Note 21 — AQUATIC EXERCISES
Reading edition
A rope from the topmast head to the outer end of the bowsprit, where it passes through a sheave or small block, comes in by the stem head, and is belayed or made fast (done generally by winding several times backwards and forwards in the manner of a figure 8), to its cleat or pin.
[22] Ropes from the after-part of the head of the topmast to the after-part of the channels on each side.
[23] Or shrouds—ropes from each side the top-mast head, through the cross-tree arms, to the fore part of the channels, between the first and second lower shroud. They are set up or hauled taut, as are the backstays, by means of a small tackle, one block of which is hooked to the thimble spliced into the lower end of the shroud or backstay, and the other to an eye-bolt in the channels.