The onboard, above deck latrine used in historic sailing vessels was called the “Seats of Ease”. This is very similar to the Garderobe in castles. It was also called the “ship’s head” and was the sanitary facility aboard the ship. These were written about even as early as 600 B.C. on an ivory plaque from the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia in Sparta. This is reprinted in the Those Vulgar Tubes. These became popular in historic ships by the late 17th century, with European use documented from 1670-1689 taking on a keyhole shape similar to the Roman’s stone seats so one would know which way to sit. These commonly were placed on both sides of the bow, sometimes equipped with drainage pipes to direct the excrement down to the sea, while many others were just open holes down to the water below. For the captain and officers, separate “seats of ease” called “quarter galleries” were located at the stern of the ship, and offered a bit more privacy from the rest of the crew – otherwise would have been style the same. The seats on the bow were quite dangerous in rough weather, but always served to keep the area clean with the constant splashing of the waves on and over the bow. ‘Pissdales’ were added on to ships later, as metallic urinals or tubes, as lead funnels, leading overboard, along the side of the ship for ‘No. 1’.