NEAR AND FAR
through the country, the Ganges and its numerous branches were the great highways of commerce, and were crowded with an endless variety of craft. The European nations who traded in Bengal all sailed their ships up the Hughly, whether for merchandise or war, and when in times of peace the respective Governors of the settlements exchanged visits, and enjoyed each others hospitality, they travelled in their grand state barges, with a flotilla of lesser boats bearing their suite and attendants.
Stavorinus, the Dutch traveller of the eighteenth century, described in detail the visit of the Dutch "Director" of Chinsurah to the Governor of Calcutta in 1770. The Dutchman sailed in his great "budgerow," or house-boat, in the large room of which thirty-six people could sit down to table. He was followed by a crowd of smaller budgerows, with his officers; there were two kitchen, or "cook-boats," and two store-boats laden with the necessary provisions; making a fleet of thirty-three vessels, which sailed from Chinsurah, at four o'clock one afternoon, and arrived at Chitpore, the northern extreme of Calcutta, at seven next morning. After a stay of two days, which cost the Director a thousand rupees in buckseesh to the Governor's servants, the fleet sailed again with the flood
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