These are formed chiefly at Andernach, but consist of the fellings of
almost every German forest, which, by streams, or short land carriage,
can be brought to the Rhine. Having passed the rocks of Bingen and
the rapids of St. Goar in small detachments, the several rafts are
compacted at some town not higher than Andernach, into one immense
body, of which an idea may be formed from this list of dimensions.
The length is from 700 to 1000 feet; the breadth from 50 to 90; the
depth, when manned with the whole crew, usually seven feet. The trees
in the principal rafts are not less than 70 feet long, of which ten
compose a raft.
On this sort of floating island, five hundred labourers of different
classes are employed, maintained and lodged, during the whole voyage;
and a little street of deal huts is built upon it for their reception.
The captain's dwelling and the kitchen are distinguished from the other
apartments by being somewhat better built.
The first rafts, laid down in this structure, are called the
foundation, and are always either of oak, or fir-trees, bound together
at their tops, and strengthened with firs, fastened upon them crossways
by iron spikes. When this foundation has been carefully compacted, the
other rafts are laid upon it, the trees of each being bound together in
the same manner, and each _stratum_ fastened to that beneath it. The
surface is rendered even; storehouses and other apartments are raised;
and the whole is again strengthened by large masts of oak.
Before the main body proceed several thin and narrow rafts, composed
only of one floor of timbers, which, being held at a certain distance
from the float by masts of oak, are used to give it direction and
force, according to the efforts of the labourers upon them.
Behind it, are a great number of small boats, of which fifteen or
sixteen, guided by seven men each, are laden with anchors and cables;
others contain articles of light rigging, and some are used for
messages from this populous and important fleet to the towns, which
it passes. There are twelve sorts of cordage, each having a name used
only by the float-masters; among the largest are cables of four hundred
yards long and eleven inches diameter. Iron chains are also used in
several parts of the structure.
The consumption of provisions on board such a float is estimated for
each voyage at fifteen or twenty thousand pounds of fresh meat,
between forty and fifty thousand pounds of bread, ten or fifteen
thousand pounds of cheese, one thousand or fifteen hundred pounds of
butter, eight hundred or one thousand pounds of dried meat, and five or
six hundred tons of beer.
The apartments on the deck are, first, that of the pilot, which is near
one of the magazines, and, opposite to it, that of the persons called
masters of the float: another class, called masters of the valets, have
also their apartment; near it is that of the valets, and then that of
the sub-valets; after this are the cabins of the _tyrolois_, or last
class of persons, employed in the float, of whom eighty or an hundred
sleep upon straw in each, to the number of more than four hundred in
all. There is, lastly, one large eating-room, in which the greater part
of this crew dine at the same time.
The pilot, who conducts the fleet from Andernach to Dusseldorff, quits
it there, and another is engaged at the same salary, that is, five
hundred florins, or 42 l.; each has his sub-pilot, at nearly the same
price. About twenty tolls are paid in the course of the voyage, the
amount of which varies with the size of the fleet and the estimation
of its value, in which latter respect the proprietors are so much
subject to the caprice of customhouse officers, that the first signal
of their intention to depart is to collect all these gentlemen from the
neighbourhood, and to give them a grand dinner on board. After this,
the float is sounded and measured, and their demands upon the owners
settled.
On the morning of departure, every labourer takes his post, the rowers
on their benches, the guides of the leading rafts on theirs, and each
boat's crew in its own vessel. The eldest of the valet-masters then
makes the tour of the whole float, examines the labourers, passes them
in review, and dismisses those, who are unfit. He afterwards addresses
them in a short speech; recommends regularity and alertness; and
repeats the terms of their engagement, that each shall have five crowns
and a half, besides provisions, for the ordinary voyage; that, in case
of delay by accident, they shall work three days, gratis; but that,
after that time, each shall be paid at the rate of twelve creitzers,
about four pence, per day.
After this, the labourers have a repast, and then, each being at his
post, the pilot, who stands on high near the rudder, takes off his hat
and calls out, "Let us all pray." In an instant there is the happy
spectacle of all these numbers on their knees, imploring a blessing on
their undertaking.
The anchors, which were fastened on the shores, are now brought on
board, the pilot gives a signal, and the rowers put the whole float in
motion, while the crews of the several boats ply round it to facilitate
the departure.
Dort in Holland is the destination of all these floats, the sale of
one of which occupies several months, and frequently produces 350,000
florins, or more than 30,000 l.