1842.] 



Asiatic Society. 



967 



If you will have the goodness to forward it with an official letter to the Secretary 

 to Government, it will be adopted by Government" (Signed) H. Spottiswoode, 

 To Major W. Hough, Calcutta. Military Secretary. 



(True Copy.) W. Hough. 



Origin of the use. 



" In the year 1730, I was passenger in a ship from Batavia to China, 400 tons, 

 (the Pridaae, Francisco Xavier, Commander,) freighted by English, Chinese, and 

 Portuguese. Near the Coast of China we met with a Tyfoon, (Taufong), which carried 

 away all our masts, bowsprit, and rudder; six feet water in the hold — expecting 

 every moment the ship would founder. The English and Portuguese stood in their 

 shirts only, ready to be thrown off; but the Chinese-merchants came upon deck in a 

 bamboo habit, which had lain ready in their chests against such dangers, and it was 

 thus constructed ; four bamboos, two before and two behind their bodies, were placed 

 horizontally, and projected about twenty-eight inches. These were crossed on each 

 side by two others, and the whole properly secured, leaving a space for their bodies ; 

 so that they had only to put it over their heads, and tie the same securely, which was 

 done in two minutes, and we were satisfied they could not possibly sink. The shape 

 is given below." — From a letter to the Author of the Seaman's Preservative. Annual 

 Register, vol. iv. 1761, p. 141.—" Useful Products:' (True Copy.) W. Hough. 



In 1834, the above was published by me, but not in a form to attract general atten- 

 tion. It occurred to me that I might save the two minutes, above noticed, by forming 

 the " Life Preserver," at once, into two squares, ready for immediate use. 



It seems to be adapted for use by fleets of Troop-boats, proceeding up or down any 

 river, or in the case of Troop-transports, or indeed, for ships generally, for either 

 boats or ships wrecked in the middle of a river, or at sea, or coast, or ashore, it will 

 render safe many valuable lives. The soldier or sailor, may place it under his cot or 

 hammock. If made on a larger scale, it might be the means of saving boxes, contain- 

 ing valuables or papers, now, often lost in boats proceeding up the Ganges, &c. 



The loss last month of two officers, sixty-eight men, six women, twelve children, of 

 H. M's. 50th and 62nd Regiments, and a great number of natives, suggested to me to 

 request Major General Littler, commanding the Division, to test its use before a Com- 

 mittee, which assembled in his presence. I since submitted it to Government for im- 

 mediate adoption, a division of the 9th Lancers being on the eve of departure from 

 Calcutta to Allahabad by water. I had often tested its utility myself, but I thought 



