SOCIAL STATE OF THE ARABS. 387 



brated river, considered it navigable for steamers as 

 high as Bir; and that a constant supply of fuel might 

 be found in the wood, charcoal, bitumen, and naph- 

 tha, of which abundance is to be had throughout the 

 whole line. The distances, and time necessary to 

 accomplish this route, he estimates thus : 



Miles. Days. 



From Falraouth to Malta, 2300 15 



Malta to Scanderoon, BOO 



Scanderoon to Bussora, 1349 12 



Bussora to Bombay, 1587 



Necessary or incidental delays, 3| 



6036 42| 



The other route is by the Red Sea, the advantages 

 and practicability of which have been advocated by 

 Captain Head. The only physical point on which 

 there seems to be any doubt or diiference of opinion 

 is the overland conveyance between Egypt and the 

 Arabian Gulf. Suez and Cosseir are certainly the 

 most favourable ports; but the former has the dis- 

 advantage of shallow water, while the other would 

 occasion a delay of ten or twelve days in ascending 

 the Nile to Keneh, and crossing the intervening 

 desert. The following is the calculation as to time 

 and distance by this line of conveyance : - 



Miles. Days. 



From Falmouth to Malta, 2040 16 



Malta to Alexandria, 860 5 



Alexandria to Suez (by Cairo), 175 6 



Suez to Bab el Mandeb, 1200 7 



Bab el Mandeb to Socotra, 600 4 



_ Socotra to Bombay, 1200 7 



6075 45 



The most formidable impediment in the way of 

 this project, as we have already stated (vol. i. p. 86), 

 is the article of expense, which has been estimated 

 at 40,000 or 50,000 per annum, if the commu- 

 nication is made monthly. But though in abeyance 



