Uche :
Term for canoe* in the Hermit Islands in the northwestern part of the Bismarck Archipelago.
The fishing canoe has a dugout hull to which one or more strakes are sewn; hull rounded in cross section; ends, overhanging, and round up from the bot-tom.Each end-piece is prolonged as a massive,inboard curving,vertical projection which is carved with quadrangular patterns and is painted;the outer border is decorated with tassels of coconut fiber and knotted strings;and two large bunches of feathers hang from the curved end.The whole outer surface of the boat is painted with regular designs in red-brown and white. Thwarts inserted between the hull and gunwale poles. Four booms cross to the sharp-ended float, which is a little less than half the length of the hull. Each boom generally connects to the float by 3-4 pairs of undercrossed sticks,about 50cm long and often tied together at intervals,their sharpened lower ends are inserted into the float.The pairs cross each other and the boom is lashed above their crossings. Further rigidity provided by a spar that runs from midpoint of the boom to beneath the crossed part of the sticks. Platform of sticks laid atop the booms close to the hull; rectangular frame between the platform and float strengthens the outrigger unit. On it frame may be tied to extend the platform.Mast stepped in a sling between the hull and a boom extension on the off side, braced from the platform.A carved wooden fork,over which the sail is hauled,is usually tied on to the end of the mast. Sets an oblong, lug-type sail; boom at the foot forks against the mast. Canoe sailed in either direction, the mast restepped at the opposite end when tacking. Steered with an oar. Length ca. 9m. 3. Another type was a high-sided, 2-masted traveling and ceremonial canoe. Dugout hull to which 3 strakes were sewn; sides carved in geometric designs and painted. Ends curved up from the bottom and contin¬ued above gunwale level as recurved end pieces; ends decorated with shells and tassels. Single outrigger unit composed of 4 heavy, horizontal booms and a relative¬ly long, sharp-ended float connected by multiple tall stanchions. Some stanchions on the outer booms were taller and partially formed the framework for basket¬like devices; platform laid across most of the area between the hull and float; a larger basket was situated at the outer end of the 2 middle booms; there was a smaller, counterbalancing platform on the opposite side. Oblong sails were hung from 2 masts stepped roughly amidships, the forward mast taller; each stead¬ied by a mast shore and 2 stays. Foresail overlapped the after sail by more than half its width. Sails boomed at the foot with the heel of the boom forked against the mast. This canoe have a paddles.The steering paddle has a long narrow blade and the other paddles have heart-shaped blades. Length of canoe ca. 17m.
Науру 1975 20с sg135,
A Dictionary of the world’s Watercraft from Aak toZumbra. A.Haddon,J.Hornell:Canoes of Oceania.1937.Volume II.