THE
Pechili
Trader is probably the oldest type of ocean-going Chinese junk.
Representations of very similar craft will be found in the caves at
Ajunta in India, and in the old temples at Boro Bodoer in Java. As
late as 1903 these characteristically Chinese vessels were seen
regularly in Singapore harbour. They are invariably large, running
from 140 to 180 feet in length, by 20 to 30 feet beam, with a
carrying capacity of some 4,000 to 6,000 piculs. The hull is of the
"turret" build and sub-divided into watertight compart‚ments.
Although these vessels are built in Shanghai, their actual home port
is Yingkow (Newchwang), while their trade routes are between Yingkow,
Shanghai, and other Kiangsi and Chekiang ports. Curiously
enough, however, they are owned and registered in Tungchow on the
North Bank of the Yangtsze, some 50 miles north-west of Woosung, and
their crews, which vary from 22 to 30 men, also hail from this port.
Occasionally one will find a Laodah (Captain) from
Nihgpo.
These junks
are always five-masted, and the peculiar method of stepping the masts
is worthy of note. The foremast is placed right in the eyes outside
the bulwark on the port side, the two mainmasts amidships, and in
line (the after mast being the larger). The mizzen is just astern and
in line with the rudder post. Just forward and to the port side of
the rudder post, and clear of the tiller, another much smaller mizzen
is fitted which is only used when going about or in light winds. The
reason given for this method of stepping the masts is that as these
craft are very unwieldy, they require considerable sail area to drive
them, which, for convenience in bringing the vessel into stays and
paying her off in tacking, has been split up as much as possible. The
sails have a straight leech and luff, and are lofty and narrow, with
very little peak to the yard. A staysail is quite often set between
the for'ard mainmast and the mainmast. This type is one of the very
few Chinese junks carrying a topsail, but this is seldom used, and
only when in very light air a day of this kind being an
occasion for making use of all kinds of sail quite unknown to the
Westerner. To see a big craft of this type wallowing in the oily
swell on a calm day, crowded with sail is an "eye-opener" to the
methods employed by the Chinese sailorman to keep steerage way on his
vessel.
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Accommodation
for the crew is provided in the roomy deck house aft, while a gallery
extending some 10 or 12 feet out over the stern affords room for the
navigator and the men handling the mizzen sails.
Beyond the
carved railings and bulwarks there is no de‚coration except a little
fretwork design on the lower side of the transom. The name and port
of registry is written in Chinese characters set inside red circles
on the stern quarters, and this is all the colour there is. One suit
of wood oil per annum serves as a preservative.
The average
time taken for a voyage from Newchwang to Shanghai is five days and
nights provided there is a good breeze. Usually the voyage is direct
to Shanghai, but if un‚favourable winds are met with, Chefoo and
Weihaiwei are taken in on the voyage.