[ '6 ] 



veffels employed on the river Ganges, and on different coafts 

 of India, carried great burdens in proportion to their dimen- 

 fions ; and on examining them I found that, however widely 

 tliey differed from each other in appearance, great espanfion 

 ■was common to them all. In order to afcertain their propor- 

 tions I had exa<fl models made of feveral of them, which I 

 fliall be happy to fubmit to the infpe<5tion of your Society. 

 The veffels of the Ganges, it is true, being conftrudled to 

 move at times in {hallow water, were not I found well cal- 

 culated to fail near the wind ; but this defedl I knew could 

 be remedied ; and it was fufficient for my purpofe to afcer- 

 tain the fad:, that, when even heavily laden, they could be 

 moved with greater velocity than veffels on the European con- 

 ftrudlion, of the fame burden, could be by an equal impulfe 

 •with ballaft only on board. 



The opinion I had thus formed was ftrengthened in the 

 courfe of a voyage from Bengal to England. Obferving that 

 the Rodney, a Company's fhlp, which I was on board of, 

 appeared longer and failed faflcr than other Indiam.en, I made 

 inquiry as to her conftrudion, and was informed that, on laying 

 her keel, ftie had been intended for a ffiip of much more confi- 

 derable burden, but that, owing to a temporary fcarcity of timber, 

 all her dimenfions had been abridged, except that her length 

 was fuffcred to remain, and confequently to exceed by fome 

 feet the ufual proportion. On our arrival in the channel, 

 with the wind about a point before the beam, we overtook 

 » fleet of Weft Indiamen, and we outfailed them with fuch 



facility 



