Traditional Boats of

Joseph Muscat

Around the shores of the Maltese Islands, one the and the kajjikk evolved some time can see various small, working boats which later in the same century. The boat or tal­ developed over a period of hundreds of years. latini evolved from the xprunara and appeared When we refer to the traditional boats of Malta during the last decades of the nineteenth century. we refer to the five 1 that have survived and which The evolved from the Italian gozzo as the show the same constructional characteristics. It principal boat by the first decades of the is interesting to note that one may come across twentieth century. certain local boats which originated after 1800 The main characteristics of traditional with the introduction of British rule in Malta Maltese boatbuilding techniques were and still but which do not comply with the traditional are the high stemposts fixed at right angles to characteristics .2 a straight keel. Washboards were fitted on the The xprunara or speronara3 was the prototype gunwales while the catwalks to the sides joining of all traditionally built Maltese boats. During the the fore and aft tambourets· were provided with time that it was in service - a period of almost two drainholes. Maltese boats were carvel built hundred years - other smaller local boats showed - the open type without a deck - and they were the same characteristics as those found on the normally powered by sails and oars. The highly xprunara. The dgnajsa tal-pass or passenger boat decorated and brightly painted local boats have appeared early in the seventeenth century while retained this characteristic up to present day .4 Figure 1: A line drawing of a L 640Umm dgnajsa tal-pass 81625 H 458 pGHAiSA ' ' ' !..--- ~------~- I -U I -...... I' I / v I t----... ; I I !'----, / - I ~ I I V ' 1------~ I ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ 1----. I - ~ ~ ~I I I I I I I I I r I ! I I I I I I I I I I ~ ~ I I ~ ~~ ~ = ~ "-.. -4 /- __.--V ' I I ··v I 11 1'----- " :J

26 Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 Looking at the first images of boats which dates to the first decades of the eighteenth represented in Maltese maritime graffiti and century, 10 one can see that it follows the traditional which go back to the second millennium B.C., Maltese boatbuilding techniques. There is not the one may get the first inklings of the or least connection with a Venetian gondola. boats of the period. The graffiti refer The British authorities in Malta introduced a mostly to open boats which came to Malta from ceremonial gondola for use by the Admiral and the Levant.5 The corbita type of boat found at a few other V .I.Ps. 11 Notwithstanding its name, Hal Far, dating to the first century B.C. and the boat was constructed according to local first century A.D., might reflect the Roman boatbuilding techniques and had absolutely no influence on local boatbuilding. The interesting connection with its Venetian counterpart. There boat graffiti found at St Paul's and Tad-Dejr were local owners of the dgPiajsa who fitted a catacombs in Rabat show the open type of boat gondola type of stem on their boats and referred with high stemposts but most probably they to them as gondolas. But the boats themselves were provided with sails and dated between the were constructed strictly according to local, well fourth to the sixth century A.D.6 known b'oatbuilding techniques .12 It is not yet possible to come across a single To see a dgPiajsa tal-pass under construction image of a boat referring to the Phoenician is an impressive sight. The frail skeleton is held period in Maltese history. Elsewhere, Phoenician in place and perfectly balanced by a system of open boats show high stemposts and they are props fixed from ground to certain vital parts rowed by men standing and facing the bows. of the frames. It remains on the stocks until It should be noted that similar characteristics such time as the boatbuilder decides that it is could be traced on boats of various harbours perfectly weighed and aligned according to the in the Mediterranean and not exclusively in empirical rules of boatbuilding. Malta. There is practically no tangible proof The exceptionally thin timbers employed to connect Maltese boats with their Phoenician on a passenger boat were intended to lower the counterparts. 7 construction costs and to produce a light craft A Maghreb-Siculo ceramic bowl dated to which was strong enough to carry ten passengers the twelfth century show certain interesting but light enough to be handled quite often by characteristics depicted on an open type of boat one rower. However, looking at a kajjikk under which deserve to be studied carefully .8 The construction one notices stronger timbers than boat shown on the bowl must have been one those employed on a passenger boat, the reason which travelled round the central part of the. being that a kajjikk was normally employed Mediterranean, especially between Tunisia and for fishing and had to face the open sea away Sicily. This image on the bowl could well be from the sheltered bays and harbours of Malta. the first and best reliable source of information A luzzu and a carried still stronger for the study of Maltese boats. During the timbers than those found on a kajjikk because eleventh century, Malta was still under Arab they had to carry heavier cargoes and travel domination and one can imagine how Muslim longer distances. influences affected all aspects of life including It is interesting to note that, while local boat . boatbuilding. When examined attentively, the builders, with the introduction of British rule in boat reveals the 'eye' at the bows, intricate Malta, lost a certain amount of technological decorations on the sheer strake or tappiera and knowledge acquired under the Order of St John, the high stemposts fore and aft. The rig they assimilated the latest technical innovations was very popular among the Muslim masters of building, for example, diagonal and clinker and such a rig has also been employed on type of hulls. However, these last two types of Maltese boats since time immemorial. hull never attracted the attention of local boat The idea of a link between a dgPiajsa and a owners and consequently they were not built in gondola can hardly be taken seriously.9 There great numbers. was once the Wignacourt gondola, which was One cannot underestimate the important specifically built as a ceremonial barge for that role played by workers employed at the H.M. Grand Master, having the spiral type of stems fore Dockyard who gleaned the necessary latest and aft. When examining the model of this gondola technologies working at the docks, subsequently

Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 27 passing their expertise to local boatbuilders. 13 During the Knights period, boatbuilders The best local experts in boatbuilding learned followed the French type of technology and the ropes at H.M. Dockyard and consequently one can still trace French terminology in new types of boats were introduced to meet local local boatbuilding. The knights constructed demand and others were acquired by British their galleys and third rates according to individuals living in Malta and elsewhere. 14 French technology and consequently the local The construction of the modern September workforce assimilated such knowledge and also regatta boats requires separate consideration applied it in the construction of small boats .17 as these boats are projected first and foremost Similarly, after 1800, with the introduction for speed and consequently certain traditional of British expertise as applied to and characteristics are sacrificed to achieve improved boatbuilding Maltese workers assimilated the velocity. Such racing boats were originally the latest innovations in ship and boatbuilding same type and of the same construction as those techniques. commonly employed in the . In One major British innovation in naval the 1930s local competitors were demanding construction which affected local boatbuilding ever lighter boats from the local builders. was the preparation of moulds for each frame Examining, for example, the racing dgliajsa required when building a boat. Moulds were to be manned by four rowers, one wonders normally prepared on a lofting board taken from how such a frail boat constructed with very the contours of a half model of the hull. 18 The thin timbers could withstand the stress of four 'old' system based on empirical rules required men, two of them rowing in a standing position a sliding type of half frame composed of a and two sitting on their benches. Modern local flat frame and a futtock duly marked with the racing boats such as the dgliajsa, the kajjikk required number of frames which composed and the fregatina are unique in concept, light the symmetrical part of a hull but not the entry in construction and decorated but unfortunately and the exit of a boat. 19 These last parts were they have lost a good number of their traditional constructed according to the expert 'eye' of the characteristics. 15 builder following traditional rules. After fashioning the required frames, the Boat Construction keel and the stems, a boatbuilder laid down the The Cottonera boatbuilders were unsurpassed straight keel on the prepared stocks. All frames in their expertise and during the nineteenth and made up of one flat frame with a futtock on twentieth centuries they constructed hundreds either side were temporarily fitted on the keel, ·of boats ·of all types. Certain builders from duly marked with the required equal spaces. , , Vittoriosa and All frames were held in place with a temporary established themselves as the real experts in the stringer. When all frames were aligned and trade. Others, working at Marsa, Marsamxett, nailed down to the keel the sheer_strake was , Gzira, Birzebbuga and Gozo turned out fitted to the frames and the internal stringer excellent examples of Maltese boats.16 Local reinforced the frail framework. The rubbing builders worked from family moulds and the strake below the sheer one with the gunwale on father to son apprentice system proved its worth top ascertained the solidity of the upper part of over the centuries. the boat; the thwarts or benches strengthened While it must be said that there were the sides. no secrets attached to boatbuilding, certain The fore and aft tambourets were fitted builders did produce better boats than others. together with the side catwalks. When the There were boatbuilders who never went ,to skeleton was strong enough to be turned on one school yet they produced excellent drawings, side the builder proceeded with the planking. moulds, cross-sections and profiles of their The floor frames were strengthened with the boats through trial and error. There were self­ floor stringers and the benches were fitted on the t:msht huilclers who succeeclecl in m::~kins upper risinss. Tt sho11lcl he noteci thnt ::~keelson a name for themselves without ever having was fitted only on a xprunara and on the Gozo attended an apprenticeship period with a well­ boat. Mast benches were provided on boats as . established boatbuilder. required, near the fore tambouret, only in the

28 Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 Figure 2: Maltese Xprunara (1832)

case of a sprit rig or at the middle too when two probably started with a single lateen rigged mast lateen rigged masts were fitted. Washboards and a jib like that carried by a . During were provided on the gunwales of all traditional the seventeenth century, it was provided with Maltese boats. a sprit rig and a jib. In fine weather, the greater spritsail was rigged to one side and the smaller The Xprunara (Figures 2 & 3) sprit to the other with the jib rigged as a topsail. This vessel presents the first characteristics of By 1850, the xprunara was rigged with a small local boatbuilding and its origin can be traced lateen sail at the stern and by then the oars were to the early sixteenth century. Unfortunately, not employed anymore.23 its first iconographical evidence only goes With the abatement of the Algerian corsairing back to circa 17 40 and can be seen in an ex activities in 1830,24 there was no longer need voto where it is shown under a sprit rig and for the oars but it is interesting to note th<~.t with all the characteristics of a Maltese boat.20 by then the hull of the xprunara had attained Presumably, there are earlier undated ex voto greater dimensions and hence a second mast was paintings showing the same boat in various required. That was the time when a xprunara predicaments at sea. was equipped with two lateen rigged masts and It is probable that the first xprunara carried by 185325 a great xprunara carried three such a long sperone or spur at the bows like the masts. By 1900, there was an attempt to provide other lateen rigged contemporary brigantine a xprunara with a rig26 but by then Figure 3: Maltese and fregata and used a lateen rig.2 1 Indeed, the boat had entered its last phase of evolution Xprunara (1740) the first xprunara evolved from the brigantine -its extinction.27 which together with the fregata were the three principal small Maltese merchantships which kept the Island supplied regularly with all types of food provisions. The hull construction of a xprunara was similar to any type of traditional Maltese boat but it carried a type of cabin at the stern for the benefit of any paying passengers.22 The xprunara, amongst other roles, was the principal passenger-carrying vessel that operated regularly between Malta, Sicily and Naples. Utilizing oars with its sails, axprunara normally crossed from Sicily to Malta in twelve hours. During its evolutionary life the xprunara changed its sail arrangement several times. It

Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 33 The Dghajsa (Figure 4) together with the awning. This boat and the The dgliajsa or passenger boat occupies a earliest known type were most probably not major facet in the history of the Grand Harbour painted in bright primary colours. By 1750 of Malta. Keeping in mind that the Cottonera there must have been a: great number of area was very thinly populated before 1530, passenger boats and their movements in and with the coming of the Order in Malta and its outside harbour were regulated by the codes settlement at the whole area attained a of Grandmasters Vilhena and de Rohan. All definite change. The building of and regulations were mostly directed at suppressing the expansion of Bormla and Senglea greatly any attempts by Muslim slaves to escape from increased the ferrying of passengers and Malta on a dgliajsa. 31 consequently required an adequately equipped Vincenzo Fenech in c .1790, depicted a passenger-carrying service. dgliajsa showing high fore and aft stemposts, the It is interesting to note that the ferry or washboards, the sheer strake with its drainholes, dgliajsa service in the Grand Harbour and the awning and tholepins for two oars on each subsequently at Marsamxett, was introduced by side. For the first time bright colours are shown those first individual boatmen who perceived on the dgliajsa but no other decorations?2 in such a service a very remunerative activity. The Schranz painters left us a number If, before the arrival of the Knights of St John of pictures showing further evolution of the in Malta, there was some type of boat service dgliajsa after 1800, during British rule in Malta in harbour, that activity must have grown when the boat attained its greatest glory as a rapidly with the increase of services round passenger boat in the Grand and Marsamxett the harbour. By 1601, we come across the Harbours. By 1850, the dgliajsa maintained first written reference to the harbour boats its slightly curved, tall fore stempost, the sheer as a ferry service.28 Schellinks drew the first strake, the awning and between the rubbing iconographical evidence of a passenger boat and the sheer strakes, moustaches or triangular in 1664.29 After Schellinks, one can trace the spaces were painted mostly in red with the eye whole evolutionary stages in the life of the of Horus depicted on the fore.33 By 1880, the Maltese dgliajsa. great passenger dgliajsa or jerilla was highly One can see in the Schellinks ferryboat decorated with floral designs all along the sheer certain similarities with the Sicilian one. Indeed, strake and brightly painted in combinations of the connections between Malta and Sicily primary colours.34 were close and people frequently moved about The dgliajsa entered its last phase of evolution between the two Islands.30 This earliest known by the first decades of the twentieth century .35 type of Maltese dgliajsa carried a slanting fore The high, straight, scimitar type of fore and stempost and an awning for the passengers but aft stems fixed at ninety degrees with the keel it does not show any washboards on the sides. had a practical function. The boatman steadied The dgliajsa depicted in the Piccola Barriera his boat while holding the fore stem with one painting dated c. 17 50, and exhibited at the hand as he helped passengers to embark or Fine Arts Museum in Valletta shows the same disembark. With his other hand he received the slanting fore stempost and the washboards fare from the passengers. The dgliajsa retained

Figure4: The Maltese dgfiajsa

34 Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 Figure 5: The Ferilla r 51

those characteristics up to present times but The Ferilla (Figure 5) unfortunately by 1970, outboard motors were There was a time during the eighteenth century fitted at the stern and the oars are not employed when the nomenclature ferilla was conected any more except perhaps when approaching or solely with the small passenger boat that plied departing from a landing place. between Birgu and Senglea. It was much smaller One can judge the importance of the than the normal dgnajsa which crossed the Grand dgnajsa by the great number of rules and Harbour, was very swift and was handled by one regulations issued from time to bime by boatman.43 Concurrently there was a fishing government officials.36 There used to be boat without a specific nomenclature44 but it hundreds of passenger boats hovering around a seems that by the turn of the nineteenth century liner arriving at the Grand Harbour. There was the name ferilla was attributed to one of the a time when boatmen used to line up in their principal Maltese fishing boats.45 Indeed, there boats near the Customs House awaiting the was not much difference between a dgnajsa and arrival of a liner.37 The British1navy employed the fishingferilla and the latter was occasionally a great number of passenger boats as ship's described as being a large dgnajsa.46 company .38 Any festa in harbour involved There was hardly any difference in the hundreds of dgnajjes carrying people around building of a dgnajsa and aferilla except that various spots in harbour. Boatmen worked hard the latter had a much taller forestem and a and, for those who wanted to work harder than higher free board. As the ferilla was expected others, there was enough work for every one to sail away from the sheltered waters of the and there were many amongst them who earned Grand Harbour it was built to be stronger than good money. With the introduction, in 1882, the dgnajsa and carried the eye ofHorus on the of the steam ferryboats first in Marsamxett and bows for good luck. in 1906 in the Grand Harbour39 and then, in Apart from its sprit rig, a ferilla was normally 1918, the buses40 the dgnajsa service lost its rowed by four men who were also fishermen. importance. The mortal blow for the dgnajsa The boat was provided with washboards which came with the 1 undown of the British forces were usually pulled out of place when hauling in Malta.41 At present, there is a slight revival in a but not when letting down or of the dgnajsa service but it is not enough to pulling up fish traps. provide a decent remuneration for fulltime The ferilla was hardly ever longer than 30 boatmen.42 feet4 7 and consequently it did not travel far out

Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 35 Figure 6: The Gozo Boat at sea. Local fishermen who feared the attacks of The fishing kajjikk was built exactly as a the Barbary corsairs travelled with land in sight dgnajsa was but with a flat stem. The Wied iz­ ready to dart to safety at the least sign of foul Zurrieq fishing kajjikk was equipped with high weather or Muslim corsairs. It seems that such bows with a pronounced flare. Nowadays there behaviour was transmitted to the local fishermen are hardly any more kajjikki at Wied iz-Zurrieq. who operated in the same way even after the The kajjikk tal-gangmu or the coal dredging one Barbary corsair threat disappeared from the was provided with low bows and a short fore Mediterranean. They worked with small family stem and was employed in the Grand Harbour crafts and consequently were urnable to face the to fish up anything from the sea bed although it open sea in search of abundant fishing grounds. was originally projected to be used when fishing The ferilla remained the favourite boat for for sea shells. fishermen up to 1900 and at present one can It seems that the largest number of kajjikki see the last remaining ones at St Paul's Bay, are to be found at St Paul's Bay, although one and perhaps in Gozo. There were can see similar fine examples at Marsaxlokk. attempts to make replicas of the ferilla utilizing No more kajjikki are being built but fibreglass fiberglass but the general effect is far from ones are produced instead. The kajjikk like pleasing to the veteran .48 any other Maltese traditional boat is painted in bright colours but unfortunately it is heading The Kajjikk (Figure 7) towards extinction. The local kajjikk evolved from the caique The kajjikk was originally equipped to be attached to a .49 The caique with a transom rowed but also carried its single mast to be at the stem was the real working boat for general rigged with a spritsail. With the introduction of purpose. Knights used to cross from Birgu to engines in about 1920 a kajjikk was sometimes V alletta on their galleys' caique which was powered by an inboard motor especially normally rowed by the bonavoglie. It is known those kajjikki which were intended for fishing that in the internal courtyard ofthe Palace of the purposes.52 General of the galley squadron in Birgu there used to be a gang of bonavoglie on call ready to The Tal-Latini (Figure 6) row a caique whenever requirecd by any member There has been a ferry service between Malta of the Order. 5° and Gozo since time immemorial. The earliest The Maltese kajjikk as we know it today iconographical evidence of the Gozo boat or might not be as strong as the galleys' caique but xpnmara can be seen in the painting Picrnla its role is as important. The kajjikk was always Barriera dated circa 1750 exhibited at the there ready to be employed on various tasks ,51 . The same type of on rare occasions carrying passengers, but it boat can also be seen in an ex voto dated 1778 was frequently used as a fishing boat. at the Tal-Herloa Sanctuary . The

36 Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 Gozo xprunara was identical to the normal one Their construction followed the same rules as which travelled to any part of the Mediterr-anean those pertaining to any other Maltese traditional but it carried no awning at the stem. The two boat. Their huge bulky bows were projected to typologies continued to operate together up to ride over a wave and their wide beam provided the last quarter of the nineteenth century. By a spacious hold capacity. that time the xprunara was losing its popularity The Gozo boat was used as a passenger with local masters as they prcfcncd the larger boat up to such

Figure 7: The Kajjikk

Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 37 Figure 8: The Luzzu

the Italian gozzo 57 ~ a boat which visited Malta are still seaworthy will be kept in working order quite frequently, especially in the 1880s.58 With for many years to come. A few luzzijiet are the introduction of marine engines on local nowadays engaged in tourism and are equipped boats stronger constructions were required to with the necessary amenities to comply with take the weight and stress, especially on the tourism regulations. floor timbers. A luzzu is painted in the traditional blue, The luzzu, a carvel built, double ended open green, red and yellow colours. On the red boat was almost a replica of the ferilla but or yellow ochre painted fore moustache one having a much shorter fore stem and a higher invariably find the eye of Horus but owners freeboard. The construction followed in all normally select a holy name for their boat. details that of all local traditional ,boats except Together with the licence number a luzzu is for the fact that it was made of much stronger decorated with floral designs on the sheer timbers. From a distance the profile of a luzzu strake. looked exactly like that of a ferilla except for There are hardly any more local traditional the fore stem and a higher freeboard. The plan boats being built as the construction costs are view showed a fore tambouret, side catwalks prohibitive. Consequently there is little demand and a stem tambouret. 59 for such craft, especially as fibre glass ones The early luzzijiet were rather small, not require hardly any maintenance work. larger than 30 feet between the perpendiculars60 The last few professional boatbuilders are and were employed mostly as transport vessels. nowadays more engaged in maintaining and They were rowed regularly by fomr men when repairing the existing traditional boats rather engaged in harbour services but when employed than building new ones. Indeed, there exists as a fishing boat they were rigged with a sprit the possibility of losing the technology of sail and a jib. Subsequently, when the luzzu was boatbuilding but on the other hand one can adopted as the main local fishing boat it was notice the flourishing of professional model powered by one or more inboard engines. makers of traditional boats especially round The luzzu tal-gadraj was provided with the the Cottonera area. Hopefully, the pendulum necessary hold space and facilities to supply will swing the other way and the love for the the required provisions to ships in harbour. old wooden boat will once again attract the The fishing luzzu is at present equipped with attention of local owners as is happening in a deck and a midship cabin together with other countries. It is hoped that the remaining powered winches and navigational instruments. boatbuilders in Malta and Gozo will pass At Marsaxlokk, one can see a good number of their expertise to others. The Malta Maritime such boats kept in perfect working condition by Museum's collection of local traditional boats their owners and although no more are built it is quite substantial and together with a fine is hoped that at least the last few hundred that collection of old models, constitutes a good

38 Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 point of reference for the history of the evolution 13 Anthony Muscat, a foreman employed at the boathouse of Maltese local, traditional boats. at H.M. Dockyard, recalled the dockyard dgliajjes kept near his workshop for use by dockyard workers One cannot but emphasize the fact that the to move from one dock to another. first typologies oflocal boats, with the exception 14 It is known, for example, that racing gigs, built at Ka­ of the fregatina, to disappear into oblivion lkara, were bought by British individuals in Gibraltar and in Israel. were those which were introduced after 1800 15 For further information see J., Muscat, The Dgnajsa under the influence of British rule in Malta. and other Traditional Maltese Boats, (Malta, 1999), The phenomenon of natural selection for the 168 et seq. 16 Such names as Guli, Pule, Del Ceppo, Ben gala, Cam­ survival of the traditional boats depends on ana, Rodo, Toscano and others are still remembered those empirical rules constituting the modalities for their expertise in boatbuilding. for the transmiSSIOn ot culture. It is hoped that 17 J. Muscat, French Influence on Maltese Ship aml one will be able to see around the shores of Boatbuilding in Proceedings of Seminar: Aspects of Maritime Relations with France Through the years, the Maltese Islandls for many year to come the Malta Maritime Museum, (Malta, 1998), 1-4 sturdy fishing luzzu, the omnipresent kajjikk and 18 Half models of local boats are exhibited at the Malta the elegant dgliajsa. Maritime Museum. 19 J. Fennis, Un Manuel de Construction des Galeres 1691, (Amsterdam, 1983), figs, 14-16 References 20 One can see the ex voto at Tal-Herba Sanctuary, 1 These are the Gozo or tal-latini boat, the luzzu, the Birkirkara. ferilla, the kajjikk and the dgnajsa tal-pass. 21 J. Muscat, The Xprunara, (Malta, 2000), 33 2 The most popular ones were the fregatina, the gigg, 22 Ibid., 2, 4, 6, 8 the baghal tal-gig, the barkun, the racing gigg, the 23 It was possible to trace the evolutionary stages of the wejla and the skiff. sail arrangement through the ages by studying the 3 J. Muscat, The Xprunara, (Malta, 2000), passim ex voto paintings in several churches of Malta and 4 J. Muscat, Maltese Ship and Boatbuilding 18th and Gozo; see also J. Muscat, Le Xprunara- Un Batiment 19th centuries in K., Damianidis, The evolution of traditional maltais in Neptunia, (Paris, 1992), no. 185, wooden shipbuilding in the Eastern Mediterranean 22-32 during the 18th and 19th centuries, (Athens, 1993), 24 P. Jullien, Journal de la Prise d'Alger 1830, (Paris, 69-89 1960), passim for a full account of the fall of .Algiers 5 J. Muscat, The Tarxien Ship Graffiti Revisited in which was the last stronghold of the Barbary corsairs Melita Historica, vol.xiii, no.l, (Malta, 2000), 49-57 in 1830. 6 J. Muscat, Maltese Ship Graffiti in C. Villain-Gan­ 25 See ex voto painting dated 1853 at Tal-Herba Sanctu­ dossi, Medieval Ships and the Birth of Technological ary, Birkirkara. Societies. (Malta, 1991), vol.ii, 323-378 26 See ex voto painting dated 1904 at the Mellieha Sanctu­ 7 See A.F. Tilley, A Phoenician Survival in The Mari­ ary. ner's Mirror, (London, 1969) vol.lv ,467-9 and ibid., 27 For more information see J. Muscat, The Xprunara, The Survival of Ancient Mediterranean Boat Designs, (Malta, 2000) and J. Muscat, The Xprunara in K., in The Mariner's Mirror, (London, 1975), vol. lix, Sciberras,Proceedings ofHistory Week 1993, (Malta, 373-84 where the author insists on the theory of a 1997) Phoenician origin and the connection of the Maltese 28 A. Contreras, The Life ofCaptain Alonso de Contreras, dgnajsa with the Venetian gondola. But see also L. (London, 1926),52 Basch, De La Survivance de Tradition Navales Phen­ 29 W. Schellinks, Journey to the South 1664-1665, iciennes dans la Mediterranee de nos Jours, in The (Rome, 1983),passim Mariner's Mirror, (London, 1975), vol.lxi, 229-53 30 NAR Lib which is a series of atTival booklets for the where he aptly confutes Tilley's theory. years 1743-47, reveals a vivid picture of the move­ 8 Thanks to Honor Frost who provided me with a picture ments of passengers especially round the central part of the bowl; see also The American Neptune, (Salem of the MeditetTanean. Massachusettes, 1989), vol. xlix, no.3, 173 item 13 31 DelDrittoMunicipalediMalta, (Malta, 17840,passim and 174 pl. 13 and Leggi e Costituzioni Prammaticali, (Malta, 1724), 9 P.G. Camenzuli, ls-Sengha tal-Bini tad-Dghajjes passim. f'Malta u f'Ghawdex, (unpublished B.A. thesis, 32 The water colour by Vincenzo Fenech is exhibited at University of Malta, 1968), 15-17 for his idea about the Malta Maritime Museum. the possible relation of the dghajsa and the Venetian 33 At the Fine Arts Museum in Valletta one can see two gondola but unfortunately he fails to .give one contem­ harbour scenes by Schranz which include the iconog­ porary reference. For more information see J ., Muscat, raphy of the dgnajsa, also. The Dghajsa -In Memoriam in The Mariner's Mirror, 34 A model of the 1880 ferilla type of dgnajsa tal-pass (London, 1991), vol.lxxvii, no.4, 404 note 1 and 2. is exhibited at the Malta Maritime Museum. 10 One may see this model exhibited at the Malta Mari­ 35 During this period, numerous photographs have been time Museum. produced showing the dgnajsa in various positions 11 A model of the Admiral's gondola can be seen at the and under various roles. Malta Maritime Museum. 36 The rules and regulations governing the employment 12· The last 'gondola' type of dgnajsa was put to sea for of the dgliajsa as a passenger boat are included in a some time recently but it was subsequently stowed series of documents NAR Customs, the Malta Govern- away in a garage.

Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003 39 ment Gazette and the Police Laws. 59 See profile and plan view of a luzzu in J. Muscat, The 37 J. Muscat, The Dgnajsa and other Traditional Maltese Dgnajsa and other Traditional Maltese Boats, 96 Boats, 65, 69 for an explanation of the venda system 60 J. Muscat, The Dgnajsa and other Traditional Maltese or how boatmen used to line up waiting to be called Boats. 96 for service. 38 Ibid., 51 et seq where the author explains at length the ship's company system. 39 G. Belli, Stm:ja ta' Malta u Ghawdex, (Malta, 1932), Glossary for Traditional Boats of Malta vol.vii, 2569-72 40 Ibid., 2574. The public bus service started to operate Buonavoglia: a freeborn person who commuted a debt by 1918. into an agreed period of rowing service on the Order's 41 J. Muscat, The Dgnajsa and other Traditional Maltese galleys. He was treated just like a slave but could keep Boats, 68 a moustache as a special privilege. 42 For a lengthy description of the Maltese dghC!JSa see Carvel: carpentry work m a boat having the planks of the J. Muscat, The DgnC!jsa and other Traditional Maltese sides fitted edge against edge. Boats, 19-77 Clinker: carpentry work in a boat having the planks fitted 43 Del Dritto, 271, item xii; Leggi, 77, item xii overlapping each other slightly . 44 Leggi, 77, item xii Corbita: a Roman type of merchant ship. 45 NAR RB, license no. 13 (1894) the entry reads: Fishing Flat frame: the part of the frame of the skeleton of a boat boat Ferilla; see also V., Busuttil and T., Borg,English resting on the keel. Encyclopaedia, (Malta, 1921), vol. D-F, 1127 Free board: the part of the hull of a boat or a ship compris­ 46 One can see a model of the great dgnajsa denominated ing the area from the gunwale to the level of the sea. asjerilla at the Malta Maritime Museum. Futtock: part of a frame of a boat on each end of the fiat 47 For more details see J. Muscat, The DgliC!jsa and other frame. Traditional Maltese Boats, 86; see also NAR RB pas­ Gunwale: the strong timber on the upper edge of a boat's sim. side. 48 For more information about theferilla see J. Muscat, Keelson: the timber fitted on the fiat frames of a boat and The Dgnajsa and other Traditional Maltese Boats, nailed to the keel. 85-88 Lateen sail: sail which had a triangular format. 49 NLM LIB 223 s.v. Caicco; NLM LIB 280, ff.48, 83, Sheer strake: was the timber from bows to stern of a boat 167; see also J. Muscat, The Maltese Galley, 20 found below the gunwale which delineates the shape 50 G. Scarabelli, La Carovana Marina di Fra Francesco of the profile. Antonio Mansi 1728-1729, (Lucca, 1986), 70 Sprit rig: denotes the manner of a boat with a 51 E. Se!Tacino-Inglott, Il-Miklem Malti, (Malta, 1975- sprit sail. 1989), s.v. Kajjikk Sprit sail: a rectangular sail having a spreader yard at its 52 For more details about the Maltese kajjikk see J. peak to keep it open in the wind. Muscat, The Dgnajsa and other Traditional Maltese Stem post: the straight or curved strong timber fitted Boats, 88-91 upright at both ends of the keel. 53 NAR CD, F 33, 30 mentions the first Gozo boat which Stringer: the timber fitted at the heads of the futtocks was fitted with a motor on 31-12-1920. from bows to stern on which were fitted the benches 54 Information kindly provided by Peter Caruana of and waterways of a boat. Gozo. Tambouret: the triangular deck level at the bows and 55 See J. Muscat, The Dgnajsa and other Traditional stern of a boat. Maltese Boats, 130, 131 Tappiera: see sheer strake. 56 For further information see J. Muscat, The Dgnajsa Tholepin: the upright strong peg fitted in an oar chock and and other Traditional Maltese Boats, 127-133 to which the oar of a boat was tied with a stropp. 57 NAR VB,passim Transom: the fiat timber at the stern of a caique. 58 NAR CD, I 37 for the years 1889, 1890, 189l,pas­ Washboard: the fiat upright timber fitted on the gunwales sim of traditional Maltese boats.

40 Malta Archaeological Review • Issue 6 2002/2003