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Volume 3 125 |
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A–Z |  |
FEATHERS AND FINS: CORMORANT FISHING AT TUNGCHAU
| Cormorants have been used by the Chinese for fishing for centuries. At a given signal they dive noiselessly into the water, dart in pursuit of a fish, and gulp it down into their pouch. A strap round the throat below the pouch prevents their swallowing it. Then, returning to the boat, they disgorge their prey and await orders to dive again |
QUAINT BASKET BOATS USED FROM IMMEMORIAL TIMES
| Probably the oldest type of vessel in the world, the gufa is still used, chiefly for ferrying purposes, on the Tigris. It is a large circular basket of reeds, plastered inside and out with pitch from the bitumen wells of Hit. Gufas vary considerably in size, and are used both for conveying passengers and for transporting fruit or other commodities |