SHIP.
Safika, Markib, . ARAB. Vascello,-- . . . . Grab, Zoraq, Kosal, „ Navis, . . LAT. Navire, Vaisseau, . FR. Jabaz, Kishti, . . PENS.
Schiff , GER. Nave, Navio, Bazel, .
Nao, Jahaz, . HIND. Buque, . . . . . „ Nave, Naviglio, . IT. Ghetni, Tekne, . TURK.
Notices of the various kinds of ships will be found under the head of Boats. On the eastern side of the Peninsula of India, the ship is built with her keel parallel to the shore, and, as it may happen, from 200 to 300 feet from low - water mark. When completed, she is placed on two strong pieces of timber, called dog,s (in the nature of a sledge of enormous dimensions), and on these a sort of moveable cradle is constructed to keep the vessel upright. Two long palmyra trees, a lever of the second kind, are then applied to the ends of the dogs, and by means of these powers, they, together with the vessel that rests on them, are gradually pushed forward over a platform of logs until they arrive at the lowest pitch of low water, or as far beyond it as the levers can be used. Tackles are applied to the ends of the
levers to increase the power ; the fulcrums are wreaths of rope, fastened to the logs on which the vessel slides, and are removed forwards as she advances. TNvo cables from the land side are fastened to the vessel to prevent her from sliding too rapidly, and these are gradually let out as she advances. It is commonly the work of two days to transport the vessel to the margin of low water. If the tide does not rise high enough to float her frorn thence (which it seldom does if the vessel be of any considerable burden), part of the cradle is taken away, and the ship left chiefly to the support of the cradles till high water, when they are suddenly let go, and the vessel falls on her side, and with the fall disengages herself from the remains of the cradle, and at the same time plunges into deeper water. A ship of 500 tons has been launched in this inanner. — Rennell's Memoir, p. 245.