THE INDIAN MAILS. 99 



other hand, profit by the support England could give 

 to the traffic in the shape of a contract for the Indian 

 mails. It is calculated that, provided an improved 

 service of steamers were run from the terminus on the 

 Persian Gulf to Kurrachi, a saving of 3 days 16^ hours 

 would be effected on the present 14 days 16 hours to 

 India ; and, estimating the subsidy now given to the 

 P. and 0. Company for carrying the mails to India at 

 £90,000, an increase of about 500 francs jDer kilometre 

 would accrue. The tendency of passenger traffic is like- 

 wise to follow the mails, and in addition to a saving of 

 nearly four days, it can be shown that the first-class 

 fare would be reduced from £72 to £61. 



It is of course possible that in renewing the 

 contract with the P. and O. Company the Gov- 

 ernment might stipulate for a higher rate of speed 

 than the present 14|- knots, and were 19 knots 

 attained the post to India would occupy only eleven 

 days. Many who, in common with myself, have 

 passed through the irritating experience of having 

 to slow down to half speed to avoid reaching 

 Bombay before the appointed day, can testify to 

 the ease with which the speed of the P. and O. 

 service might be increased ; but to attain a uniform 

 speed of 19 knots would doubtless entail an enor- 

 mously increased consumption of coal and consequent 

 expenditure, for which there would appear to be no 

 call.i 



From what I have written above it might per- 

 haps be inferred that I was disappointed at the 

 decision of his Majesty's Government, made known 



1 It is gratifying to learn from Sir E. Law's speech on the Indian 

 budget in March of this year that the English mail contract with the 

 P. and O. Company has been renewed for a period of three years, on 

 condition that the mails are to be delivered twenty-four hours earlier 

 at either end. 



