It was an old war-canoe, crumbling to dust.

Being supported by the same rude blocks upon which, apparently, it had years before been hollowed out, in all probability it had never been afloat.
Outside, it seemed originally stained of a green colour, which, here and there, was now changed into a dingy purple.

The prow terminated in a high, blunt beak; both sides were covered with carving; and upon the stern, was something which Long Ghost maintained to be the arms of the royal House of Pomaree.

The device had an heraldic look, certainly--being two sharks with the talons of hawks clawing a knot left projecting from the wood.
The canoe was at least forty feet long, about two wide, and four deep.
The upper part--consisting of narrow planks laced together with cords of sinnate--had in many places fallen off, and lay decaying upon the ground.

Still, there were ample accommodations left for sleeping; and in we sprang--the doctor into the bow, and I into the stern.