The masullah boats of the country resemble nothing to be seen elsewhere.

They have flat bottoms, perpendicular sides, and abruptly pointed ends, being twelve or fourteen feet long by five or six broad, and four or five feet high.
Not a single nail enters into their construction, all the planks being held together by cords or lacings.

Along the planks, at a short distance from the edge, are bored a set of holes, through which the lacing or cord is to pass.

A layer of cotton is then interposed between the planks, and along the seam is laid a flat narrow strip of a fibry and tough kind of wood.

The cord is next rove through the holes and passed over the strip, so that when it is pulled tight the planks are not only drawn into as close contact as the interposed cotton will allow of, but the long strip is pressed against the seam so effectually as to exclude the water.