The letter is a response to previous correspondence with the first part discussing mostly news relating to family and friends. Maitland also gives details of his experiences in India and lists a number of items he has purchased as gifts to be sent home. The second part of the letter is concerned with Maitland’s duties for, and impressions of, the British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd, with particular commentary on the hours of work expected. These long hours have resulted in many men being admitted to hospital. Reference is made to a constant flow of new crew members arriving from Great Britain who are apparently required to replace those who have left the Company, gone home, or been admitted to hospital. Maitland suggests that many men cannot afford to return home after leaving the Company and so take employment on shore. He states that he wishes to avoid working in the Company’s offices, even if such employment were to be offered, because he would be obliged to mix with the local population. Maitland writes that he hopes to earn enough money to return, presumably, to Scotland.

Administrative / biographical background
James Maitland was born in Greenock on 16 May 1864. He studied clerkship in Glasgow and served as a clerk on board the NOWSHERA. Maitland died in 1946. The NOWSHERA was built by William Denny and Brothers and launched on 26 April 1883. After two voyages it was transferred to Indian coastal routes. At the time Maitland was serving on board, the NOWSHERA was carrying cargoes of rice.