ON the left hand of the next illustration is a figure of the seed-vessel of the Grapple-plant of Southern Africa, drawn from a specimen in my collection. The seed-vessel is several inches in length, and the traveller who is caught by a single hook had better wait for assistance than try to release himself. The stems of the plant are so slender, and the armed seed-vessels so numerous, that in attempting to rescue one portion of the dress, another portion becomes entangled, and the traveller gets hopelessly captured. Besides the hooks of the seed-vessels, the branches themselves are armed with long thorns, set in pairs. The scientific name of this plant is _Uncinaria procumbens_, the former word signifying “a hook,” and the latter “trailing.” It is also known by the popular name of Hook-plant. [Illustration: GRAPPLE-PLANT.] [Illustration: DRAG.] In the late Kafir wars the natives made great use of this and other plants with similar properties, their own naked, dark, and oiled bodies slipping through them easily and unseen, while the scarlet coats of the soldiers were quickly entangled, and made them an easy mark for the Kafir’s spear. In this way many more of our soldiers were killed by the spears than by the bullets of their enemies. Opposite to the Grapple-plant is shown the common Drag, which is utilised for so many purposes. Generally it is employed for recovering objects that have sunk to the bottom of the water, and its use by the officers of the Humane Society is perfectly well known, the Drag being sometimes affixed to the end of a long pole, like the flesh-hook already described, and sometimes tied to a rope. It can also be used as an anchor, after the manner of a kedge, and has been often employed in naval engagements for the purpose of drawing two ships together, and preventing the escape of the vessel which is being worsted. My relative, the late Admiral Sir J. Harvey, K.B., used drags in this manner, and secured two French ships, one on either side, namely, _L’Achille_ and _Le Vengeur_. The first was sunk, and the second captured. NAUTICAL. CHAPTER V. SUBSIDIARY APPLIANCES. PART III.--THE BOAT-HOOK AND PUNT-POLE.--THE LIFE-BUOY AND PONTOON-RAFT. The Boat-hook and its varied Uses.--The Earth-worm and the Serpula.--Microscopic Boat-hooks.--The Life-belt.--Life-boats and their Structure.--Uses of Cork.--Wine Corks made serviceable.--The Life-collar.--Portuguese Man-of-war.--Captain Boyton’s Life-dress.--The Life-raft.--Victualling a Yacht and Boat.--The Janthina and its Air-vessels.--Cask-pontoon--Pottery-raft and its Uses. As all rowing men know, an indispensable appliance to the boat is the Boat-hook, which can be used either as a pole, wherewith to push the boat along, or as a grapnel, by which it can be drawn towards the shore or a ship. As the latter portion has been discussed at the close of the preceding chapter, we may proceed to the former.