THE TRAVELLING BARGE - Public domain engraving

Drawing by William Alexander, draughtsman of the Macartney Embassy to China in 1793. A traveling cargo junk. The central part of the living quarters, which has an awning over the windows, is occupied by the proprietor; the fore part of the vessel — by his servants, and the aft or stern part is used for culinary purposes, and sleeping places for the boatmen. Barges of this kind have one large sail of matting, stretched out by bamboos, running horizontally across it; the sail may be instantly taken in by letting go after the haulyards, when the sail falls in folds similar to a fan. When the wind or tide is unfavorable, these vessels are either tracked along by human labor, or sculled by large oars which work on pivots at the bows and stern; by means of these oars, which are never taken out of the water, but simply sculled to and fro, the vessel is impelled onwards with considerable rapidity. The triple umbrella proclaims a Mandarin of consequence to be on board. The large lanterns with Chinese characters on them, and the ensign at the stern, are likewise marks of distinction. Image taken from The Costume of China, illustrated in forty-eight coloured engravings, published in London in 1805.