ings, wharfs, governor, troops, &c., would be saved. The natives at Aden are particularly kind and attached to the English nation: fresh water and provisions are plentiful, and the climate healthy.

The service of the Red Sea would be as follows. For steamers coming from India,-Complete with coals at Aden, as in either monsoon there is a very strong breeze through the straits of Babelmandel; then proceed to Kameran, which is two hundred and thirty miles from Aden, replenish with coals, and proceed to Suez, which is one thousand and sixty-five miles: land the letter-bag, at all seasons of the year, for Europe, at Cosseir, which is thirty-six hours' journey from Kennah, the nearest point of junction with the Nile. Here, as there is never less than two feet water in the Nile, in the driest seasons, and the stream always runs towards Alexandria, a light boat, or a small iron steamer, would convey the letters by the Nile, nearly as soon as the passengers in the

steamer would reach Suez.

The passengers

would take their time in proceeding from Suez

to Alexandria, and embark there in the Company's following packet for Europe; or might proceed to Malta, and complete their quarantine, ready to land in any part of Europe. The letters from Europe would be embarked with the passengers at Suez throughout the year. The camels can travel from Alexandria to Sues in fifty-five hours.

From Aden to Calcutta, the distance is three thousand three hundred and eighty miles. The stages for the renewal of fuel should therefore be as follows.

From Aden to Underoot, one of the Laccadive islands, where there is good anchorage and shelter from the south-west monsoon, the distance being fifteen hundred and sixty miles; from Underoot to Trincomalee, in the island of Ceylon, eight hundred and forty; from Trincomalee to Madras, two hundred and eighty; and from Madras to Bengal, seven hundred miles. In addition to this, a branch packet should ply between Underoot and Bombay, which is six hundred and forty miles, and one hundred miles from the nearest point of the

Malabar coast. The passage from England to Calcutta would thus be made in twenty-eight days less time by this route, than by a steamvessel, via the Cape of Good Hope,—a circumstance of the greatest advantage to the British empire, in case a re-inforcement of troops should be required in our East India possessions, and of incalculable benefit to our merchants, for whom the East India trade would become a matter of comparatively near vicinity. The time required for the passage from London to Bengal would be as follows:

From Suez to Bengal

Allowed for taking in coals at Kameran,

Aden, Underoot, and Trincomalee, one

day at each place

Total

2

47

At each station where coals are taken in, there should be good accommodations, and medical men of abilities, in case weak or sick passengers should desire to wait for the succeeding packet.

CHAPTER XIX.

"And it s if we do return again,

How happy shall I be

To see my wife and children all

Sit smiling on my knee."

SEA SONG ;-Or the history of a Good Lap-full.

survey

NOTHING is more dull than the duty of ing; and for two years this creep-about, stagnating life was the fate of Gentleman Jack; varied only by a fight with a pirate dow, off the port of Suaken, which is a nest of pirates.

This vessel, or dow, was of some three hundred tons burden, rigged with an immense lateen sail. She came down with the land breeze early one morning; and being full of men, hoped to carry the Expedition by boarding her. But in Fitzjohn, the pirates had a foe that would have proved a match for any oppo

nent.