DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1035#0293
254 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. [Chap. V.
actually doubled the Cape of Good Hope twenty-
one centuries before its discovery by Diaz and
Vasco de Gama.*
Boats.—Their boats were of various kinds. The
larger ones were built of acacia planks, fastened
by bolts and nails upon strong ribs; and were fur-
nished with spacious cabins, one mast, and a large
square sail. Their long rudder was suspendedf on
a sort of mast or wooden pillar; and, according to
the direction of a rope held by the steersman, it
slided to the right and left, along the edge of a
broad squared recess at the stern, the pillar being
the centre on which it turned. They were also
furnished with large oars, supported and moving on
tollpins; and, except in galleys of war, the men
generally pulled standing, or rose to the stroke.
Other boats, of smaller size, had a rudder on either
side, which, like the former, consisted of a long
broad blade, J and still longer handle, the rope
serving for a tiller.
Herodotus gives an unaccountable description of
* In A. D. 1497. The Carthaginians (a Tyrian colony) had
also made a similar expedition under Hanno, who is supposed to
have lived in the fourth century before our era, about three hun-
dred years after Neco. The most singular circumstance, with
regard to the geographical knowledge of the Egyptians, is, that
Sonchisj one of the priests, told Solon of the Atlantic Isles, which
he said were larger than Africa and Asia united, since this de-
scription can only agree with America. I do not venture any
opinion. V. Plato's Critias or Atlanticus.
f They frequently had chains, or rudder-bands, fastened to the
blade.
\ As in the Birmese and other boats.
actually doubled the Cape of Good Hope twenty-
one centuries before its discovery by Diaz and
Vasco de Gama.*
Boats.—Their boats were of various kinds. The
larger ones were built of acacia planks, fastened
by bolts and nails upon strong ribs; and were fur-
nished with spacious cabins, one mast, and a large
square sail. Their long rudder was suspendedf on
a sort of mast or wooden pillar; and, according to
the direction of a rope held by the steersman, it
slided to the right and left, along the edge of a
broad squared recess at the stern, the pillar being
the centre on which it turned. They were also
furnished with large oars, supported and moving on
tollpins; and, except in galleys of war, the men
generally pulled standing, or rose to the stroke.
Other boats, of smaller size, had a rudder on either
side, which, like the former, consisted of a long
broad blade, J and still longer handle, the rope
serving for a tiller.
Herodotus gives an unaccountable description of
* In A. D. 1497. The Carthaginians (a Tyrian colony) had
also made a similar expedition under Hanno, who is supposed to
have lived in the fourth century before our era, about three hun-
dred years after Neco. The most singular circumstance, with
regard to the geographical knowledge of the Egyptians, is, that
Sonchisj one of the priests, told Solon of the Atlantic Isles, which
he said were larger than Africa and Asia united, since this de-
scription can only agree with America. I do not venture any
opinion. V. Plato's Critias or Atlanticus.
f They frequently had chains, or rudder-bands, fastened to the
blade.
\ As in the Birmese and other boats.