bavin

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/10527

bavin 28 APPENDIX. The ports, funnels, and scuttles, not only communicate the flames to the outside and upper works of the ship, and her rig- ging; but likewise open a passage for inward air, confined in the fire room, which is thereby expanded so as to force impe- tuously through those outlets, and prevent the blowing up of the decks, which must of necessity happen, from such a sudden and violent rarefaction of the air, as will then be produced. On each side of the bulk head behind, is cut a hole of suffi- cient size to admit a trough of the same dimensions as the others. A leading trough, whose foremost end communicates with another trough within the fire room, is laid close to this opening, from whence it extends obliquely to a sally port, cut through the ship's side. The decks and troughs are well covered with melted rosin. At the time of firing either of the leading troughs, the flame is immediately conveyed to the opposite side of the ship, whereby both sides burn together. Four of the eight fire barrels are placed under the four fire trunks; and the other four between them, two on each side the fire skuttles, where they are securely cleated to the deck. The longest reeds* are put into the fore and aft troughs, and tied down also. The bavins,� dipped at one end, are tied fast to the troughs over the reeds, and the curtains are nailed up to the beams, in equal quantities, on each side of the fire room. The remainder of the reeds are placed in a position nearly * The reeds are made up in small bundles of about a foot in circum- ference, cut even at both ends, and tied together in two places. They are distinguished into two kinds: viz. the long and short: the former of which are four feet, and the latter two feet five inches in length. One part of them are singly dipped, i.e. at one end; the rest are dipped at both ends in a kettle of melted composition. After being immersed about seven or eight inches in this preparation, and then drained, they are sprinkled over with pulverised sulphur upon a tanned hide. ...