Chapter 19

Ceylonese canoes--Peruvian balsas--The floating windlass of the Coromandel fishermen--American pilot-boats--Balsas of Peru--Man-of-war boats--Ceylonese canoes--Canoe mast and sails--Local contrivances--Construction of the balsa--Management of the sail--Indian method of weighing anchor--A floating windlass--Failure of the attempt--The Admiral's remarks--An interesting feat of mechanical ingenuity