The First Sailor.
Allmy readers have seen rafts, and boats, and ships, and they know perfectly well that it is very easy to sail on the water. But who was the first sailor? Who first ventured forth in a boat or a vessel?
man on raftA savage upon his raft.
A savage upon his raft.
We are told of Noah, who floated in an ark, thousands of years ago, and was thus saved when all the rest of mankind were drowned by the deluge—but no doubt people had learned to go upon the water before the time of Noah.
ship interiorThe interior of a large ship.
The interior of a large ship.
It is thought that the nautilus, of which we once gave a picture in the Museum, and which is a natural sailor, first suggested the idea of a boat or ship.It is probable, however, that mankind early saw that wood would float in water, and soon applied their observation to practical purposes. They doubtless first got upon logs, and then made rafts, to sail upon. By-and-by they doubtless built boats, and lastly ships.
There is a great difference between the beginning and end of an invention. The picture at the head of this article shows a savage upon his raft; the next is a view of the interior of a ship, displaying its floors and beams and timbers.
The art of building ships has advanced gradually, with the other arts of man. Here is a picture of a ship of war used about two thousand years ago. How very different it is from a ship of war of the present day! It has no deck, but is open like a boat; while a large ship of war of the present day, has four stories! The ancient ship of war would hold fifty or sixty people, while a ship of war, now, will hold a thousand.
ancient ship