Conjecture on vessels

The Zoroastrians migrated from Iran to the west coast of India in the 10th century AD using the sea route. Not much information is available on the type of boat used by our ancestors.

Sketch of a vessel used in the 10th century AC

Dr Jean Deloche, a well-known Indologist and author of the book Boats in Ancient India writes that the type of boat called "dungiyah” used in early 19th century in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea was probably a replica of the ancient vessels in the area.

Deloche also cites Admiral Paris, an authority on the vessels in use outside Europe: These vessels, probably the oldest in the Indian seas go back to the time of Alexander’s expedition, their features suggest that they have since then practically remained unchanged and surprisingly still continue to be in use.

Dr V. M. MEHER-HOMJI