The mode of navigating such an unwieldy craft was thus: Being loaded, the line is cast loose, and impelled as far from shore as is practicable by means of a setting pole, to which the junior navigator sets his shoulder. When that auxiliary fails, then resort is had to the side oars, known otherwise as "sweeps." By their aid the craft is impelled into the current, which impels it down stream at the rate of from four to six miles per hour. Skill is required to pilot the boat around bends in the river; as, left to itself, it would sweep in toward shore, and possibly be beached. This is avoided by the pilot setting the bow towards the centre of the stream, and plying the side sweeps, so as to attain and retain that position in the crooked stream. Nevertheless, a severe wind would frequently blow the boat towards the bank, and the crew be compelled to land, and in such case, the junior navigator must put off in a small boat, as the shore came near, with a rope around his body which he would quickly secure to some riparian object, when the senior navigator would take a turn around the check post, and, by checking the momentum by degrees, finally bring the boat to a stop without disaster. While at shore a watch was necessary against the incursions of predatory visitors, as well as to prevent the boat from grounding by the recession of the river. Sometimes the two navigators would run night and day, in which case but one would be constantly on watch. At night, in addition to keeping the boat in the current, signals must be given to passing steamers, which was done by the waving of a lantern or a firebrand. The cooking usually fell to the lot of the junior. Thus, in one way
