File:Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China seas and Japan (1857) (14784304462).jpg

Identifier: narrativeofexped05perr (find matches)
Title: Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China seas and Japan
Year: 1857 (1850s)
Authors: Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858 Hawks, Francis L. (Francis Lister), 1798-1866
Subjects: United States Naval Expedition to Japan (1852-1854)
Publisher: New York, D. Appleton and company (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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hich forbids any of its vessels to visit foreigncountries; and, until the period of our negotiations, the punishment ofdeath was adjudged against all who, by design or accident, were thrownupon a strange land ; and hence it was very naturally assumed that the navi-gators of these frail and open stern craft would not venture beyond the sightof land. It is known, however, that the Chinese junks usually have sternsand rudders somewhat similar, and a presumption may be reasonablyadvanced that this description of rudder was the first substitute for thepaddle oar or sweep used in early times for steering, and the recess in thestern has been left for the sole convenience of taking the rudder outof the water. It will be seen by the drawings that these vessels have a sharp taper-ing bow, with a straight projecting stern. They have but one mast, andthat is placed considerably abaft the centre beam; one sail only is used, andthat a lug with a square head. This is worked by braces to the yard and
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JAPANESE JUNKS. 521 by the usual tacks and sheets, and a number of bow-lines attached to bothleaches, and extending well up towards the head; these are intended tokeep the sail flat, when on a wind; but with all these contrivances it cannotbe prevented from bellying to such a degree as to render it impossible forthe vessel to work nearer the wind than seven points on either tack; and,to make the sail still more clumsy and unsuitable, the material of which itis made, either cotton or grass cloth, is laced together in vertical breadths,instead of being closely sewed, as with us. The main or lower deck is flush, and intended to be sufficiently strongand water tight to secure the cargo; over this and abaft the mast, is a sortof half deck, which covers the cabin, and is also of tolerable strength. Inthis cabin the officers, passengers, and servants are quartered, the differentapartments being formed of movable bulkheads or screens; here also is thealtar, surmounted by an image of some patr

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