Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. The Boats of the Ganges. The Fishing Methods of the Ganges

A ditinctly old-world feeling pervades the scene ; the majority of the boats have the high stern and low bow of the craft that crowded the Nile in those far-off days when Egypt was a great world power and teacher of the nations and long before the advent of the lateen-rigged gaiassa and dahabia of Arab origin had changed out of all semblance the ancient aspect of Nile traffic. [...] It is notable that although the Mesopotamian inflated skin-raft is in use its companion the circular wicker coracle so much in evidence on the Tigris at Bagdad is unknown in the basin of the Ganges although common in two of the great rivers of South India the Cauvery and the Tungabadhra. [...] Its lines are good and with the clean-cut figure of the lithe helmsman high on the roof of the aft cabin encouraging the rowers to fresh efforts and occasionally swaing to and fro as he works the sweep the picture made by a well-kept bhaulia is very pleasing to the eye.188 J. HORNELL ON In the better class bhaulias the mast is hinged in a tabernacle just forward of the fore cabin ; others are [...] In the form of hull in the style of sail and rigging and in the method of"THE BOATS OF THE GANGES. [...] To permit the play of the forward half of the rudder the stern of the ulak at a distance of a few feet from the stern post head is cut away and planked with transverse boarding.