76 Indigo in Bengal. 



sailing boat, on the Ganges, on account of the swift 

 stream and rapid eddies, these fore-and-aft rigged 

 vessels are dangerous to life, and a mistake. By a 

 kind provision of Providence, also, and the eternal 

 fitness of things, keels are unnecessary on the Ganges, 

 for the downward current of the river will carry the 

 planter, or any other traveller by water, down stream 

 at a good rate, while for progressing up stream the 

 southern breeze blows, with hardly an exception, 

 every day during that portion of the year in which 

 the Ganges is navigable by large boats ; so that as 

 the stream runs from north-west to south-east, and 

 the wind blows steadily from nearly south-east to 

 north-west in the opposite direction up stream, there 

 is no need for sailing in a wind such as makes 

 a fore-and-aft rig necessary, and the square lug is 

 found to be the best and most powerful sail, easily 

 dropped in a squall, and soon up again. Besides, 

 the mud banks and islands in the Ganges would 

 make travelling in a keeled boat most dangerous, as, 

 if the keel struck on a mud bank with the stream 

 running one way, and the wind blowing in the direct 

 opposite, a capsize would be unavoidable ; whereas, 

 with a flat-bottomed boat with a good beam, no 

 danger is to be apprehended, as, the sail being 

 promptly lowered, she is easily " slewed " off (see 

 illustration). 



