A history of Babylon from the foundation of the monarchy to the Persian conquest . tby Johnson. - This is the custom at the present day^ and we know that it also existedat the time of Herodotus (cf. I., 194) ; but his description of the structure ofthe boats applies, not to the raft or kelek, but to the gv/a, a smallcoracle, which was used only for local traffic. 180 HISTORY OF BABYLON have been covered with skins as in the description ofHerodotus.^ i/ In the texts and inscriptions of the early periodships are referred to, and these were undoubtedly theonly class of vessels employed on the can
A history of Babylon from the foundation of the monarchy to the Persian conquest . tby Johnson. - This is the custom at the present day^ and we know that it also existedat the time of Herodotus (cf. I., 194) ; but his description of the structure ofthe boats applies, not to the raft or kelek, but to the gv/a, a smallcoracle, which was used only for local traffic. 180 HISTORY OF BABYLON have been covered with skins as in the description ofHerodotus.^ i/ In the texts and inscriptions of the early periodships are referred to, and these were undoubtedly theonly class of vessels employed on the canals for con-veying supplies in bulk by water. The size of suchships, or barges, was reckoned by the amount of grainthey were capable of carrying, measured by the gui\the largest measure of capacity. We find vessels ofvery different size referred to, varying from five toseventy-five giir and over. The larger class probablyresembled the sailing barges and ferry-boats in useto-day,- which are built of heavy timbers and have flatbottoms when intended for the transport of beasts. In. Fig. 43. assyrian eaft of logs on the tigris. [From a bas-relief in the British Museum.] Babylon at the time of the First Dynasty a boat-builders fee for constructing a vessel of sixty gur wasfixed at two shekels of silver, and it was proportionatelyless for vessels of smaller capacity. A boat-builder washeld responsible for unsound work, and should defectsdevelop in a vessel within a year of its being launched,he was obliged to strengthen or rebuild it at his ownexpense. Boatmen and sailors formed a numerousclass in the community, and the yearly wage of a manin such employment was fixed at sixty giir of vessels carried crews under the command of acaptain, or chief boatman, and there is evidence thatthe vessels owned by the king included many of thelarger type, which he employed for carrying grain, wool ^ See Fig. 42 ; and cf. p. 179, n. 2. 2 See Plate XV., opposite p. 184. AGE OF HAMMURABI
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