First application of steam-vessels on the rivers and coasts of India,
1825—S.S. _Diana_—S.S. _Burhampooter_ and _Hooghly_, 1828—Arrival
in India of Lord William Bentinck as Governor-General—His efforts to
promote Steam Navigation—Voyages of the S.S. _Hooghly_ up the Ganges,
1828, 1829 and 1830—Other vessels recommended to be built—Two of
them of Iron—Steam Companies formed, 1845—Steam Committee, 1857,
and rapid progress of steam-vessels from this date—Improved troop
steamer for the Lower Indus—Sea-going steamers of India—S.S. _John
Bright_—British India Steam Navigation Company established, 1857—Its
fleet, and extent of its operations—Origin of this Company—Its early
difficulties, and rapid extension—Number of ships lost—Effect of
the opening of the Suez Canal on the trade of this Company—The _Holy
Ship_, _note_—Netherlands Steam Navigation Company, 1866—Its fleet,
and how employed—Irrawaddy Flotilla and Burmese Steam Navigation
Company, 1865—Services of this Company—Extent of inland trade—Fleet
of the Company—Interior trade of China—The Yang-tse-Kiang—Its source
and extent—Opened to trade, 1860—First steam-ship direct from Hankow
to England, 1863—Passage of the _Robert Lowe_ and her cargo—Number of
steamers employed on the Yang-tse 1864 and in 1875—S.S. _Hankow_—Her
power and capacity, _note_—Chinese Steam Navigation Company—Proposed
Imperial fleet of steamers—Increase of trade with China—The
resources of the interior—Mode of conducting business—“Hongs” or
Guilds—Chinese Bankers—River and coasting trade of China—Japanese
line of steamers—How employed