of the raft. A second part is made in the same way and fastened behind it, with willow wands as couplings thrust through overlapping boards. Then a third, a fourth, and a fifth, are similarly added, until a river train is made up, about sixty feet long, and fifteen feet broad, containing from iooo to 1500 planks. The front of it, that breasts the current, is next protected by a cross beam, and a few cross boards are used to give it additional steadiness and solidity. It is then fitted with oars
. These are roughly made of long poles, with bits of wood for blades tied to them with the unfailing willow wand. Two of these are fixed at the prow of the raft and two at the stern, for they are used to steer the raft, not to propel it. The crew now takes possession of it, and eight men generally form a raft's complement, four of whom work the front oars, two those behind, and two are free as emergency men. As the water often washes the raft from stem to stern, the raftsmen strip for their work, and