Mangalore Manche of the Western Goast of the Peninsula is a flat-bottomed boat of burden, about 25 to 35 feet long, 6 to 7 feet brortd, and 4 to 5 feet deep. It is formed to meet the river, which is very shallow and flat ; and to land the cargoes of the Patamars, which are discharged and loaded. at the mouth of the rivers. These boats arc sewed together similar to the macula boat and other native vessels ; they are forced along by bamboo poles, as the water is not more than from 6 to 10 feet deep, except in the south-west monsoon, when the rapids swell, and the whole of the river is considered impassable ; and at this period all the vessels are taken to the shore and laid up.
Calicut Manche is a boat very similar to that of Mangalore, with the exception only of a raking stem, for the purpose of taking the beach, as the port of Calicut is open to the coast and there is no river. These boats are propelled by the paddle and sail, and generally carry eight men ; they aro much employed in watering and completing the sea-stock of ships homeward-bound ; also in load ing ships with pepper, timber, etc., for Bombay ; and in shipping the produce of the forests of Canara and Malabar, all of which is rafted off to vessels called Dow, Boatile, Patamar, etc.
Panyani Manche is a coasting boat, of about 50 feet long, 10 to 12 feet broad, and 5 to 7 feet deep. It is framed with timbers and planks, which are sewed together. The timbers are about 4 feet asnnder, and on them, inside, some few planks are placed as bands and clamps, which arc nailed to the frame. These are very rudely put together, and not of much importance either in form or construction. During the south-west monsoon, or from June to November, they are laid up at Baipur river for safety, and are only used in the fine-weather season. They carry the pro ductions of the cocoanut tree, viz. coir, copra, cajan, the leaf of the Corypha umbraculifera, which is used for coverings of houses, also for books, and various other purposes; jagari, oil, and arrack, to Cochin and Mangalore ; and bring from these ports rice, cloth, salt, etc. These vessels keep along shore, and take advantage of the sail in rowing. They have generally. from eight to ten men, who are fishermen of the Mopila caste of Musalmans, descendants of the first Arabian settlers on the shores of the Peninsula, and who, marrying the daughters of the country, obtained the name of Mapillai.
The Boatila Manche of the island of Ceylon navigates the Gulf of Manar, and the southern part of the Peninsula of India. This boat, which is about 50 to 60 feet in length, 16 to 18 feet in breadth, and 8 to 10 feet in depth, has more of the European form than any of the Indian-built vessels that are met with. The after part shows the origin to be of Portuguese construction, as it is very similar to that of many of the boats still in use by the people of that country, which are said to be of the same shape as the vessels in which Vasco De Gama sailed to India. They have a deck fore and aft, and are built with all sorts of jungle wood in a very rough manner, mid fastened with nails and bolts. They are equipped with one mast, which inclines forward, and a square lug sail ; also a small bowsprit, at about the angle of 45°, with a sort of jib foresail, one pair of shrouds, and a backstay, which completes the rigging. These vessels carry on the trade of the
island across the gulf. The exports are rice, tobacco, etc., and the imports, cloth.
The Bombay Fishing Boat is one of the swiftest and moat elegant sea-going vessels of that coast. A complete set of models of the native vessels plying on the coast, at an estimated price of lis.15 each, or about Its.1000 iu all, was sent to the Exhibition of 1851. The mode of building is precisely the reverse of that pursued by Europeans, who begin with drawing the lines, then lay down the keel, ribs, and frame, and finally applying the planking. In India, drawn lines are dispensed with altogether. Having laid down the keel, the Indian shipbuilders fasten on the planking, leaving the ribs and frame to the last. The keel having been laid, and the stem and sternposts put in their places, they are fashioned in both sides with a groove. The lower edge of the plank next laid is made to conform in shape to this. The under groove is smeared over with red ochre and water, and the edge of the plank that follows is tried on from time to time till it takes a tinge everywhere, showing with what exactness it coincides. It is then steeped in water, and bent over a fire of wood into the proper shape, and applied to its place. When all is ready, the channel in the lower plank is filled up with cotton and tar. The two planks are now sewed together in the following manner, —a pair of holes are bored in the upper and a corresponding pair in the lower plank, all along at intervals of a foot or two, according to the nature of the lines ; a strong coir string is laced through this in the form of the letter X, the knot being inside. A stout wedge of wood is next driven through the strings outside, so as to bring the planks perfectly in contact. The planks being put sufficiently in their place; when gunwale high is attained, the timbers are put in ; when the planks have been nailed to them, the sewing holes are filled up either with nails when opposite a timber, or with wooden pins. The masts rake forward instead of back ; the keel is hollow in the middle, and not so long as the sternpost ; the fore part of the boat sharp, with hollow lines, the stern plump and round. The Bombay fishing boats can beat the best of the English yachts. There are three great fishing villages in Bombay island, at Worlee, Sewree, and Mahim. A Patamar employs from 15 to 20 men, a fishing boat from 10 to 15, a canoe from 3 to 4. Canoes are chiefly employed in the coast fishing, and attending the men on the mud banks, and in landing cargo when there is no depth of water sufficient for larger vessels. They are hollowed out of a single log, and are very serviceable, handsome-looking, well finished craft. They are impelled either by paddles or sails ; when the latter are employed, an outrigger is resorted to; they will bear a surpris ing stretch of canvas, and make their way rapidly through the water.