1831.] 
Analyses of Books. 
151 
V . — Analyses of Books. 
An Account of Steam Vessels, and of Proceedings connected with Steam Navigation 
in British India. By G. A. Prinsep, Esq. Calcutta Government Press, 1830. 
In our first volume we gave a short notice on the then recent experiments made 
with a view of introducing steam navigation on the river Ganges, This, with the 
exception of a few paragraphs in the news-papers, is all that until lately we pos- 
sessed in the shape of documents bearing on the history of the introduction of 
steam navigation into India. Many who have felt interested in the progress of this 
great improvement have lamented the want of an accessible and connected 
account, which should exhibit as well what has been done, as what still remains 
to be accomplished. It was, therefore, with considerable satisfaction, we noticed 
the publication, at the Government Press, of the work, the title of which we have 
given above. For the copy obligingly sent us by the author, we return our best 
acknowledgments, and we shall avail ourselves of it to give to our readers some 
idea of the contents of the work. 
It is a compilation, as we learn in the preface, from every source which could 
throw light on the subject. The several official documents bearing on the question, 
were placed at the author’s disposal, by order of Government. To these he has 
added what could be gleaned from the news-papers, or private correspondence. He 
has, besides, consulted the various officers, builders, and others connected with the 
introduction of steam vessels in India, and he has thus, at the expense, we 
can easily conceive, of no small labour, collected a body of information, which by 
those interested in the history of public improvements will be duly appreciated. 
And although the dry nature of such a work will, in a measure, preclude it from very 
general perusal, the Author will still obtain his reward in the satisfactory assurance, 
that his volume must always remain a Manual of Steam Boat History, or, to use his 
own words, “ a record of easy reference” for all who may be interested commer- 
cially, professionally, or officially, in a subject, the importance of which is every day 
increasing throughout the civilized world. 
Our Author treats, in succession, of private speculations : — of government sea and 
river steamers ; — of experimental voyages on the Ganges : — and on the question of 
river tugs ; — concluding with a comparison of the navigation of the American and In- 
dian rivers ; he has added plans and sections of several of the steamers, and etchings of 
most of the native boats in use on this side of India ; as the latter will prove in- 
teresting to the generality of our readers, who may, like ourselves, have been fre- 
quently perplexed in distinguishing the Golakh from the Patella, or the Panswuee 
from the Pulwar, we have obtained permission from the gentleman who sketched 
them, to make use of his plates, in striking off the set which adorns the present 
number of the Gleanings. 
Our notice of them will naturally take precedence of our general description 
of the steamers themselves. 
“Whoever has lived upon the banks of the great Ganges, and of the Hoogly above 
Calcutta, must have been struck with the rapid succession of boats, moving up and 
down at all seasons, and penetrating the country in all directions. All the large 
streams which rise in the northern hills, are navigable, more or less, throughout the 
year, nearly to the foot of the first range. The Ramgunga and Gurra, in Rohil- 
cund, though comparatively small, are open above half the year. The Goomtee, 
Chowka, and Dewa or Gogra, in Oude; the Raptee, Gunduck, and Bhaguruttee, 
in Goruckpore and Behar ; the Koosee, Muhanuddee and Teesta, (the Attri of the 
plains,) in Purneah and Dinajpoor j and on the side of Assam and Sylhet, the 
