ABSTRACT

TheSevenYearsWar(1756-1763)revealedthedamage causedbytheslownessofconveyinginformationbywayoftheCape ofGoodHope.ThefastestjourneybythisroutebetweenEuropeand IndiaviatheCapeofGoodHopewouldtakeelevenmonthswhereas theconveyingofinformationacrosstheArabianGulf,throughthe SyriandesertandacrosstheMediterraneanSeamightbecompleted infivemonths.TheBritishandFrenchauthoritiescontinuedtobein ignoranceofthewarinEuropeforawholeyearafteritstarted.7This isattributedtothefactthatthelandroutewasnotmadeuseoffor severalyearsbecauseofthedangersfacingthebearersofthemail packagesonaccountofattacksbytheBedouintribesinthedesert whichresultedinmanyoftheEnglishEastIndiaCompany'sletters beingfounddiscardedinthedesert.TheBoardofDirectorsofthe Companybegantocomplainatthebeginningof1756becauseofthe lossofinformationsentbylandfromemployeesintheArabianGulf. Therefore,theBoardcalledfortheimportanceentrustedtotheland routetobeassured.Orderswereissuedemphasisingthenecessityof guaranteeingitssecurity8althoughthemeasuretakenwastousethis routetoconveyadditionalcopiesofthecorrespondencewhilethe originalcopiesweresentbytheCapeofGoodHoperoute.9During theSevenYearsWar,theuseofthelandrouteforconveyingmail yieldedmanyadvantagesfortheBritishsinceithelpedthemtotake theinitiativeinthemilitaryoperationsinIndiabecausetheywere aheadoftheFrenchwiththeirknowledgeofthenewsofthe outbreakofthewar.Thesamethinghappenedattheoutbreakofthe AmericanWarofIndependence.TheBritishdescendedunexpectedly ontheFrenchpositionsandovercamethembeforetheFrenchhad timetoprepare.10Similarly,theBritishgovernmentusedit extensivelyduringtheNapoleonicwarsandtheirauthoritiesinIndia receivednewsoftheBattleoftheNilebywayofthatroute.11