of Achial payment.
Practically, by an arrangement which dates from April 1862, as far as the rate is concerned, but in principle from a much older date, the Rupees of the Regulation are converted into Sterling at an arbitrary fixed rate of 2/- 1⁄2 and then the amount arrived at is exchanged into dollars, for purposes of payment, at the rate fixed annually by the Treasury for the payment of British Troops.
Thus, as will readily be seen, the Rupee rates of the Warrant are practically nullified. They might just as well be sterling rates.
(i.e., Rupee rates converted into Sterling rates at 2 1⁄2 per Rupee; and the Hong Kong Sun Lascars have, from time to time, received the advantage accorded to British troops by the Treasury.)
As a consequence of the fall in the price of silver, it happens that at present they are drawing from 6/3 to 15% per month more, according to rank, than the Sun Lascars at Ceylon. Essentially, if the point were being considered de novo, there seems little room for question that the Hong Kong Lascars are not entitled to any relative advantage.