DOW, ALEXANDER, translated and published Ferislita's History of the Mahornedmas of Asia.
DO1V, a vessel employed in the trade between the Red Sea, the Arabian coast, the Gulf of l'ersia, and the W. coasts of India, in Cutch, Gujerat, and Malabar. They were also used in the Persian Gulf for the purpose of war and piracy. They are always rnanned by Arabs. The Arab dow is of about 150 to 250 tons burden by measurement ; grab-built, with 10 or 12 porta ; about 85 feet long from stem to stern, 201 feet broad, and 111 feet deep. These vessels have a great rise of floor, are calculated for sailing with small cargoes, and are fully prepared, by internal equipment, for defence, with decks, hatehwayc, ports, poop-deck, eto., like a vessel of war ; many of them are sheathed, on 2i inch plank bottoms, with one-inch board, aud a. preparation of chunam and oil, which is called galgal, put between the planks and sheathing-board, causing tho vessel to be very dry and durable, and preventing the worm from attacking the bottom. The worm is one of the greatest enemies in India to titnber tho water, while the white ant is as much so out of it. On the outside of tho sheathing-board there is a coat of whitewash, made from the same articles as that between the sheathing and planks ; which coat is renewed every season they put to sea. These vessels have generally one mast, and a lateen sail ; the yard is the length of the vessel aloft, and the mast raking forward, for the purpose of keeping this ponderous weight clear in raising and lowering. Tho tack of the sail is brought to the stern-head, aad sheets aft in the usual way ; the halyards lead to the taffrail, having a pendent and treble purchase - block, which becomes the backstay, to support the mast when tho sail is set ; this, with three pairs of shrouds, completes the rigging, which is very simple, the whole being of coir rope. Several of
these vessels were fitted as brigs after their arrival in Arabia, and ;armed by the Arabs fur cruising iu the Red Sea 'tad Arabian Gulf, as piratical vessels ; they are also the class of veels of which Tipu Sultan's fleet at Honore consisttal. When arnted, they wero too powerful for the Bombay marine brigs, when weak aud unsup ported. The largo dows make generally one voyage in the season to tho southward of Arabia, taking advantage of the N.B. monsoon, and the S.W. to return with an exchange cargo. They generally bring dates, fruit, preserves, Shiraz wine, awl horses, and take back rice, coir, canvas, cocoa nuts, oil, timber, dammer, ete., various articles of cloth of the country manufacture ; and front Bom bay, European articles of every description. The trade of the western coast of India is very great in those vessels ; extending from Allipey, the southernmost port on the coast of Malabar, up to Bombay ; but all the trade to Bengal is carried on by ships which are called country traders, from the Gulf of Persia and Arabia. The Arabs usually navigate their ships to Bengal in perfect safety, and with great skill.—Edye ; Malcolm.