354 
Report on a Route across 
[No. 4*, 
3rd. The saving therefore which would be derived by commerce 
and the travelling world, by establishing a communication across 
the Isthmus of Krau (provided it be quick and efficient,) by the 
mere calculation of saving of fuel and establishment of running 
steamers, will be represented by the sum of Rs. (91,800—50,200)= 
41,600 per mensem, or Rupees 499,200 per annum which sum at 5 
per cent, would give a capital of 100 lakhs, or one million sterling. 
4th. The Tables do not show, however, the vast further saving which 
would accrue, by running two lines of steamers instead of three in 
* 
the Bay of Bengal, and one line instead of two on the China side 
of the Siamese and Malay Peninsula ; the reduction of the number 
of steamers, the saving thereby of steamers lying idle while not 
running, the concentration of coal depots, and many other incidental 
expenses which of course increase according to the number of 
lines running. 
5th. The Tables again do not show what a vastly more pro¬ 
fitable undertaking it would be to run one through line from Calcutta 
via Akyab, and Rangoon to the Pakchan, and thence to China, instead 
of one with a terminus inland at Maulmein getting no traffic as 
compared with that which would open up to the through line , and 
another line direct from Calcutta to China, only touching at the 
Straits’ Settlements. 
6th. The 12 millions trade (if positive, but which is probably 
only a transit trade) of Singapore, Malacca and Penang, and the 
14^- millions of Netlierlands-India, could easily command a steamer 
of its own, to run alternately on either side of the Malayan Penin¬ 
sula, communicating with Krau on the one side for the Bay of Bengal, 
and Ta}mung on the gulf of Siam, on the other, for China and 
Europe, as shown by dotted green lines on the general sketch map. 
It may occur to some, that the cost of this steamer should be 
deducted from the saving calculated in the 3rd clause. We think 
not, but there is much more than sufficient for it; and we may place 
this cost against that of the other private steamers, between 
Calcutta and Hong-kong via Singapore, not included in our calcu¬ 
lations. 
7th. From Point deGalle to the five-fathom anchorage in the 
Pakchan river, and from Tayoung, in the gulf of Siam to Hong-kong, 
Table I. shows to be 281 hours’ steam (more or less does not matter 
