The log
is, however, at best, a precarious way of computing, and must be
corrected by experience. The inventor of it is not known, and no mention
is made of it till the year 1607, in an East India voyage, published by
Purchas. The mode before, and even now in some colliers, and in native
craft in the East Indies, is to throw a _log_ or chip overboard at the
foremost channel-plate, and to walk aft, keeping up with it until it
passes the stern, thus estimating (and closely too by practice) the rate
of motion. Other methods have been invented by various people, but
_Massey's Patent Log_ gives the most accurate measurement. The same
principle is also applied to the deep-sea sounding-lead.

LOGWOOD. Dyewood, _Haematoxylon campechianum_. It occurs on both sides of
the American coasts near the Isthmus of Darien, and is a great article
of trade, varying from L5 to L10 per ton. Recent discoveries of the
products of coal have reduced the price.

LOICH. A statute term, comprehending the fishes lobbe, ling, and cod.

LONDAGE. An old term for landing from a boat.

LONDON WAGGON. The tender which carried the impressed men from off the
tower to the receiving-ship at the Nore.

LONGAE. Roman row-boats built to carry a large number of men.

LONG AND SHORT BOARDS. _See_ TACK AND HALF-TACK.

LONG BALLS. Engaging beyond the reach of carronades.

LONG BOAT. Is carvel-built, full, flat, and high, and is usually the
largest boat belonging to a ship, furnished with spars and sails, and
may be armed and equipped for cruizing short distances; her principal
employ, however, is to bring heavy stores on board, and also to go up
small rivers to fetch water, wood, &c. At sea it is stowed between the
fore and main masts. Not used in the navy. (_See_ LAUNCH.)

LONG-BOW. A noted weapon formerly supplied to our men-of-war.

LONG CHALKS. Great strides. (_See_ CHALKS.)

LONGER. Each row of casks in the hold, athwart. Also, the fore and aft
space allotted to a hammock; the longers reckoned similarly to last.

LONG-GASKETS. Those used for sea service; the opposite of
_harbour-gaskets_ (which see).

LONGIE. A name of the foolish guillemot, _Uria troile_, in the north.

LONGITUDE. Is an arc of the equator, or any parallel of latitude,
contained between the meridian of a place and that of Greenwich, or any
other first meridian. These arcs being similar, are expressed by the
same number of degrees and miles, though the absolute distance on the
e