State Library of NSW
[Page 452]
Manners & Customs of the S. Sea Islands
go across them & upon them is built a stage in the fore part about 10 or 12 feet long & a little broader than the two boats this is supported by pillars about 6 feet high & upon it stand the people who fight with slings spears &c. below are the rowers who are much less engagd in the battle on account of their confind situation but who receive the wounded from the stage & furnish fresh men to ascend in their room. This much from description for I never saw any of their battles. The Sailing & fishing Ivahahs differ vary in size from about 40 feet in lengh to the smallest I have seen mentiond but those which are under 25 feet in lengh seldom or never carry sail their Sterns only are raisd & those not above 4 or 5 feet their heads are quite flat & have a board flat board projecting forwards beyond them about 4 feet Those which I have calld traveling Ivahas differ from these in nothing but their being constantly joind 2 & 2 together in the same manner as the fighting ones & having a small neat house 5 or 6 feet broad & 7 or 8 long fastned upon the fore part of them in which the principal people who use them very much set when they are carried
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