Page 34

 34 A HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES 
 Turning to naval warfare, we cannot with certainty identify the types of
ships used. There were dromons, galions, galleys (galees), and barks (barches),
in that descending order of size,242 as well as catos, for carrying siege
engines.243 The dromon was a heavy transport. The term botsa is applied occasionally
to a Saracen galion; 244 Richard attacked a large fleet of these with forty
of his own lighter-armed vessels and was victorious. A division of galleys
might be termed a "caravan"; on one occasion the Genoese are reported as
having a caravan of four galleys and on another one of nine. 245 Some of
these vessels had narrow slits through which crossbowmen could shoot; 246
larger ships might be crenelated also—probably on the front and rear
castles. 247 The largest galley could hold some five hundred men, including
three hundred oarsmen;248 it was intended for swifter movement than the dromon.
249 King Richard's galley at Jaffa was painted red, its deck was covered
over with red awning, and it flew a red pennon.250 Ibn-Jubair mentions a
bark with four oars.251 Probably all these vessels had oarlocks made of cords
or rope. These galleys, or the larger galions, were the ships best suited
for naval combat. Like the heavy transports, they must have had a long deck
and a single mast with a single sail placed amidships, suitable for tacking.252
Platforms stood fore and aft, where awnings could be stretched if there was
no permanent roofing. There must have been a second deck, for a true galley
had to provide space and seats for the oarsmen. The galley and the gallon
never had more than two banks of oars on each side—one bank to a deck.
Shields were set along the gunwale on the upper deck, and sand and vinegar
were carried on board for putting out Greek fire.253 The oarsmen may have
been slaves or prisoners even at so early a date as the crusades. 
 The most formidable weapon in all sea fights was Greek fire. Attempts were
made on every occasion to send flaming arrows and other burning torches into
the enemy's ship, while the men on both 
242. Itinerarium, p. 80. 
 243. H. S. Fink, notes to Fulcher of Chartres, trans. Ryan, p. 296, note
3, with references. 
 244. Abu-Shamah, V, 12 (Arabic, butsah). 
 245. Philip of Novara, p. 80. 
 246. "Eracles," p. 106. 
 247. L ' Histoire deGuillaurne le Mare chal . . . , ed. Paul Meyer (3 vols.,
Paris, 1891-1901), I, 348, vv. 9645-9668. 
 248. Joinville, p. 47. 
 249 "Eracles," p. 169. 
 250. Bahã'-ad-Din, p. 370. 
 251. Ibn-Jubair, p. 327. 
252. Ibid. 
253. Itinerarium, p. 81.