Dockyard

In a book authored by C Raja Raja Varma entitled "A Narrative of the Tour of Upper India of His Highness Prince Marthanda Varma of Travancore", he describes the travels of the Prince accompanied by himself and his brother Raja Ravi Varma. There is an interesting note about a visit to Apollo Bunder to see the P. and O.'s S. S. Caledonia. He says "We went in two small Bunder boats...". So impressed was he with the ship that he observed "Everything in the steamer appeared so neat and comfortable that some of us entertained thoughts not very kind or charitable of Manu, Shankaracharya and other ancient law-givers for having imposed restrictions on sea voyages. I think the time is still far off when the higher castes of Malabar will obtain the sanction of the priesthood to cross the Kala Pani." This is a sketch of a dock with a moored ship, perhaps drawn when these thoughts occupied the mind of C Raja Raja Varma.