Sparring, sometimes called “walking”, was done by means of two poles or spars which were lowered over each side of the boat and set in the sand with the lower ends pointing downstream.  Lines were attached to the top of the spars and drawn taunt around the capstan.  Then the crew pulled backward, lifting the boat upward and forward over the sandbar.   The process was repeated until the boat reached deeper water. 

Lighting or lightening meant that part of the cargo had been removed from the boat in order to pass over a shallow in the river.  As a by-product, lighting also caused the costly process of double-tripping. 

“White roosters” were white laborers who were also known as  roustabouts and deckhands. 

Deck passengers usually only paid half fare, slept on the lower deck, provided their own food, and generally helped when the boat was wooding up, sparring, and doing other manual work.