n to their duty; the same as _act of grace_.

PARGOS. A fish resembling a large bream, from which the crews of Quiros
and Cook suffered violent pains and bad effects. The porgy of Africa and
the West Indies.

PARHELION. A mock or false sun; sometimes more than one.

PARIAH. The low-caste people of Hindustan; outcasts.--_Pariah-dogs_;
also outcasts of no known breed.

PARK. A piece of ground (other than a battery) appointed for the ranging
of guns or of ordnance stores.

PARLEY. That beat of drum by which a conference with the enemy is
desired. Synonymous with chamade.--_To parley._ To bandy words.

PARLIAMENT-HEEL. The situation of a ship when careened by shift of
ballast, &c.; or the causing her to incline a little on one side, so as
to clean the side turned out of water, and cover it with fresh
composition, termed _boot-topping_ (which see).

PAR-LINE. A term signifying the normal level of a barometer for a given
station, or the mean pressure between 32 deg. and the sea-level, to which
last the observations are all to be corrected and reduced.

PAROLE. The word of honour given by a prisoner of war until exchanged.
Also, synonymous with _word_ (which see).

PAROLE-EVIDENCE. In insurance cases it is a general rule, that the
policy alone shall be conclusive evidence of the contract, and that no
parole-evidence shall be received to vary the terms of it.

PARRALS, OR PARRELS. Those bands of rope, or sometimes iron collars, by
which the centres of yards are fastened at the slings to the masts, so
as to slide up and down freely when requisite.

PARREL-ROPE. Is formed of a single rope well served, and fitted with an
eye at each end; this being passed round the yard is seized fast on, the
two ends are then passed round the after-part of the mast, and one of
them being brought under, and the other over the yard, the two eyes are
lashed together; this is seldom used but for the top-gallant and smaller
yards.

PARREL WITH RIBS AND TRUCKS, OR JAW PARRELS. This is formed by passing
the two parts of the parrel-rope through the two holes in the ribs,
observing that between every two ribs is strung a truck on each part of
the rope. (_See_ RIBS and TRUCKS.) The ends of the parrel-rope are made
fast with seizings; these were chiefly used on the topsail-yards.

PARREL WITH TRUCKS. Is composed of a single rope passing through a
number of bull's-eye trucks, sufficient to embrace the mast; these are
principally used for the c