The people are seen crowding on Chandpaul Ghāt; and the low,
semicircular building at the summit, is the Police Station. The
octagonal building with its long chimney contains a steam-engine, used
for raising water from the river, for the supply of the town, watering
the roads, &c.; but the water used for drinking and culinary purposes,
is brought from the tanks by water-carriers. It is believed that this
was the first steam-engine set up in Bengal. The water passes from the
engine-well into a large brick-built reservoir, and from it into
aqueducts constructed on one side of the road. The Bank of Bengal is on
the other side of the road called the Strand, and the high pillars of
its verandahs face the Esplanade.
Colvin’s Buildings appear to great advantage; they are lofty and
spacious. Three merchant vessels are anchored off the Strand, and to
each of their chain cables a piece of wood is attached, in a manner that
prevents the water-rats from getting up them into the vessels. A native
fishing-boat with her immense net fixed upon two bamboos, is making for
the ghāt—perhaps bearing a freight of _Tapsi Mach_, or mango fish (so
called because they come in with the mango season); hence the Hindustanī
proverb, “Mangoes and fish meet of necessity.” They are the great luxury
of the Calcutta epicures, who make parties to Budge-budge down the river
to enjoy the mango fish, as those of London resort to Blackwall for
white-bait.
From the Bankshall a red boat (No. 7) is going out with a pilot to some
vessel in the river. Bankshall is said to be a Dutch name for the chief
landing-place, which was afterwards converted into the East India
Company’s marine and pilot depôt.