TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 109 
once attained the valley of the Mesopotamian rivers, the line might be continued 
along the southern shores of Persia and the coast of Mekkran to India. 
But, although practically attainable, the enormous expense on the one hand, and 
the unsettled state of this part of the country on the other, render such a line of 
communication only likely to be successfully attempted at some distant period. We 
may therefore postpone the consideration of all that is eastward of the Euphrates, 
and confine the question toa railway through Arabia, having a steamer to India 
from one extremity, and another to Trieste from the other. The line supposed is to 
quit the Mediterranean at the Bay of Antioch, and pass from thence by ancient 
Aleppo to the Euphrates at Jaber, and so along the right bank of the river to its 
estuary, a distance of 715 miles. Were this completed, with the assistance of 
powerful steamers at each extremity, letters might reach Bombay from London 
In eighteen or nineteen days, and messages, partly by electric telegraph, in ten 
days. 
Seven hundred and fifteen miles of a single line of railway on the American plan, 
might be executed for about £5,720,000, or with two powerful steamers on the 
Arabian, and as many on the European side, for about £6,000,000 sterling, including 
the necessary port in the Bay of Antioch. 
Instead, however, of engaging in the first instance in such a serious outlay, tem- 
porary, and by no means costly arrangements can be made. There is, as we all 
know, a railway open to Trieste, from whence the Austrian Lloyd’s Company 
vessels would carry the mails and passengers to Scanderoon, which, as a temporary 
harbour, requires no outlay whatever. From thence by the Bir-line, it is but 110 
miles to Beles on the Euphrates, between which place and Bassorah small steamers 
might be used : 
Days. Hours 
London to Trieste...... soBoOGOE re Basen cneaesses 12 
Trieste to ScamderOon .......ccccsecscaccccadence 2 13) 
Scanderoon to Jaber ............ path eb cok uoae eae aI Io 
Paver tO WNASSOLAL ssa. seaceccaceccacercscccessesa® i 10 
Bassorah to Bombay....... cago nekaae das saap ease 4 12 
Delays DCRR A aM Ti 10 

18 18 
and if partially using the electric telegraph, ten days. 
: Such an opening as this as a commencement, might be accomplished with a bond 
fide capital of £50,000, or at the outside, £80,000; and if the undertaking were 
_ conducted by practical men, I should have no fears as to its result. For the tem- 
porary land journey, either camels might be used, with frequent relays, or the car- 
_fiages of the country, called Tack-i-van, which are carriages slung between two 
camels or horses; and the necessary protection from place to place being connected 
_ with the hire of the animals, this would give large employment to the Arabs, and 
their interest would go hand in hand with the undertaking. 
During our extensive intercourse with them, the Arabs showed the most favour- 
able disposition towards us; and they were not only glad to be employed, but proved 
remarkably faithful, not only in transporting goods and stores, but in money also. 
_ All our stores, and upwards of £6000 were safely carried in small sums from time 
to time by Arab messengers, without any loss whatever, and the existence of com- 
“mercial intercourse for centuries in Arabia, is the best proof that no great difficulty 
_ can attend more extended relations with this people. 
_ As the fertility of Mesopotamia greatly exceeds that of Egypt, being capable of 
_ growing indigo, cotton, sugar, grain, and wool to any amount, this country opens 
_a vast field for agricultural and commercial enterprise, with the safe and productive 
investment of capital. Besides the advantages of a postal communication with 
India, alternately with that by the Red Sea, a ready intercourse with Southern 
Persia, Arabia, Mesopotamia, and Kurdistan, must greatly extend the outlets for 
our manufactures, and would probably afford at the same time desirable localities 
for colonization. 
' The climate is healthy, and it could be easily shown by calculation, that there 
would be ample returns for the capital of any company that may be judiciously 


