All these things take a deal of time. The rudder is then fixed in its proper place, being hung on strong irons. It is no easy thing to put in the masts, for they are raised up high, so that they can drop all at once into the places cut for them. The part on which the mast rests is called a step; and there it is wedged and bolted fast enough. It is necessary to launch the hull before the masts are put up; when she is once afloat, they can fit her up, rig her, and furnish her with all that is wanting, never forgetting to provide a good strong cable and anchor. You now know something about building a ship; but if I were to dwell on every particular, it would take me a week. I told you of the mariner's compass; but there are many other things useful to a skilful seaman, such as the telescope and the quadrant: the first for discerning objects a long way off, such as mountains, headlands, islands, and ships; and the last for making correct calculations. CHAP. VI. PARLEY TELLS ABOUT VARIOUS KINDS OF VESSELS. I MUST now tell you about various kinds of vessels. I have shown you a picture which represents a ship, and I have a few others still to show you. If ever you should venture on the seas, the information you pick up now will be useful to you. What sailors, in strictness, call a ship, has always three masts. Ships are of various kinds. Those that are engaged in carrying merchandise from one country to another, are called merchant-ships. Such of these as go to China and India, are generally very large. Among vessels that are used upon the sea, which are those that are strictly called ships? How many masts has a ship? How large are the burthens of some merchant-ships? What English merchant-ships usually carry the greatest burthens? E Some of them carry a burthen of twelve or fifteen hundred tons. Here is a picture of a FRIGATE. A frigate is a kind of ship of war. Some ships of war are larger, and others are smaller; and ships of war are variously built, rigged, and armed. The largest are called ships of the line, and some are sloops, and others gun-boats. You observe along the side of this frigate some rows of holes. These are called port-holes. They are openings through which the cannon are pointed, when fired at other vessels. The flaps, or doors, which at other times cover the holes, and prevent the entrance of the sea, are called ports; so that the plain meaning of the term port-hole is door-way. When the port-holes are covered, the ports are said to be closed, or down; and when they are uncovered, or open, the ports are said to be up. SHIPS OF THE LINE are large ships of war, built to fight great fights in line of battle. When soldiers fight on land they can, if they like, run away, but seamen cannot run without the ship runs with them. Whatever be the danger, "there is no back door for the sailor." What are other ships holes? What are ports? What is the literal meaning of the term port-hole? When are the ports said to be down? When are the ports said to be up? What ships are ships of the line? A BRIG has only two masts; but it is square rigged, like a ship; that is, it has yards or spars running across the masts, like a ship. Brigs are smaller than ships, and they do not often go on very long voyages. They are commonly used as coasting vessels, and upon other short voyages. Their burthens are usually from a hundred and fifty to three hundred tons. Describe a brig. How many masts has a brig? |