In this book, Professor McGrail's study of European water transport is extended to Egypt, Arabia, India, South-east Asia, China, Australia, Oceania and the Americas. Each chapter presents a picture of ancient boatbuilding and seafaring that is as accurate and as comprehensive as it is now possible to achieve. The early rafts and boats of those regions were, as in Europe, hand-built from natural materials and were propelled and steered by human muscle...