Chapter 762 Entering the Water
Canoes are popular all over the world.
The origins of rowing can also be found in many parts of the world, from Bolivia to Mongolia, from New Zealand to North America.
Ancient canoes have been found in the Ganges River basin in India and the Nile River basin in ancient Egypt. On the banks of the Euphrates River in ancient Babylon, the tomb of an Arab king was excavated. In the tomb was a small silver canoe and a paddle that was estimated to be 6,000 years old.
North American Indians used deerskin and birch bark, Egyptians used papyrus, and Borneans used wood to build rowboats.
A Maori rowing boat used for war on display in New Zealand is 117 meters long and can carry more than 80 people.
In North America, canoes were even more common at the time, and locals discovered the Polynesian Islands in the Pacific Ocean using canoes with outriggers. This type of small boat is still widely used by local people today.
Even the Inuit people in the Arctic Circle have their own exclusive canoes.
They constructed a boat-shaped frame from driftwood and whalebone, covered it with sealskin, and sewed it together with gut and whale blubber.
The thin and slender appearance, the waterproof cover is designed to protect people from spray, flying spray, rain, snow and cold.
The best quality canoes are perfectly suited for hunting sea mammals, waterfowl, and reindeer, and are quite quiet to use.
This raft is called "KAYAK", which is Eskimo and means "human boat".
Even today, canoe enthusiasts still make traditional Eskimo canoes, but they no longer use seal skins but instead use synthetic fiber cloth.
In the Melanesian Islands in the South Pacific, the people on the islands even have a special coming-of-age ceremony. If all the young men in the tribe want to become real Melanesian men, they must go out to sea alone in a canoe and catch a shark with their bare hands.
"So, it is not impossible to cross Point Nemo with a single canoe. It can even be said that there is great hope."
Bifang held a torch and roasted the palm trees.
He would coat the parts that were not to be dug out with wet mud, then roast the parts that were not coated with wet mud with fire. After they became charred, he would chop them with tools, so that the loose char layer would be quickly removed.
After repeating this process many times, a more ideal shape can be achieved.
Today is the third day, and the first palm tree being made can even be seen to be the prototype of a canoe.
A lot of onlookers had gathered around him.
An interesting thing even happened during this period. After cutting down the palm trees on the first day, the manager of the adventure resort invited him to stay and opened the most luxurious suite. He was a little puzzled as to why they were so enthusiastic, but when he turned around, he saw managers from several other hotels also running over.
They all claimed that as long as Bifang came to their place to make a canoe, they would give him a VIP card and free accommodation.
As long as you agree, someone will come immediately to drag the two trees away.
The manager of the adventure resort was very anxious, but fortunately Bifang did not agree.
Bifang felt a little guilty about cutting down someone else's trees and then building a canoe in someone else's place, so he could only decline the offer.
At night, Bifang grilled meat in front of the campfire, sprinkled the seasonings provided free of charge by the resort and distributed them to everyone. It was considered a small campfire party.
However, there was no prey on the island. Only the nearby ocean had abundant fish. As a good cook cannot cook without rice, the meat was also provided by the resort.
I have to say that Easter Island is indeed a tourist destination. No wonder so many people spend a lot of money and fly thousands of miles for several days to come here.
There is no lighting on the island except in the small town, and it is located deep in the South Pacific, so the starry sky is very magnificent. Bifang even saw nearly a hundred stars in Orion!
[It’s beautiful. My computer screen wallpaper used to be the statues on Easter Island. I didn’t expect the real scene to be more beautiful.]
[Unfortunately, I have no money]
【Plus one】
[It’s okay, everyone, give me crowdfunding, I’ll go on the trip for everyone, and I’ll send you some photos when the time comes (dog head)]
The day was also nice. Bifang didn’t just spend all his time making canoes, but also drove his dune scooter around for several laps.
There are several nice beaches on the island, with white sand, coconut trees and blue water. Not far away there are hillsides and stone statues standing quietly.
And because Easter Island is isolated in the South Pacific, the diving conditions are unique.
There is no pollution on the island, and there are few planktons in the sea. The underwater visibility is ridiculously good, even reaching an astonishing 60 meters.
On the fifth day, the first canoe was taking shape and looked almost nothing like the original tree.
Bifang squatted down and gently slid his fingers across the hull, feeling for any unevenness.
"Palm trees are very special. The fiber layer of their outer shell is very hard, but the material inside is relatively loose. Even without burning, normal iron tools can scrape it clean directly."
"On the one hand, fire roasting removes the internal moisture, eliminating the need for sun drying, and it can also make the hull harder, more waterproof and lighter."
"We will have to bake it again later, so that the hull is completely black, and then it will be considered finished."
After confirming the sealing, Bifang raised the hull, ran to the woods with an axe, chopped down a tree, cut it into several sections, and propped up the hull to prevent it from being deformed by the tanning.
Then put the palm leaves in it and burn it thoroughly.
"The amount of fuel needs to be determined based on experience. We need to ensure that all the palm leaves are burned without igniting the boat, and that the tanning process can be completed."
The boat is not big, only about four meters long.
"A boat that is too long is difficult to steer and is prone to capsizing in a storm Four meters is just the right length."
To explain briefly, the flame also went out quickly.
Today's canoes are much lighter, and Bifang can drag it by himself, hitting the hull with his knuckles, making a hard banging sound.
“The sound quality sounds good, but I don’t know what it will be like after it goes into the water.”
To test the quality of a ship, we must ultimately see whether it can be launched into water and how much it can carry.
Laying the rolling logs, Bifang dragged the canoe back to the beach bit by bit. Many tourists who got the news put down their work and went to the shore to watch the fun.
After dragging the boat to the shore and looking at the rolling waves, Bifang wiped the sweat from his forehead, took a deep breath, and under the nervous gaze of everyone, he pushed the boat closer to the sea little by little.
The beach was deformed by the movement of the ship, and the sand was squeezed to spread to both sides, leaving a long trail.
Everyone became more and more nervous and couldn't help but clench their fists.
[It’s coming, the big one is coming]
[ This is really big]
[In, in! ]
[You went in at such a young age? 】
The bow of the ship first touched the sea water, followed by the hull and the stern. Under the buoyancy of the sea water, it floated on the sea surface little by little.
Bifang breathed a sigh of relief.
all the best.
There was a burst of cheers on the shore.
