The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-22 00:00:00

THE RED' SEA TELEGRAPH LINE.

The following report ba3 been received by this
ompany :
' Her Majesty's steamer Cyclops, Suez, April 15.
" Sir' —ln compliance with their .lordshipS'
rders (letter M), bearing date 9th January, 1858,
which I found waiting my arrival at Aden, I pro-
eeded first to Hodeidah, and beg to lay before you
for their information a detailed account ,of all I
lave done respecting the hying a telegraph cable
and establishing stations for working it between
(Suez and Aden.

I "On arrival at Hodeidah, the ptincipal mer-
chant-, a Greek under Britistr protection, came on
board, and, Ipirning what I required, offered to
oc on nadnu ce,
expedition
mp
eed
ittoi theona
ia7
ns t authoritiest h
c of
Arabs. I
the place,acc inform-
ingordiusly
lande I, and was introduced to rho Lien t.-G wet nr,
who gave me to understand that no difficulty would
j be thrown in the-tVay-Of establishing a station for
working a telegraph wire here, but that it would
be necessary t 9 get permission from, Jiddah, to
I whose authority they are subject.
! " Walking round the town and along its sea face
I there are several spots where a cable may be brought
in and the necessary place built for Working it, but
i the risk would be of its being fouled and hooked
up by the large native boats, anchoring- all
along the sea face of the town, as I have shown
in the small plan of Hodeidah obtained from the
Indian officers at Aden. The anchorage for large
ships is at least 2i -geographical miles from the
shore—not that I think they would come near the
cable, for they could be placed within certain liniits
of bearing, yet they might possibly anchor on their
way up and down the coast, particularly towards
Ras Nejarula, which is much frequented.
"Jiddah was the next place. In my letter from
Aden I had not a very good idea of being able to
establish a station at this port, by reason of the
many outlying shoals and nos- lining the shore,
over which the cable must necessarily lie. Brit con-
sideringthatit would be a most advantageous place,
as being the chief port in the Red Sea, I have en-
deavoun-d to point out how all these difficulties
may be overcome.

With -the captain of the port I tried to carry a
lino of s iundings from the anchorage of the ship !o
the town, but failed in every effort, frequently
grounding with my in what this officer c died
the channel,' and which he states iu the summer
season is dry. After ineffectually trying at the
top of high water I was obliged to give up the at-
tempt to take a suffici: nt depth of water anywhere
near the town for placing the cable securely ;
and, moreover, all this is on a coral bottom, so
that the cable would not only run the risk of being
picked up by the natives, who are constantly
wading about over these places fishing and gather-
ing shells, but chafed by the bottom, on which
it must necessarily lie to get in ta the
shore ; and nowhere do I see any other chan-
nel for bringing the cable ill from seaward to the an-
chorage and out agaqi but what I have marked in
the accompanying plan, the northern red line being
the one used by Large ships truth for entering and
leaving the port. The bungalo wee, or native boats,
sometimes enter at the proper tide by that passage
marked with tie double red line, but it is full of
stones, and at low tide very little water on it.
"I would therefore propose that a vessel be
moored in the roads between the shoals marked
Berry' and Mayett," at the point of intersection
of the red lines, or further up ; where the Cyclops
lay she anchored in 11 fathoms, and swinging could
only find four; however, by mooring head and
stern theSe inequalities would be got over.
"My reasons are that, in the first place, I should
ima,zirre the telegraph could be worked quite as
well from a ship as rho she re ; moreover, there it
would be free from all obstruction or interference
with any one.
" The health of those working the cable would
be insured, for Mr. Page inf Tins me that the town
itself is certainly not healthy, which c tUnct be
wondered at when there areas many as 40,000 pil-
grims in the place at one time, on their
way to Mecca ; and the vessel • fitted
with a condenser, Grant's galley would be
independent of the shore as far as water is con-
cerned, which is of very inferior quality. By
these means a cable would be in a sufficient depth,
and, as there is generally a soft bottom in the pas-
sages where the deepest water is found, it would
soon he covered over.

" This plan also I should say would b 3 the
cheapest, and a ship could readily ba got at Cal-
cutta (teak-built) to carry a good cargo of what is
suitable for the market, such as rice, sugar, &c.,
which would meet a ready sale at Jiddah ; even
her spars, &c., would not be lost. Moor her
head and stern off the town, where she would
not only be clear of interference and med-
dling from the natives, which would perhaps be
only from curiosity, but all the dit•agreeal)les of
a Turkish town, and the authorities of the place
would certainly throw no difficulties in the way—
nay, would rather, I am certain, do all they could
to protect and encourage it. All those merchants
I had an opportunity of seeing and conversing with,
through the Vice-Consul as interpreter, considered
the establishment of such a thing here would
not only be highly beneficial to their trade,
ac., but do much good for the place. Learning
that Mr. Page had been lung in the Red Sea, and
had visited many of the ports, I called upon him
fur any information he could give me that would
be useful in establishing the telegraph. A copy of
his reply I herewith forwatd, and think that his
suggestions respecting Hodeidah are deserving of
consideration.

" Setting aside the chances of its being attacked
by the Arabs, the Island of Carnarau seems to I e
in a better position for running the cable more di-
rect from Jiddab, thence on to Perim ; supplies
can be got at either Loheia or Hodeidah. There
is a small force of Turkish soldiers, I hear, at
Carnaran.

The next station was Cossier, and where the 1 ns
of soundings was to commence I gty, a few,k-ep
casts in the sea both before and after leaving
J iddah, which are shown in the track chat. Bit'
on this track between these two ports, rica'lY
about mid-channel, appears to ba the deei Est
water in the Red Sea, for with 1,000 fathoms of
line in one spot we would not get a bottom,
and a little further on with 678 fathoms
the weight was flown. In getti❑g the cable
in to Cosier I see no difficulty whatever so
long as it can he laid clear of the bungalowe
anchorage, and other native boats, which is close
to the, reef off the town, on which their anchors
wee laid while we were there ; further out the
water would be too deep, and I have Bhown on the
plan with a red line where 1 think the cable ought
to come in and the station-house be built, rather
to the left of the town, looking at it from the an-
chorage. The Governor assured us that the na•

aped a
ld
other tiiauc a--general
bnicheiAiinelt:sliyaedt
io
fs‘ci:
rm: titnlitnasg,r4httbi
thinking
ja,k,,
6:gm§ cast
trAwt,7fortuti thte
4:77,
a373,l4l:;ey;,ls,Ft;t!zii:
us ott--w--,lme-trf-iess-thin-100-tetlieln*is--iii- 4"l'
plianee with ti it Lbrdithipi di 'iedtfekts';'• ibitt !tufo 4\
that unleeg stotred araong:theithoals, therebk ris_lt
img the safety 0-the Ship,dt rev-Id-not be; utad
thepilot becameloalarmed, fancyiecithii Piiiterided
doing do; as fb braver-ii driPdhitifist)
had I g-te neetrerthicithdre thirri.NittUld,have been
the probability t.f finding= a • reciicy•bottoch; ter 1
have always found, even when in.ittreatiir depth,
chile passing: Frock Ides that
the bottßin was:of 'bitch, fa,hat'ulf,,,.• saiitti`lll;it That,
although- the line- Niit:itr,ity nut,.
Bmiclueich4lcilo7edrt'" tit hPePema'rt he aal-ir tunie ge a4ZoanviehrYe.
chart. was tieing Aloregby Pit large- sale, not
Iwv? .gwo7a°lld'llep4thl
-offutrhne,isitheod absi,
bolt )m,, and
-through the atraite:of-Juleal it, was the
same on the line we ran, but- it may ,possibly be
that a little More-lo the softer bottom may
be got., After getting lute theilieel.ii44o;:: a, little
north of Juleal 'tire-SoMitSut4; ;nit tre'atiet
agre, &pretty well with thOseshoWn`bil M6resbY'i
chart.
"Drawing a conclusion front this line Of sound-
ings, and from the depth got in.-Crossing the sea, I
do think we can Carry thir south on
this coast in-a less depth'', then, -400.:IitheMs, and ,
supp sing the crossing.plalcs: toi:Jiddah, is ,either
from E ba :Cape cr R::4).1 o:Va.Y „not the -
depth we may there find ; again, between Ras.
Belies and Elba Cape'there aferitially shoal patches
which no ship could von tiger to go itieideli Of ; be-
si les, it app,q.ra to me tha.t the coast is notso -
klloWil as that north, of Jiddah, and, moreover, the
natives are said to he treacheronsohould it be,necee-
eary to land ; but, as it is so desirable-W*4y down ;
the wireie-sections I think a better route might
po3 ,ibly: be faun d .ohise roue& Ras ilfahomeri -alsd
even mike that a Etthtioo; f:rfoin' Ras Mahon:led
across-in the dirPetion to idol-lib, i and theifek
as close outside the reefs as' vrhere the
lintrona may be soft. . Wedge appea`racto:me to be
a good-place-for astation, :UT ing. zooti
_Water,: And
supplies easily obtained., -It ti . spoken of favour-
ably in the Directory ; and I aleO'got from Mr.
Page, who has frequently visited :pit§iage3 up •
an&down the sea innatiVe bOatS, a gOod account.
Or the line- might ho.,talgen aft, once_ froin Rai
Mahon:fed over to the Arabian.shore, through 'the -
,leep water, to outside the shoal!, thence down as
near to them as possible to Jiddatr. ',Ai all events,
I •hi nk it tight not te- ea/culate Ihrotighont On a
less depth than 400 fathoms. ,
" And, in conclusion; I beg to observe that
think no place ban bedietter,adaptd for leyitig a -
telegraph cable than the Red Seal there certainly
is the choice of routes' 'snit throughout, on either
shore,la soft bed may be got.: -The-whti3r is deep,
though not more Fie, or even' so ' with, as where
,rthfr cables have beed laid, ekc4pt; :Perhaps, in
the middle ; and all we•kutiw of, that, yet is. cer-
tainly of a nature to cause:•nokinjury.: :In the
vacant spots within' 'the -entrance,-&e., I should
hardly imagine that very. great depth,.'*ould be
found.-1, have, &c.,
" W. J. J. PIJLLEN," Captain.
" To the StecrEtary of the Admiralty, 4ondon."

••••••••••••••.•
The .folloWiit letter ie *tittet),in-,r4iply to the
above :

TO THE -EDITOR; OF TILE. TINIES.
the remarks in the Times of this date
on the subject of Telegraphic Communication with
India you assume that the route by the Red Sea is
the most feasible and can be most quickly.:estab,
lisped, n andGlilf that the
be de
iayacompletionon af'
etettn-btoy the
the
difficulties which you assert attend it. Ili nit you
will be good enough to allow me to state a few facts
wilt reference to both routes.
As regards the Red'Sea route the communica-
tion with England is now only advanced as far as,
Mal, a ; 800 mi les inter rene:bet we'en: that island and
Alexandria ; between Alexandria and Suez the tele-
graph is at -work; hut from Suez to, Aden•and Kur-
rachee there is a distance of upwards of 4,000 miles.
Between Suez and Aden the distance is too great
to allow the cable to be submerged in one length.
This fact the most strenuous supporters of the Red
Sea route admit ; it would consequently be neces-
sary to land the cable about half way; and, as it
it notorious that the Arabs on_the coast of the Red
Sea are the moat lawless of the inhabitants of any
part of the Turkish dominions, it would be requisite
to erect a fort—in fact, to take military. possession
of the, country ip order to protect the end of the
cable and the persons in charge of it—a procleding
which it way f:Lirliliit'infeered the Turkish Govern-
ment would not sanction. • - '

Captain Pullen, in his report, states-that there
would be great difficulty in landing a cable on
account of the coral reefs, and suggests that a
ship should be anchored, in which the ends of
the cable could be placed. This suggestion does
not overcome the difficulty to be expected from the
Ar. Abs, as they would probably seize whatever was
in the vessel and afterwards destriy her;

With respect to the Persian Gulf route, London
is in telegraphic communication with Constanti-
nople. The Turkish Government has despatched
from this country the necessary materials for a line
of telegraph between that city and the head of the
Persian Gulf, and the British Government has
placed the services of Colonel Biddulph and other
engine?r officers at the disposal of the Porte, so
that the line may be quickly and efficiently estab-
lis ,ed. From the head of the Persian Gulf to
Kurracheo there remains only a distance of
1,200 miles, and the company's representative has
made a proposition to her Majesty's Government
for laying down a submarine cable between
those two pints, which would unite the tele-
graphic system of India with that of Europe. This
proposition is now, there is reason to believe, under
the favourable consideration of the Government.

The difficulties by this route have been greatly
exaggerated. The line between Constantinople and
Busorah at the head of the Persian Gulf will fol-
low the common post road, and it is the opinion of
gent'emon who have travelled and resided for many
years in A,4atie Turkey that the inhabitants of the
country to be traversed by the telegraph are among
the most peaceable of the Sul tan'ssubjects. No dif-
ficulty can attend the operation of laying down a
cable. in the PerSian, Gulf ;, the. water is shallow,
and there are various 'points at which it can be
Lolled—such as Bassadore, a station of the Indian
navy, and numerous others.
In brief, then, it appears that while nearly
5,000 miles of cable are neceAS:iry to establish tele-
graphic communica'ion between this country and
India via the Red Sea, only 1,200. are required by
th-e Persian Gulf route. I leave any unprejudiced
person to draw his own conclusion from thcse,facts.
--I are, Sir, your most obedient servat,it,
W. P. ANDfiIW • egairinan.
European and Indian Junction Telegraph Com-
pany; 'GreShatiilhatise; Old :Broad-street, May 21.

_ .

Mr. Petersdorff and Mr. Payne (of, the Home Cir.
cTuit, Mr. Cross (A the Noitheri Circuit), and Mr. Tozer
(.4 the Norfolk Circuit) have been raised to the rank of
Sergeants-at-Law, and were yesterday sworn in before
the Lori Chancellor in his private room at the House
of Lordg.

The report of the Oriental Bank Corporation,
issued prt paratory to their meeting on the 21st,
stat,s the profits of the year 1857, after allowing for
all bad and douritful debts, to have been 166,0201.
A dividend of 5 per cent. (or at the rate of 10 per
cent, per annum) was paid for the first six months,
and a like distribution is now recommended, with an
additional 2 per cent, as bonus. A balance of 4,820/, re-
mains to be carried forward. The claim of the corpora.
lion on the London and Eastern Bank is fully scoured,
and there is stated to be every prospect of its speedy
settlement.
[ADVERTISEMENT]. —TiOthille can be more interesting than
the numerous extraordinary cures without medicine of ludi-
gestion (Dyspepsia), Flatulency, Constipation, Nervous, Bili-
ous, and Liver complaints, Cough, Asthma, Consumption,
and Debility effected by Du Barry's delicious Health-Restoring
Revalenta Arabica
Fadn m Food, We
give a few.—Winchester, De-
3d, 1847•
cember am happy to be able to
inform you that the person for whom your Revalenta was
has derived a very great benefit from its use; dis-
ptoms of Dropsy, Dyspepsia, and Constipation of
long
standing have been removed, and a feeling of restored
procured
ea
srn
health hiduced. Having witnessed the beneficial effects
in the above mentioned-case I can with confidence recom-
mend it, &c. JAMES SnouLasn, late Surgeon, 96th Regiment.
65, piecadilly, Loudon, Bth Nov., 1847. Gentlemen,—Hav-
ing been for a long time a great sufferer from piles and severe
constipation of the bowels, I commenced taking, about three
weeks ago, Du Barry's " Revalenta Arabica" twice a
un day.
ce
The result induces me herewith t exc,ress my unbounded
virhaattituldwea.s
yNelayrsboawgeel ainhdfaster, talchambefgtsint to remind me of
com-
plete restoration to the enjoyment of f
life e igsebeaut
Ia
hpatefuleburden,. N
.rolmvitthhoth` approaching
__o unctions without which
medicine has ever done me
has, in mycase,begdanliatwi "Revalenta," een,t aw.
pDAiTget:ths.i Digestion
Supported by testimonials from the following' celebrated Pro-.
lessors of Chemistry: Dr, A. Ure-
,Dr Shorland; D Harvey;
Dr, Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker ; Dr.* 1%
urzer ; Dr. Ingram •
Lord Stuart de Decies; the Dowager Countess of Castiestuart:'
Major Gen, Thomas King, and many other respectable per-
sons, whose health has been restored by it, after all other
means of cure had failed. Suitably packed with full instruct.
tions, In canisters, 11b. 2s, 9c1,; 21b. 4s. 6d.; Sib. lls. ;
121 b. 225, The 121 b canisters aro sent carriage free on re.
ceipt of Post-office order. Barry Da Barry, and so., 77,
Regent-street, London. Important Caution against the fear.
ful-dangers of spurious imitations.—The Vice-Chancellor Sir
William Page Wood granted au Injunction on the 10th March,
1854, against Alfred Hooper Nevill for imitating "De
IBarry'sßevalenta Arabica

-..J

HAVELOCK MEMORIAL FUND.
President, H. R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, K.G., &c. £23 0 0
Colonel John Thomas Leslie, C. 8., Officers, Non-Commis-
sioned, S aff, and Men of the East India Company's
Depot, Warley Barracks, one day's pay
A list of other contributions will shortly be published.
Subscriptions received at the bankers', and the Committee-room,
3, Pall-mall East, S.W. Major ADAIR, Hon, Sec.
May 13, 1855.

.. 6330

A.RE YOU GOING TO THE HIGHLANDS,
Unrivalled for Scenery, famous in Story and
song t If so, mike a note to call at (when In the Capital of
the beautiful North),
MACDOUGALL'S WAREHOUSE,
HIGH-STREET, INVERNESS,

Where only can the varied products of the Highlands,
natural and industrial, be seen.
In his extensive rooms 3fACDOUGALL has gathered
together all the best productions of the Highland looms in
Tweeds, Tartans, Linseys, Plaids, Shawls, Dresses, the
favourite Highland Cloak, Flora Macdonald ditto, &c.,
with the best Native Jewellery (Cairngorms, Pearls, (kc.),
the pretty products of the Skye, Lewis, and Gairloch looms
and knitting needles, the home-made undyed plaids of Ord,
Sutherland, and Avoch, the Snuff Boxes, Coups, Bickers of
the Culloden, carvers, &c.

side by side with this he has placed all the necessary
Clothing of *very description for Deer Stalking, Grouse
Shooting, and for Tourists, kc.
Visitors to his rooms can at once compare the varied pro-
ducts of the three kingdoms.
D. MACDOUGALL, Inverness.
MAC DOUGA.LL and his patterns of Tweeds. &e., can be
seen at 24, BKEWER-STREET, REGENT-STREET, from
Two till Six o'Clock, until July 10, when he retinue to Inver-
ness.

_HEE, MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
Piccolomini—Giuglini.
THIS EVENING, SATURDA, May 02,
Verdre grand
Opera, LA TRAVIATA,
Violetta, Medlin. Piccolomini ; Alfredo, Signor Giuglini ;
Dottore Grenril, Signor Castelli ; Clermont Gcorgio, Signor
Aldighieri.