Pirogue
Pirogue is a simple, historical type of ship. A pirogue is a dugout canoe in which the side walls have been raised by attached planks . Ribs often reinforce the interior. Outriggers stabilize the boat. Oars and sails are traditionally used for locomotion. Nowadays pirogues are also equipped with outboard motors. The word pirogue is derived from the French pirogue , which is derived from the Spanish-Caribbean piragua .
distribution
This boat shape existed and existed in different parts of the world. The large war pirogues or outrigger canoes of the South Sea islanders , which transported up to 40 warriors and were moved in unison with heart-shaped paddles, are particularly well known .
The first settlers of Madagascar probably covered great distances around 2000 years ago with pirogues, whose origin is believed to be in the Malay Archipelago . Pirogues are still used by coastal fishermen in Southeast Asia today.
In West Africa , too , pirogues are traditionally used for coastal fishing. Here there are wooden boats up to 20 meters long with side walls mounted on a banana-shaped, curved solid keel, with the keel protruding about two meters at the bow and stern. Typically the pirogues are brightly painted. Sandy beaches, where the boats are pulled out of the water, are the preferred landing places. When the pirogues set sail from the beach, they are also suitable for overcoming strong waves .
Pirogues were also used by the Native Americans. So they were used in the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806).
Pirogues on the Niger River in Niger (video, no sound, 11 sec)
A pirogue on the Niger River in Mali
Departure of a pirogue from Ngor on Cabo Verde to the island of Ngor ( Senegal )
Fishing boats on the beach in Gambia
A fishing boat is launched on the beach in Gambia
A pirogue in Madagascar
A pirogue in Brazil
