p. 543: “The Burmese have a river-navy consisting of large war boats designed to act on the great rivers which form the main channels of communication between the different parts of Farther India. They are built of the solid trunk of the teak-tree, sometimes one hundred feet in length, though very narrow. Every town near a river is obliged to furnish a certain number of these boats, the whole number of which is thought to amount to five hundred. They carry from fifty to sixty rowers each, who are provided with swords and lances. There are also in each boat thirty musketeers, and in the bow a six pound or twelve pound cannon. Many of these boats are gilded within and without, including the oars. The state barges, in particular, are covered with ornamental carved work highly gilt.
And
p. 544: The Burmese mercantile navy is large, owing to the want of roads on land, and the great facilities for inland navigation. The vessels built by the Burmese are of a very ingenious construction, and well adapted to the business of plying upon the rivers. They are totally unlike any thing in this country.
Source
S.G. Goodrich. History of all nations, from the earliest periods to the present time; or, Universal History: in which the history of very nation, ancient and modern, is separately given. New York, 1856.
And
p. 544: The Burmese mercantile navy is large, owing to the want of roads on land, and the great facilities for inland navigation. The vessels built by the Burmese are of a very ingenious construction, and well adapted to the business of plying upon the rivers. They are totally unlike any thing in this country.
Source
S.G. Goodrich. History of all nations, from the earliest periods to the present time; or, Universal History: in which the history of very nation, ancient and modern, is separately given. New York, 1856.
