'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎50] (183/458)

COMMANDER F. JONEB.
50
been left for the Mahomedan, however, to give this long coveted land
the finishing stroke to its history. Like the victim to the 66 Saam wind,
it is yet lingering under the withering effects of the blast; its weak
struggles for life—evidenced in its wire—drawn canals and miserable
exchequer, notwithstanding ten centuries of oppression, shewing only
the strength of its original constitution. The incubus remains however
in possession alike indifferent to the country’s improvement or to its
further decay, and while thus seated in arrogance and unconcern the
parched soil will not yield its verdure though the element so essen
tial to its culture flows continuously at its side, nor will the present po
pulation exert its energies to remedy so monstrous an evil, for, in addi
tion to a national and inherent indolence, there is no security whatever
for property. Now to my journey.
March 20th, 1850.—A disagreable south wind created such a swell
on the Tigris that the floating bridge,* had to be removed t o prevent
* This bridge has at the present day 37 pontoons or boats composing it._ The exact numbeT
indeed that Xenophon specifies as spanning the Tigris in his day at Sitaki. This speaks
for^he gene^f accuracy uf the historian for we may presume that the s f arae f ?P ec .^ f ^ n 7 s c s a e a l
was in use and it is certainly the most primitive, both in form and construction that one can
well imagine. It bears the name of Sifineht in arabic, and i< made of rough poplar logs,
sheathed with very thin plank coated on the outside with bitumen. The prow and stern are
asboxSeinshape as is possible to make them; rounded sufficiently only to prevent cube
like angles being exposed to the stream ; but the rudder is the most eumous piece of Mecha.
nismofthe whole and a written description would fail to convey an idea of its numero
Darts and certainly useful properties. I therefore give a sketch of i*, as it is as simple, as>
curious, and might to the sailor in want of a rudder offer a few hints that wouid enable him
to steer his ship when the time that would be required to a r y dd ^.^ C ^p O serious
methods in vogue could not be spared owing to the vicinity of land or from other serious
causes. (See sketch on separate sheet.)
The following is its description and use—it may be put to in sea going—ships.
a. a. a.—-The lower piece of the rudder made of a spar or plank ; it should be long or snun,
according to the depth intended to fix it under the surface. If to be 3 ust below the same
of the water only, the spar should be long and the lever or tiller-f-intended to work it,
should be at least double its length one third over the stern and f within boaru..
b. b. Upright piece or rudder post to be made of a topmast which cut in tw P
of convenient lengths, will perhaps make both—a and b-the piece intended * or ‘ ‘
should be shawn also in two, longitudinally and nailed to the lower end ot
projecting ends sufficient to act as guides for fixing close on the sternpost—c. c. in w hpn
post b. b.—should be flattened at the heel so as to fix the two pieces~a. a. a.-whicn, wuc
on, must be loaded inside with stones, pigs of ballast Sec. to give it weight ana keep
c. c.—The stern post; the native boat has holes to receive the lashings—I.
ponding to the holes in—b. b.—for a ship however, this would not answer indepenua .
time required to make them ; for it would render the whole weak which at sea wont 4
to be peculiarly strong lashings round all fastened to b. b.— must be P a ? sed t .f 1 the
eye or ring bolts driven into the sides of the stern past which could be done easily w ^
rudder is being made—and until the lashings are passed, the rudder must be kept as
the sternpost as possible, by means of several tackles fast to stout rudder pendants-—g. 5 *8 .
that should be clove-hitched while inboard round—b. b.—leaving ends on . el ^“® r 81 . L 0 f the
the quarter ports for clapping the tackles on to. These in themselves, with «he wel 8 “ 11D ner
ballasted rudder, the projecting ends of a. a a—clamping the stern post, and a sto ^ n .
lashing which can be put on, on deck, will maintain the rudder in its place with ease, s
dants being kept fast even after the lashings are passed for greater security. - Ln , 0 J 2e0 u
should be cross seized and in this state will act as a hinge or combined pintle ana g 6
for the rudder to turn upon. n a fhP head of
d. d. d. d.-Diagonal spars to support the tail of the rudder. These are fixed to tn
the rudder post b. b. and to the tail of the pieces a. a. a* on either side. The ffiam