'The Hooghly River at low tide along Custom House Ghat', Calcutta, 1865

Photograph by Samuel Bourne (1834-1912), India, Bengal, 1865.

Throughout the 19th century, Indian cottons, silks and tea were transported by river boat to Calcutta for shipment to Europe. Bengali opium was also shipped from Calcutta and used to purchase tea from China. The Custom House ghat (landing place) was located to the south of the old Fort William which had been used as a customs house since 1766.

From an album of 95 photographs including views of Calcutta taken by Bourne, 1865-1870 (c).