terror of the pearl-divers.
_Manta_ of Spaniards.

DEVILRY. Spirited roguery; wanton mischief, short of crime.

DEVIL'S CLAW. A very strong kind of split hook made to grasp a link of a
chain cable, and used as a stopper.

DEVIL'S SMILES. Gleams of sunshine among dark clouds, either in the
heavens or captain's face!

DEVIL'S TABLE-CLOTH. _See_ TABLE-CLOTH.

DEVIL TO PAY AND NO PITCH HOT. The seam which margins the water-ways was
called the "devil," why only caulkers can tell, who perhaps found it
sometimes difficult for their tools. The phrase, however, means service
expected, and no one ready to perform it. Impatience, and naught to
satisfy it.

DEW-POINT. A meteorological term for the degree of temperature at which
the moisture of the atmosphere would begin to precipitate; it may be
readily ascertained by means of the hygrometer.

DHOLL. A kind of dried split pea supplied in India to the navy.

DHONY, OR DHONEY. A country trading-craft of India from 50 to 150 tons;
mostly flat-bottomed. (_See_ DONEY.)

DHOW. The Arab dhow is a vessel of about 150 to 250 tons burden by
measurement--grab-built, with ten or twelve ports; about 85 feet long
from stem to stern, 20 feet 9 inches broad, and 11 feet 6 inches deep.
Of late years this description of vessel has been well built at Cochin,
on the Malabar coast, in the European style. They have a great rise of
floor; are calculated for sailing with small cargoes; and are fully
prepared, by internal equipment, for defence--many of them are sheathed
on 2-1/2-inch plank bottoms, with 1-inch board, and the preparation of
chunam and oil, called _galgal_, put between; causing the vessel to be
very dry and durable, and preventing the encroachments of the worm or
_Teredo navalis_. The worm is one of the greatest enemies in India to
timber _in_ the water, as the white ant (_termites_) is out of it. On
the outside of the sheathing board there is a coat of whitewash, made
from the same materials as that between the sheathing and planks, and
renewed every season they put to sea. They have generally one mast and a
lateen sail. The yard is the length of the vessel aloft, and the mast
rakes forward, for the purpose of keeping this ponderous weight clear in
raising and lowering. The tack of the sail is brought to the stem-head,
and sheets aft in the usual way. The halyards lead to the taffrail,
having a pendant and treble purchase block, which becomes the backstay,
to support the mast w