"Based on recent fieldwork in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, this book documents some of the vast array of traditional boats used in the sub-continent today for fishing and other coastal and riverine tasks. Written in non-technical language, it sets new standards for the documentation of water transport, and introduces styles of boat-building which are unlikely to be found outside the sub-Continent." "An important book for ethnographers, maritime archaeologists and historians, Boats of South Asia sets the boats in their geographical environment and their technological and social context."--Jacket.