BALLOON, or BALLOON, is more particularly used, among voyagers, for the state-barges of Siam. The balloons are a kind of brigantine, managed with oars, of very odd figures, as serpents, sea-horses, &c. but, by their sharpness and number of oars, of incredible swiftness. The balloons are said to be made of a single piece of timber, of uncommon length; they are raised high, and much decorated with carving at head and stern: some are gilt over, and carry 120 or even 150 rowers on each side. The oars are either plated over with silver, or gilt, or radiated with gold; and the dome or canopy in the middle, where the company is placed, is ornamented with some rich stuff, and furnished with a ballustrade of ivory, or other costly matter, enriched with gilding. The edges of the balloon just touch the water, but the extremities rise with a sweep to a great height. Some are adorned with variety of figures, made of pieces of mother of pearl inlaid: the richer sort, instead of a dome, carry a kind of steeple in the middle; so that, considering the slenderness of the vessel, which is usually 100 or 120 feet long, and scarce six broad, the height of the two ends, and of the steeple, with the load of decorations, it is a kind of miracle they are not overset.