The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-01-17

WaTO, ana 0ohH DidHolJ OcNS tbs
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
volyed in some 0bscurity, 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 TO starbOard, represent the
awe inspiring jaws. The sails are fins,
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:
NO have eye, no can see; no can see.
no can GO
John Chinamau. Shipbuider. 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
space of ground and build his ship as
he goes along by the simple rule Of
thumb. Considering the result be has
attained he is no doubt convinced of
the superiority of his method over ey-
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
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 coat OF
paint green, blue. white, red--in fact.
any color but yellow, which must be
reserved for the many days 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 broad bow. on either
side of which is arranged a series OF
fixed spokes bearing a strong resem-
bancc to a wheel without tire. From
this is hung great teakwood anchors
with iron bound fukes 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 a 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 q
small sail near the bow. But bowsprits
are not considered at all necessary by
John Chnaman.
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 ms shapely and are
fewer in number Clumsy as the rud
der appears. it is so contrived as TO re
quire little effort to manipulate II. for
willy John has understood the principles
Of a balanced rudder and ceuterboard
for centuries The iuboard 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 iointed 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-four divisions and some 1000
minor points or degrees on this faith
full guide, John insists on referring to
his course as +. 5. or the wind blow
Ing from the w. n. How he would dis
arrange such complex compass bear
ings as f. by n. q e. or n. w. by y. u
n. can be left to an imagination suii
GENTLY vivid TO embrace such calaln-
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 Off 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 his prauque
or clearance papers, whereby be Is
commanded to refrain from many prac-
tees. These include about everything
from smuggling to the carrying OF