Introduction to Book One of “Penang: The Fourth Presidency of India” February 15, 2013 – Posted in: Excerpts

Book one is entitled: “Ships for a Presidency” (To read the entire introduction to Book One, as well as the book’s general Introduction, please click here) It may appear unusual to begin a history of early Penang with a study of shipbuilding. However, in the days when slow, timber sailing vessels were the mainstays of international trade, a primary requirement was for regular and safe stopover points: sea ports with an ability to provide a facility…