The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-22
TIE IsTHMUs or sUEZ.

This isthmus, through which the suez Canal
cut, is, as already described, that narrow
neck Of land which connects Asia with
Africa II measures about seventy-two English
miles In breadth and is bounded on the
Bouth by the Gulf OF Suez and on the north by the
Mediterranean. Its surface Is sandy and for the
most part barren. The sand shifts, rendering travel
uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous The land
ts interspersed with some rocky eminences rising
from salt marshes-geographIcally classed as the
ancient crocodile lakes-and fertilized merely by the
waters flowing from the foundations OF the Nile In
the year lS4o Messrs. stephenson, Talaot and Negre
were commissioned by England, France and Austria
make survey OF the isthInus for pur-
poses OF canallzation. They pronounced the scheme
feasible. In the year 1s5l the work Of traversiDg
the Isthmus crosswise by railroad was actively
commenced and considerable portion Of the work
completed, but the frequently varying esti.
mates which capitalists in Paris and
London formed OF the feasibility OF such
canal delayed the finish OF this work very
considerably the actual result being mainly due to
She energy and perseverance OF M. Ferdinand de
Leseeps. On the isthmus are found traces Of an
ancient canal-some cay OF canals--built In ages
long past with the view OF connecting the Red Sea
with the Mediterranean, the idea being, 1t is al
leyed, favorite one even In the days Of Ptolemy,
and the canal OF sesostrls remaining.
Suez is the first seaport town o. note In Egypt.
It stands on the frontier, the head or the gull
of the same name, ana Is seventy-six miles east OF
Cairo Ia latitude 20 degrees IS minutes and sec.
onds north and longitude % degrees "a minutes and
seconds east. The travellers Of many Eastern
caravans find resting place here out rs general
thing Its accommodations are miserable--even
wretched. Its actual and Resident population num-
beers from $500 to 1900 persons. The town contains
O dozen or more mosques and custom house,
the latter building being likely to loom
into much importance in connection with
the great wore which we propose 10 Illus.
trate. The town Is enclosed by wall,
In which few pieces OF cannon are mounted the
whole oeing surrounded by entrenchments. Tho
country lying immediately around Suoz Is a
desert, and food aud water have had In former
gears TO be brought TO the people from long dis
tances and al much Inconvenience and cost. Pre-.
yious to the attention OF modern engineers balng
turned pontedly tothe place It's ports could not re-
ccive vessels OF more than sixty tons burden, and
steamers were forced TO anchor at distance OF over
two miles fron the town. Is transit trade has been
always extensive Rnd valuable lying as 1t does ex.
acty In the highway between Egypt and tho
extreme East, and this natural gravaton OF trafilc
was which Induced the first inception OF the canal
works, which have been advocated and encouraged
NJ different periods by the many resident merchants
and agents who were induced In the interests OF
commerce to settle IN the place. particularly since
the opening Of the overland route nom Europe w
India
EARLY EXPLORERS AND TRADERS.
Historians. divnes and geogfaphers assert that
me luaslites, % the chosen people, during their