From the Cape, the steamers will proceed with all the mails to the
eastward, calling at Algoa Bay and Bourbon, and next to the Mauritius.
From the Mauritius it will proceed to Point de Galle, where it will
deposit the mails for Bombay, and afterwards proceed to Trincomalee,
from whence it will return by way of Point de Galle to the Mauritius,
with the return mails for Europe. It would take the Bombay mails
unreasonably out of the way to proceed from the Mauritius direct (p. 075)
to Trincomalee. The route, time, and distance for this boat, would be
as under:--
Geo. Miles. Days.
Cape of Good Hope to Mauritius 2280 12
Stop at Mauritius 2
Mauritius to Cape of Good Hope 2280 12
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Totals 4560 26
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Two boats would perform this service, giving two mails each month;
each 24 days at sea each voyage = 48 monthly = 576 yearly. Coals, 25
tons daily, 14,300 tons yearly, at 40_s._ 28,600_l._; other charges,
13,640_l._ yearly; cost boats, 48,000_l._