Arniston (East Indiaman)

An Arniston (East Indiaman) was a type of sailing ship that was used in the 1700s and 1800s by merchants coming from Europe to the East and Far East. These ships were large and heavy, with a very thick hull that was specially built to take on heavy loads and survive the long ocean journeys. They usually had two or three masts, with courses (sails) to help them move quickly. They were also equipped with cannons, so that they could protect themselves from pirates and hostile countries. Finally, the captains of these ships were usually experienced and well-respected, since a lot of work had to go into safely navigating these ships all the way from Europe to the eastern ends of the world.