298
LAWS CONCERNING SIAMESE AND FOREIGN VESSELS.
anchor, and the floating houses regularly moored. If its owner choose to have it pass on this or that side of them, he shall keep to that choice through all the way.
If a raft float down, and come into collision with a vessel that is moored according to Articles II. and III., the master of the vessel may cut the raft and send it adrift. But he shall do no other damage to the owner of the raft nor take possession of bis timber. If any of the timber be lost by this means the owners may not claim any damages from the master of the vessel.
If the master or owner of the vessel has not cut the raft asunder, but it break apart of itself, and then float against a vessel thus lawfully moored and injure ber in any wise, the owner of the raft shall pay the damages.
Again, whoever would float a raft shall not be allowed to make any rope fast to the cable of a vessel moored in the river. And no large vessel or raft shall be allowed to float up or down with the tide in the night time. Again, if any one would float his raft with the tide, he shall not pass very near the shore, so as to be likely to run against a floating house properly moored and thus injure it. Damages thus occasioned shall be paid by the owner of the raft.
Wherever there are no vessels anchored in the river rafts are allowed to float down in the middle of the stream, and if it be desired to make the raft fast to the shore this also may be done. If any raft or boat run against the ropes thus employed, and the boat be capsized and property damaged, no damages shall be claimed from the owner of the raft thus moored; because rafts are not, as vessels, easily managed. Common sense will teach that it is not suitable to think of passing between a raft and the shore by which it is moored.