winding it about
them and forming an irregular network over the whole frame. Osiers
probably make the best ribs, but twigs of some other trees, such
as hazel or birch, will answer nearly as well. For the ribs near
the middle of the boat, twigs 5 or 6 ft. long are required. It is
often quite difficult to get these of sufficient thickness
throughout, and so, in such cases, two twigs may be used to make
one rib, fastening the butts side by side on the bottom-board, and
the smaller ends to the gunwales, as before described. In drying,
the rattan becomes very tight and the twigs hard and stiff.

The frame-work is now complete and ready to be covered. For this
purpose buy about 18 yd. of very strong wrapping-paper. It should
be smooth on the surface, and very tough, but neither stiff nor
very thick. Being made in long rolls, it can be obtained in almost
any length desired. If the paper be 1 yd. wide, it will require
about two breadths to reach around the frame in the widest part.
Cut enough of the roll to cover the frame and then soak it for a
few minutes in water. Then turn the frame upside down and fasten
the edges of the two strips of paper to it, by lapping them
carefully on the under side of the bottom-board and tacking them
to it so that the paper hangs down loosely on all sides. The paper
is then trimmed, lapped and doubled over as smoothly as possible
at the ends of the frame, and held in place by means of small
clamps. It should be drawn tight along the edges, trimmed and
doubled down over the gunwale, where it is firmly held by slipping
the strips of ash (b, b) just inside of the gunwales into notches
which should have been cut at the ends of the cross-boards. The
shrinkage caused by the drying will stretch the paper tightly over
the framework. When thoroughly dry, varnish inside and out with
asphaltum varnish thinned with turpentine, and as soon as that has
soaked in, apply a second coat of the same varnish, but with less
turpentine; and finally cover the laps or joints of the paper with
pieces of muslin stuck on with thick varnish. Now remove the loose
strips of ash and put on another layer of paper, fastening it
along the edge of the boat by replacing the strips as before. When
the paper is dry, cover the laps with muslin as was done with the
first covering. Then varnish the whole outside of the boat several
times until it presents a smooth shining surface. Then take some
of the split rattan and, after wetting