Page 142
An.1684
Bark logs described.
bottom of the Float, and of a considerable breadth. From this bottom the Raft is raised to about 10 foot higher, with rows of Posts sometimes set upright and supporting a floor or two: but those I observ'd were rais'd by thick Trees laid across each other, as in Wood Piles; only not close together as in the bottom of the Float, but at the ends and sides only; so as to leave the middle all hollow like a Chamber; except that here and there a beam goes across it, to keep the Float more compact. In this hollow, at about 4 foot heighth from the beams at the bottom, they lay small poles along, and close together, to make a floor for another Room, on the top of which also they lay another such floor made of Poles: and the entrances into both these Rooms is only by creep- ing between the great traverse Trees which make the Walls of this Sea-house. The lowest of these stories serves as a Cellar: there they lay great Stones for Ballast, and their Jars of fresh-water closed up, and whatever may bear being wet: for by the weight of the Ballast and Cargo, the bottom of this Room and of the whole Vessel is sunk so deep, as to lye 2 or 3 feet within the surface of the Water. The second story is for the Sea-men, and their ne- cessaries. Above this second story the Goods are stowed, to what heighth they please, usually about 8 or 10 feet, and kept together by poles set upright quite round: only there is a little space abaft for the Steers-man (for they have a large Rudder) and afore for the Fire-hearth, to dress their Victuals, especial- ly when they make long Voyages, as from Lima to Truxillo, or Guiaquil, or Panama; which last Voyage is 5 or 600 leagues. In the midst of all, among the Goods, rises a Mast, to which is fasten'd a large Sail, as in our West-Country Barges in the Thames. They always go before the Wind, being unable to ply against it: and therefore are fit only for these Seas, where the Wind is always in a manner the same,