1841.] Wood's Report on the River Indus, 539 



are of wood. The engines are double, of 60 horse power, oscillating ; 

 they consume of Burdwan coal about 10 pounds per horse power per 

 hour, and carry at a draft of 30 inches, about 450 maunds. In 

 the steamer there is a large cabin abaft the boiler, not habitable 

 by Europeans in the warm weather; but very comfortable in the 

 cold. Before the engines, there are two cabins on each side, 8 

 feet by 5, with a space between that forms a mess room. There is 

 also a very light cabin on the deck of | inch board 8 feet by 10 ; the 

 engines are before the boiler ; the steamers have one mast and top-mast, 

 on which they set square sails when the wind is fair. The boat, 

 (a good stout cutter,) is always towed close up to the stern of the 

 accommodation boat. The anchors are 4 and 5 cwt., besides stream 

 and kedge anchors, grapnels, &c. They are well furnished with 

 ground tackle ; chain cables are alone used. The diameter of the 

 paddle wheel is 16 feet, the breadth 6, the board 6 feet long, 8 inches 

 deep, and 18 on each wheel : they are preferred of fir, and are 2 inches 

 thick. The centre board, when the vessel has her coal on board, is 

 3 inches below the water surface. The greatest speed of the steamer 

 when alone, is 9 statute miles an hour ; with the accommodation boat 

 in tow, 7 miles. 



" The contractors have their coal in depots on shore, and send it in 

 boats to the steamers when they cannot lay along- side the bank. Coal 

 is taken by weight, and one hour allowed for the delivery of one 

 hundred maunds. 



"In the bow of the accommodation boat and in the stern of the steam- 

 er, are fixed strong posts well secured, and at the same height a saddle 

 is bolted on each, and protected by an iron plate. An iron hoop 6 

 inches deep is on the post also above the saddle, in contact with it ; 

 a beam of 18 feet long, 14 inches broad, and 5 inches thick, with 

 jaws at each end, connects the boats by resting with its two ends 

 on the saddles, and is secured round the posts with a chain with 

 a hook and lever, so as by letting go the end of the lever, to detach the 

 chain in an instant, and allow the boats to separate. There are also 

 hawsers from each bow of the accommodation boat to the paddle boxes 

 of the steamer, which serve to guide the boats, and assist the steering ; 

 the following boat acting as a powerful rudder to the preceding one. 



