LITMIR.BIZ

      TRANSVERSE SECTION AT THE ENGINE-ROOM OF H.E.I. COMPANY'S

       IRON STEAM VESSEL PHLEGETHON.

      Shewing the method of giving additional strength by originally building-in the coal-box bulkheads as part of the vessel.

      A Keel.

       B Floorings.

       C Keelsons.

       D Deck beams (iron).

       E Deck.

       F Covering-board, 18ft. by 4in.

       G Longitudinal iron bulkheads, built into the vessel, forming the sides of the coal-boxes.

       H Angle-iron stay-beam between.

       I Side frame and coal-box bulkhead.

      N.B.—These bulkheads appear to have remedied the weakness complained of in the Nemesis, as the Phlegethon is reported, after nearly three years' hard service (including the passage round the Cape, when she experienced very bad weather), in as good order as when she left England, never having required any alteration or strengthening.

The first thing now to be done was evidently to remove the broken iron plates, and to rivet in new ones in their place. In order to provide for additional strengthening of the vessel inside, the large timbers which had been purchased were made use of, as being exactly adapted for the purpose. Three of these were placed across the angle-irons against the side of the vessel, the longest and stoutest, which was twenty-three feet in length, one foot broad, and six inches thick, being placed highest up, about two to three feet below the deck. This was secured in its place by bolts, each a foot long, which were run through the ship's side, one at the centre of the space between each of the angle-irons. As there would, however, be a space left between the face of the beam and the side of the vessel, except at those points where it rested upon the angle-irons, this interval was filled up with well-seasoned red pine, which added very much to the solidity of the contrivance. To "make assurance doubly sure," two other beams, of the same depth and thickness, but not of the same length, and secured in a similar manner, were also employed. By this means, it is very evident that the ship was made a vast deal stronger than she ever was before, though not stronger than was proper for her size and shape. The whole length of the new plates put in the ship's sides was eight feet two inches; and so effectually was the work done that the whole of it remained perfect, stringers and all, at the end of two years and a half of severe and uninterrupted service.

      These contrivances added very little to the weight of the vessel, and gave it very great support in the weakest part, and just where it was most required, to enable her to carry coals on deck, &c.

      PLAN SHEWING THE SIDE OF THE NEMESIS REPAIRED AND STRENGTHENED BY STRINGERS.

      A The old plate cut away between the angle-iron frames.

       B Part of the old plate left remaining inside the new.

       C Stringers, 1ft. by 6in.; the space under them between the angle-irons made solid with wood.

       D Knee.

       E Deck angle-iron.

       F Angle-iron side-frames.

       G Coal-box bulkhead angle-iron.

       H Paddle-beam, of wood, 21 in. by 15.

       N Diagonal bracing of wood between the stringers.

      N.B.—Stringers secured by seven-eighths in.; bolts driven through all between each two angle-irons.

      END VIEW OF THE STRINGERS, SHEWING ALSO THE SECTION

       OF THE SHIP'S SIDE.

      I Deck beam of iron.

       K Flat of deck.

       L Covering board, 12 in. by 4 in.

       M Waist stanchion.

       C Ends of the stringers.

      During her detention of twelve days, the Nemesis had been an object of great curiosity to the native Africans, as well as to the Portuguese settlers. The chiefs of some of the tribes were occasionally allowed to look at the vessel, and expressed the greatest possible astonishment at what they saw. It happened to be just the time of year when the king of one of the tribes most friendly to the Portuguese (probably, as it appeared, because they have large dealings together in slaves) usually came down from his own country, about thirty miles distant, to pay his annual visit to the Portuguese governor. On these occasions, there is a vast attempt on both sides to appear very friendly to each other, with precisely that degree of sincerity which, as a minimum, is indispensable to the advantageous barter of slaves and ivory for iron and spirits, or occasionally gold-dust for various trifling articles, which in the eyes of a savage possess inestimable value.

      There appears, in general, to be very little good feeling existing between the native tribes and the Portuguese. The former look upon the latter with some degree of dread, arising from the injuries which they have at various times received at their hands; and the latter regard the former merely as degraded savages, fit for little else than the speculations of the slave trade. On both sides there is a degree of mistrust, arising from the debasing tendency which such a traffic necessarily exercises upon all concerned in it. In Captain Owens narrative, an instance is related of the most savage cruelty, exercised by Portuguese Christians upon a few unarmed and oppressed natives who fell into their hands, which it is impossible to read without shuddering.

      On the present occasion, the native chief who came to do honour to the governor was a decrepit old man, nearly seventy years of

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