The steamer for Bombay could, without material difficulty, drop mails
for the Mauritius at Socotora. To do so at Aden, on the Arabian coast,
would add to the distance 500 miles, which is a material objection.
From Socotora to the Mauritius is 1850 geographical miles. Two good
sailing vessels (brigantine class) would be sufficient for the work of
carrying the Mauritius mails between Socotora and that island. The
time each way may be fairly taken at 15 days, and two days to stop at
Port Louis, gives 32 days for the voyage. The cost of these vessels
should be about 4000_l._ each, and their expenditure, say, 2000_l._
each, or 4000_l._ per annum. The time from London to the Mauritius by
this route would be 48 days, and the same time to return, making the
mail communication between the two places 105 days.