The boatmen use a single heart-shaped paddle,in the working of which they me exceedingly skillful. One of them, sitting in the stem of a boat, will both propel and guide by paddling on one side only ; for a drawing of the paddle a little
towards one, or a turn of the wrist outwards, will enable one to steer in the stroke itself. The women help in the paddling,but only for slow work. In towing, men, women, and children all take their turn.
A shikairi is the sort of boat that is in daily use for transportation and collection of weeds. A shikairi is the smallest boat of all; a shooting punt, used in going after wild fowl on the lakes.