Thedgħajsa tal-pass is a traditionalwater taxi fromMalta. It is often simply referred to as thedgħajsa (Maltese pronunciation:[dɐjsɐ],pl. dgħajjes[dɐjːɛs]),[1] but this word refers to any type of boat in theMaltese language.[2] The boat developed in the 17th century, and was extensively used to ferry passengers in theGrand Harbour andMarsamxett Harbour between the 18th and 20th centuries. Their use declined in the late 20th century, and today only a fewdgħajjes remain in operation, ferrying tourists around the harbours. Variants of the boats are still used extensively inrowing regattas held twice a year.
DuringHospitaller rule in Malta, the demand for a ferry service in theGrand Harbour increased as the settlements ofValletta and theThree Cities developed. Thedgħajsa tal-pass is believed to have developed to meet this demand in the early 17th century. The earliest known reference to ferry boats in the harbour is from 1601, and the earliest known depiction is a drawing byWillem Schellinks from 1664. The design of thedgħajsa bears similarities with ferry boats fromSicily.[3]
The number ofdgħajjes in the harbour is believed to have greatly increased in the 18th century, and Grand MastersAntónio Manoel de Vilhena andEmmanuel de Rohan-Polduc issued regulations aimed at preventing the escape ofMuslim slaves from Malta on boarddgħajjes. In the 19th century, when Malta was underBritish rule,dgħajjes were extensively used to ferry passengers in the Grand Harbour andMarsamxett Harbour. At this point, the design of the boats was modified and they were usually highly decorated.[3]
Dgħajjes were used to ferry people from ships to the shore and also to ferry people between the harbour settlements.[3] It was usually propelled by one man standing, facing forward, and pushing on two oars.[4] In the 1950s, Princess Elizabeth (later QueenElizabeth II) traveled on adgħajsa calledSt. Angelo from aRoyal Navy vessel toFort St. Angelo. This particular boat had been built in 1950–52, and it has been restored and is now used to ferry tourists in the Grand Harbour.[5]
Somedgħajjes also saw limited use outside Malta. In the 1950s, Salvatore Formosa became the official boatman ofHMS Surprise (K346), and hisdgħajsa saw use in various Mediterranean ports, includingNaples,Saint-Tropez,Rimini,Barcelona andMonaco. While inVenice, he reportedly outran agondola after challenging its gondolier to a race. Formosa'sdgħajsa is now preserved at theMalta Maritime Museum.[6]
The use of thedgħajsa began to decline after steam ferries were introduced in Malta's harbours in 1882 and 1906, and later by the introduction ofbuses in 1918. The reduction of British forces in Malta later on in the 20th century accelerated its decline. By 1970, manydgħajjes began to be propelled byoutboard motors and oars were rarely used.[3] The number of boats has declined greatly since the 1970s, and today no more than a few dozen original boats still survive.[5][7] Very few people retain the skills of building such boats.[8] Thedgħajjes which are still in use today mainly carry tourists on tours around Malta's harbours. TheKoperattiva tal-Barklori is a co-operative of boat owners who try to preserve the few remainingdgħajjes.[9] The oldest surviving boat which is still in use is believed to be thePalomba, which was built in the mid-19th century.[8]
Since thedgħajsa tal-pass is used to ferry passengers within harbours, it is light and the timber used in its construction is not as strong as that in other boats such as thekajjik,luzzu orGozo boat, which carried greater loads and traveled longer distances. Earlydgħajjes had a slanting fore stempost and no washboards, but the latter feature was in use by the mid-18th century. Stemposts at both ends of the boat had been introduced by the end of the 18th century. In the 19th century, the boats usually had a slightly curved fore stempost, but this was replaced by a straight one in the early 20th century.[3] The high stem and stern pieces seem to be mainly ornamental but they are useful in handling the boat and in the boarding and disembarking of passengers.[4]
It is believed thatdgħajjes began to be painted in bright colours in the late 18th century, and by the mid-19th century they often bore theEye of Horus. By the 1880s, many of the boats were decorated with elaborate floral designs which varied from boat to boat.[3][4]
Variants of thedgħajsa are still commonly used in therowing regattas held in the Grand Harbour on31 March and8 September each year.[10] The boats used in the races were initially identical to the water taxis, but from the 1930s they began to be built to be lighter and faster, losing some of the traditional aspects of thedgħajsa tal-pass in the process.[3]
The boats are built to strict specifications. There are two variants of thedgħajsa tal-pass with two or four oars, and a larger variant known as thedgħajsa tal-midalji which also has four oars. The smaller boats are manned by two men: one standing and one sitting, while those with four oars are manned by four: two standing and two sitting.[10]
Variants of other traditional boats, thekajjik andfrejgatina, also compete in the regatta.[2][10]
In 2012, twodgħajjes competed in theGreat River Race on theRiver Thames.[11][12]
.svg)
Thedgħajsa appeared on theemblem of Malta which was used from 1975 to 1988.[13]
Cyril Tawney's song "The Ballad of Sammy's Bar" mentions these boats in which the last line of every verse is "Call away thedi-so". Tawney appended the following note in explanation: "Adgħajsa is a Maltese gondola used by sailors for cutting across the creeks instead of going round them. In Malta they are a legal means of sailors getting back on board ship if they miss the liberty boat. In Britain it is illegal for them to use anything than the official liberty boats to get back to ship."[14]
Media related toDgħajsa at Wikimedia Commons