at all necessary by | John Chinaman.
 In the matter of rigging we and John quite familiar with everything be re ouires. Halyaris, sheets and braces are ussi as with us. Els blocks, though l larger, are not as shapely and are fewer in number Clumsy as the rud- der appears it Is SO conuived as to re ouire little effort to manipulate it, for willy John has understood the principles of a balanced rudder and centerboard l for centuries. The inboard end resem- bles just what 1t is intended 10 repre- sent-a huge oar hundle-and is SO cum niugIy rigged with guys and whips that it makes our own stiff jointed wheel and short helm a poor alternative.
 Ills compass card is stationary. The needle swings on Its pivot and points contrarily to the south pole. With twenty-four divisions and some 2OOO minor points or degrees on this faith ful guide, John insists on referring Co his course as E. 8. O. the wiEa blow Ing from the W. x. How be would dis arrange such complex compass bear | ings as B. by N. & D. or N. W. by \. A N. can be left to sn imagination sufii- clently vivid to embrace such a calani- fly.
 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 ard 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 or 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 rtarts forth on his voyage feeling safe ln the happy possession of bis prauque