OCR Rendition - approximate

92   Art of Travel.

to me, " A person accustomed to such sort of voyage, sits very comfortably ; a stranger holds on to one of the calabashes. There is no fear of capsizing, as the calabashes go under water, according to the weight put upon them, from ten to sixteen inches. The yoke is firmly fastened to the two calabashes, for it is never taken off. I am scarcely able, at present, to say how it is fastened. As far as I remember, it is fixed by a very firm lashing, which forms a sort of network over the calabash, and at the same time serves to strengthen the latter and guard it against an accident." It is obvious that the gourds might be replaced by inflated bags or baskets, covered with leather, or by copper or tin vessels, or by any other equivalent. I quite agree with Dr. Barth, that a makara would be particularly suitable for a traveller. In Bornu, they make large rafts, by putting a frame over several of these makara, placed side by side.

Rude Boats.-Brazilian Sailing-boat.-A simpler sailing-boat or raft could hardly be imagined than that shown in the figure ; it is used by fishermen in Brazil.

)F - www.fastio.com