CHESNEY ON STEAM NATIGATION. 
693 
circumstances we could have been inclined In 1821, five assessors were appointed, by 
to doubt the correctness of Captain Birch’s whose calculations the population of Calcutta 
census ; but, by the follov/ing statements, amounted to 1,79,917. But the magistrates 
we find it apparently borne out : — in their report calculated as follows. 
Upper-roomed houses .5,430 X 16 = 86,880"] 
Lower ditto ditto 8,800 y 8 = 70,400 [ « oa -ra 
Tiled huts 15,790-^4>C 5^= 21,714 f 
Straw ditto 35,497-f.4X 5|^=51.558j 
But making certain allowances ] Resident Inhabitants 2,0.5,600 
their definite calculation was J Influx daily 1,00,000 
In 1831, Captain Steel made it 1,87,081 
These calculations do not agree with each 
other, and they differ very widely from the 
former calculations. But there are two cir- 
cumstances which make us very doubtful 
as to the accuracy of the data on which 
Captain Birch’s calculations are based. The 
one is that Captain Birch states the total 
number of houses in Calcutta at 65,495, 
and the total number of occupiers at 2,29, 
714, which gives an average of a little above 
3 souls for each house. Now, according to 
Mr. H dwell, 8 souls per each is a mode- 
rate estimate, and we know it, from personal 
knowledge, that 5 souls per each house is 
considered a scanty population in the in- 
terior. There can be no doubt that in Cal- 
cutta, particularly the Native parts, where 
the rent is high and many more persons 
congregated together than in the villages, 
a higher average, viz. that of Mr. Holwell, 
would be nearer the truth. Therefore, if 
we reckon 8 souls per house, which is an 
opinion we have heard hundreds express, 
and take for granted that the number of 
houses stated by Captain Brich is correct, 
we would have the population, calculated on 
these data, to amount to (65,495 X 8=) 
5,23,260, which is a near approximation to 
the calculations we have quoted above. 
The other circumstance which inclines us 
to doubt the accuracy of the calculations 
made by Captain Birch is, that at the time 
he sent out the Police peons to make the 
enquiry, people had an impression on their 
minds, that the Inland and Towmduties hav- 
ing been abolished, it was intended to levy 
some other tax instead, and that the enqui- 
ries were being made in order to ascertain 
the extent to which each house could be 
taxed. This led the people to mention a 
much fewer number of inmates than was 
really the case, and this sort of false report 
was given more in reprd to the females whom 
they are always anxious to keep out of sight, 
and who being generally in the purdah, 
their exact number is much more difficult 
to ascertain. Hence we believe the males 
are stated by Captain Birch at. . 144,911 
and the females at only, 84,803 
2,29,714 
On these grounds we very much doubt the 
accuracy of the census given by Captain 
Birch, and the others which approximate to 
it. We should, however, like to see this 
question settled on unquestionable data, so 
far at least as such data are obtainable in a 
work of this description.” 
The following observations on STEAM 
NAVIGATION, by Colonel Chesney, will 
be read with interest. 
“ The records kept at Bussora shew that 
a regular overland communication was 
maintained from 1792 until 1800 (at least) 
by means of sailing vessels, leaving this 
port the 1st of each month ; with a mail 
in duplicate, to be dispatched at the same 
time for London yhom Bussora, the one 
via Aleppo to Constantinople, and the other 
through Bagdad to the same city. 
The usual time of the sea voyage was a 
month and a half, during the monsoon 
and about 24 days the rest of the year. The 
Dromedaries reached Aleppo (from Bus- 
sora) in 11 or 14 days; — 13 more are con- 
sumed to Constantinople, and about 22 from 
thence to London. — The communications 
back and forward, seem to have been very 
regular ; viz. in about 9 1 days in the mon- 
soon, and 71 the other 8 months. — 4 vessels 
were employed on this service. 
The Antelope Brig of ... . 185 Tons. 
The Fly Galliot of 29 only. 
The Viper Cutter 90 
And the Abel Schooner. ... 85 
The mails were opened by the Arabs 
occasionally in search of gold, but I have 
only met one instance of a packet being 
lost. — The whole expense was about 52,000 
Rupees ; but the actual returns from the 
letters are not stated : the postage how- 
ever was 10 Rupees for ^ of Rupee weight 
from hence to London. 
If despatches were carried in former times 
through the desert with such a degree of 
safety, there is no reason why the route 
might not be resumed just now, with better 
vessels or, if possible, steamers. — The line 
