TANKWA native craft

The full index of our ship stamp archive
Post Reply
aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

TANKWA native craft

Post by aukepalmhof » Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:10 pm

Lake Tana the largest lake in Ethiopia and covers more as 3,600 square kilometres, and was know to the ancient Greeks as Pseboa.
It is the source where the Blue Nile starts its long journey to Khartoum and to the Mediterranean.

The native crafts seen on this stamp is the TANKWA and the Aak to Zumbra, a dictionary of World’s Watercraft gives for this craft.

Made by creating a flat floor of small papyrus bundles; near the edge, they turn up slightly and are joined on each side by 2 stout bundles that form the sides and continue beyond the ends, then are lashed together.
Both ends turn up, the bow higher. Bunches may overlap on the bottom to form a “keel” or a piece of acacia wood may serve this purpose.
Athwartships bundles raise passengers and cargo, as the rafts waterlog quickly. When crossing large stretches of water outriggers may be fixed across the middle; rear paddler varies the outrigger pitch to control stability and speed.
She is paddled or poled.
May carry 8 – 10 people, but very large rafts carry often carry 20 people or 7 ton of cargo.
Reported lengths 5.5 – 10.7 m. widths 0.9 – 2.13m.

Ethiopia 1972 30c sg810, scott?
Attachments
tmp11E.jpg

Post Reply