Pelota (boat)

A pelota was an improvised rawhide boat used in South and Central America for crossing rivers. It was similar in some respects to the coracle of the British Isles or the bull boat of North America, but it had little or no wooden framework or internal supporting structure, often relying entirely on the stiffness of the hide and the packing of the cargo to keep it open and afloat. Thus, the hide could be carried about on horseback and set up quickly in an emergency, a commonplace rural skill. The vessel was towed by an animal, or by a human swimmer gripping a cord with the teeth, who had to be careful not to swamp it, women being considered particularly dexterous. Pelotas could convey substantial loads—around a quarter of a ton was common—and even small artillery pieces. They continued to be used well into the 20th century.