working against them, less; still, on the whole voyage, or from the
Cape, for example, to Calcutta, and from Calcutta to the Cape again,
the time specified would be sufficient for the work and the distance;
while in taking a circuitous course to avoid the force of the
monsoons, the steamers would make up by increased speed for the
increased distance. The N. E. monsoon may, at anytime, be stemmed by a
steamer of large power, and such as is now recommended. The S. W.,
which is the most formidable, may be overcome by the boats on their
return,--if by the Red Sea, by making first a course to the southward,
and then standing N. W. with the monsoon on their beam. By the Cape of
Good Hope, the difficulty would be decreased in this respect, as the
boats running southward to gain the Mauritius from Ceylon, would, by
keeping to the southward, soon get out of their vortex; while the
steamers between Bombay and Ceylon have only to keep in shore to avoid
the greatest force of the monsoon either way, and from either quarter.
In crossing from the Red Sea to Bombay, the strength of the N. E. (p. 080)
monsoon would be avoided by keeping in with the Arabian, and afterwards
with the eastern Asiatic coast.
Taking the line of communication, therefore, between Great Britain and
the Eastern World, by the Cape of Good Hope, the expense beyond that
which the line of communication by the Mediterranean and the Red Sea
would occasion, would be, in capital, 112,000_l._, and in yearly
expenditure, 39,128_l._ The point to consider is, will the advantages,
and the security to be obtained by taking the former in preference to
the latter route, prove a sufficient compensation for, and a warrant
to go to the additional and increased expense? The answer, minutely
considering every circumstance, will be, that they are. The
obstruction which the land barrier between Alexandria and Suez offers,
and must always offer, even when unobstructed by hostile force, to the
conveyance of parcels, packages, and goods, is a great drawback
indeed. The competition, also, by steamers belonging to other parties
and states, would, as regards all these, be a great drawback on this
line; and to which must be added, the increased difficulties and
drawbacks which would arise in the event of hostilities taking place
between any of the great powers connected with the affairs of the
Mediterranean. On the other hand, the free communication which would
be had,--free also as it wo
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