The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-02
THE SUEZ CANAL.
a.~>~~~~~<~~~o>~~>~~~~~~
Plain Statements of the Work
s. Accomplished.
. eFE
Obstacles to the Success Of the
Enterprise.
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VISIT TO The SWEETWATER CANAL
Doubtful Prospects Of the
Undertaking.
DIGGING THROUGH THE LAND OF GOSHEN.
ks. f &c. Ae. I,
Our Isthmus OF sucz Correspondence.
sUEz, Egypt August 10, 1865.


Heopolis meet his father Jacob his arrival from
Canaan Genesis chapter Xvi, 34 Ras ell Ouade
is the mouth of the valley Of Ptom of the Bible
Eel Masrouta contains the remains Of Rameses, Of
the Phsraohs also well statue of Rameses H.
both OF tho Bible Tel Mater Succoh the first stopping
place Of the Israees under Moses after leaving Egypt
EXODUS, chapter xiii 37) Ethan the second
stopping place Of Moses and his people EXODUS chap
ter kill, 20) Rouebe-tel Bouze (bay wood Of
the reeds), the Pihahiroth, Migdol and Baalzephon
Exodus chapter XIV ~ At the time mentioned
Bitter Lake formed the head OF the Red Sea- Biz Marah
bitter reeds the Marah Of the Bible. Exodus chapter
XIV, verse 23 The Specification is the same in Arabic
The people still preserve the tradition Of making the
water paatable The Bedouins of Sinai the fra
Of the capricr, the branches Of shrub
called asssf, to remedy the bracksh taste OF the
water. short distance east Of Suez, l am
told is the spot where tho Isractes crossed the Red
Sea, while Pharaoh and his hosts drowned At pre-
sent cancels ford leads 10 the spring OF FL Gukur
deh Formerly the water much deeper than at pre-
sent and strong east wind would, under prcternatura
circumstances, accomplish the miracle
VISIT TO THE SWEET CANAL.
The Sweet Water Canal 1t ia termed here, extends
the extremity Of the Grand Canal tho projected from
southern basns the canal from the Nile emptying
the negnborhood Of ninety wide and sixty feet deep
The water which tasted several times is quite pala
table. On the 4th Of August inspected the works
Journeyng on q canal, with camel the motive
power lie not the most expeditions means OF ocomoton
extant; consequently was three mortal hours making
twelve miles, enjoying all this time the full benefit OF an
Of intense light, by which, however, was little affected
as the boats canopy was sufficient protection The
scenery on the Is desert on one side and the same
the ohernot house sign OF life to be seen on
the whole route the only variety being the different
shapes OF the sand drifts.
Al eleven O'Clock A. N. I landed at Challin, and
found IL almost deserted, only few families re.
naming as Q sort Of guard From my boat
! walked distance Of half mile to the
NJ least something had been done In fnherance OF tho
gigantic enterprise From elevated point, as far as
ean b srace bus IN different stages Of completion lin
places entirely finished ~ far asthe excavations
70, and In others large strata OF rocky are still unre
moved In the construction OF the work find that if
teen feet drr below the level Of the plain while the adj
dona twelve feet Of depth will be attained by cmbank
ments formed Of the waste earth thrown up on the sdes
wells about Ave feet deep, the bottom covered several
inches with water. indicating very close approach to
the damp earth below. From this no estimate be
made OF the level the porous nature of the desert
admits Of evaporation TO considerable depth
OBJECT or THE GRAND CANAL.
The object of the French Maritime, Grand Canal
It is termed is to unite the Mediterranean and Red Seas
through the Gulf Of suez by water channel capable Of
passing vessels Of the largest burthen In the plan Of
pleted will BE- one hundred and twenty kilometres
a. 0e3 60 yards per kilomerel or about seventy five
miles length hundred metres 937 inches per
metre about three hundred and twenty eight feet
in breath; eight metres, or about twenty six feet
In depth and calculated to cost with the Fresh Water
Canal hundred and sixty million francs about
thiry.tvo million dollars. From these figures some
idea NAV be had Of the magnitude Of he undertaking
under tho most favorable circumstances The surveys Of
the engneers indicate that the natural level of the
seas Il equal difference only being found in the tides
which at Pcuse the Mediterranean entrance are scarce
iy felt and at Suez rise metre and eighttenths,
about feet to two metres and hyetenths, about
eight feet 10 height The route hes. through valley or
depression 81 The desert Iain close 20 the Mount Thch
range Of cacrcous hills The entire distance from sea
70 sea continuous waste OF sand parched by in
tolerabe heat, and rareya qualified expression for
Tux PROJECTED work
will start from the deep water inland between
two immense piers OF masonry about four miles
In length, and striking the coast the site
Of ancient Keiusium Greenwich longitude about
thirty three and onehalf degrees into lagoon on the
coast which will be dredged 10 the required depth and
form basin and station for ships Thence by dug chan.
mel will connect with Lake Tmsah. This lake viii form
an interior haven and port This II supposed In the
time Of Moses formed the northern limit Of the Red Sea
Into this lake the Fresh Water Canal constructed
from the Nile flowing through the valley Of Zounla the
fertile land OF Gesen, will empty.
On the west In the valley the pastoral Arabs keep up
soe cultivation while on the east are several hills zeal
careous) upon Of which Is the tomb OF the Shcik
Ennedec, and ct the foot extends plain OF gravel,
shells aud dark earth From Timsah the canal will
meet with Bitter Lake Ancently this lake formed a
gulf OF the Red Sea IL Is at present tho basin Of the
isshmus, and on the line Of IT. channel from north 70
south affords depth OF eight metres about twenty
six feet below the level OF the The lake rs now dry
and its bed covered with saline crust shells and sea
rubbish From Bitter Lake the work enters series Of
Iagoons which are 10 dredged the required depth,
and communicates with the numerous coves and natural
tide suices In the vicinity Across the head OF the gull
fof Suezl Il il proposed 10 erect causeway for the
passage Of caravans ourneying between Cairo, Noun,
Sinai and Mecca Within the causeway IL proposed "a
drcdgc extensive haven for the protection OF shipping
vtfh M W uea N
suces for the ngres and egrcss Of the tides and piers
Of masonry about miles long, for the passage Of
From the canal from the Nile, ultimately TO empty
into Lake Timsab another branch OF the Fresh Water
follows the line OF the Grand work TO Its outlet ths
basin at this point.
Now the question arises, how much OF this enter
prize has been Accomplished Eight years the work
has been going on. The canal channel Is In several
places completed but nowhere continuously for any dis
lance The beds of the lakes are still untouched The
proiected basin here has not been commenced; th,
causeway has not been commenced There IL no watc
whatever In any portion OF the Grand Canal
The Fresh Water Canal already alluded 70, s now opef
10 the Nile but Is only navgable for camel boats ant
IA, bottomcd construction barges not a. yet used 70
commercial purposes.
The French reports grandiloquently Frenohy publishes
some time ago, pronouncng to the world that steamer
were plyng from to sea and that the
The Mediterranean and tho Indian Ocean occupied
the very cordial operation Of shaking hands were fare
ahouts six feet Of water at tho peril OF rubbing on It's cop
perng made trip from the Milo 10 tho terminus hero
but 70 got into the sea would even now be necessary
apply lis screw to purposes Of aerial navigation lie pad
dies 10 wagon wbcet. The verbose grandeur OF
Frenchmans tongue often scars beyond the limit
OF stern facts The labor however this end Of Ia
Fresh Water Canal going on though the Grand wor
II has been discontinued
usgS on TUE SMALL CANAL.
Now as 10 the prospects OF successful issue OF th
enterprise The Fresh Water Canal, which, aread!
mentioned s allied with water, still lacks the excavation
OF large bulkhead TO permit the passage Of water int
n fxnt. Nd rpa n ham N ma
connection with the Gulf OF Suez, by OF the rou
for the steam lighter in intercourse from the Guy Will
the shipping This link opened, small boats drawln
shors OF SIX feet and about the sze Of own cana
boats win ~ ahs " reach the Nile al Cairo whence Gu