Figure 246.—Lashing ovulum shells on bow and stern covers:

a, the end of the braid is passed through the hole in the first shell and then tied with an overhand knot around its standing part to make a running noose which is drawn taut around the lower rim of the shell. In the figures the shell is cut away to show the hole which otherwise cannot be seen from the front. b, The shell (1) is placed on the end support (2) and the braid (3) brought through the support hole from the far side; c, brought up vertically from the support hole, and passed through the shell hole from the near side. It is then continued through the support hole from the far side and up through the shell hole from the near side, making two vertical turns (4). After passing through the shell hole to the back, the braid (3) is brought to the left. d, Two horizontal circumferential turns (5) are taken around the vertical turns from left to right on the near side. e, After the braid passes to the back on the second horizontal turn, it is brought forward through the shell hole from the back (6) and passes to the right to the next shell (7) which is set on the next support (8). Passing on the near side of the second shell (7) the braid is passed back through the shell hole and then brought forward from the back through the hole of the second support (8). This is the position in (b) from whence the process is repeated with each shell. f, The first shell (1) is shown as it really appears and the second (7) with part of the shell removed to show the braid. In the real condition the horizontal stretches of the braid and the turns passing through the shell hole cannot be seen. The end of the braid is carried on through a hole bored transversely through the thinner aft part of the rod post, drawn taut and tied. The bow ornamentation is lashed in the same way commencing at the bow end. Here, as the craftsman had to stand on the left side to have the commencement on his left, the shell openings all face to the left. After lashing the shells the braid end is passed through a hole made through the little forward projection from the semicircular raised part of the bow cover.