File:XXVII. Triremes seu Galiottae et Fustae Iavenenfium. 21. (A typical Javanese man-of-war ship).jpg

English: A typical Javanese man-of-war ship. The Javanese call their man-of-war ships, Cathurs. The slaves are all seated below deck and do the rowing with oars, while the warriors remain above deck and do the fighting. These ships have some of the most distinguished people of Bantam aboard. They carry between four and six small cannons but have only one or two masts and sails. They are built in Laffaon (Lassaon, modern Lasem city), under the guidance and supervision of the Turks that live in that region of Java.

Theodore de Bry, a German engraver and book dealer, began a compilation of early voyages in 1590 and had published six parts at the time of his death in 1598. His widow, two sons, and another family member continued the work, which comprised a total of fifty-four parts when it was completed in 1630. The publication is in two series, denoted the Grands Voyages and the Petit Voyages. A German edition of the Petit Voyages was published in 1599 in Frankfurt am Main. A second German edition came out in 1616. Latin editions were published in 1609 and 1629.

Description from A Collection of Voyages Undertaken by the Dutch East-India Company, for the Improvement of Trade and Navigation, which is a translation of De eerste schipvaart der Nederlanders naar Oost-Indië onder Cornelis de Houtman:

They have Fustes and great Galleys at Bantam, but they can hardly preserve them, for they crack and open, though they keep them under a Roof to prevent such Accidents. They make use of them upon Expeditions or Sieges, but ’tis a long while before they get ’em ready to sail.

Their Galiots are much like those in Europe, saving that they have only a Gallery at the Stern, and the Slaves or Rowers fit by themselves under the Deck, in Chains. The Soldiers are above them upon the Deck, that they may fight with more liberty. They have two Masts, and four Patereroes [original Dutch: Bassen - Breech-loading swivel gun] planted in the fore-part.

The Praos or Pirogues serve to Cruise and Guard all the Islands against Pirates and other Accidents; they also make use of them to run Goods without paying the Duty. They have a Deck made like a Roof of a House, as well as the Pleasure-Barges, and no body can go to the Stern, but by going over the Deck.

They have a great Mast, and a Mizzen-Mast, at the top and bottom of which is a long Reed. The Sails are made of twisted Herbs, or Leaves of Trees. Six Men row at the forepart, and two fit at the Stern to steer ; for they have two Helms, one on each side, and a Reed in the middle, fastened with a Rope under the Stern. All Jonques, and the other Vessels of that Country, have also two Helms.

(Note, translation from the Dutch version is : "They have a large mast with a large besaen (midden-zeil, English: mizzen), which has a long reed below and above, in form as here the besaens rod, tseijl is of grass (mendong grass-Fimbristylis diphylla) woven together, twelck much to Punctan (Javanese: Pontang) is woven, oft oock of tree leaves, like Gelis (perhaps from Javanese agel the leaf fiber of the putyuk or gebang palm, Corypha Gebanga BI. (C. umbraculifera L.) ) or Reed (rotan). They have also sitting before one man, who row (the note), and the two behind them that steer: for they have two rudders, one on each side, and not in the middle aft under a ship but tied with ropes or sails to a ship, and such rudders have all her ships oft Joncken.")