Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-15

enough ii the oven Is not when the dish
Is put in. This is to be served with meat
and potatoes as n vegt table, though with
the addition of sugar and with a rich
sauce it takes the place of a pudding.
THE sUEZ CANAL.
Notes OF n Trip Through Il.
Correspondence 81. Louis r .publlcan.l
After coaling Mt Malta we steamed
down the Mediterranean over the smooth
est sea and beneath the bluest sky it was
ever my happy portion to see. 1t was
about five o'clock one morning when we
first saw the lighthouse at Port Said, and
about eight o'clock we entered between
the two piers which guard the entrance
to the canal and stretch far out into the
Mediterranean. No sooner were we fast
than the Arabs swarmed ON board, and
soon coal was coming over the side and
into the bakers at a rapid rate from bar
ges alongside. On the left hand for a
long distance stretched coal sheds, for
steamers bound eastward, there being
quite difference in the price here and at
the other end of the canal On the right
was the town Of Port Said, while in front,
lost far in the desert. appeared the Suez
the canal, grandest engineering feat of the
age. Just fancy the amount OF labor, when
it was necessary to carry the sand mile off
into the desert, and Mt the same time pre-
vent the surrounding sand from drifting
and rolling into its place Just take a
handful of sand out from n pile and see
how quickly the hollow is filled up, and
you can then form some idea of the un-
dertaking was told ont there that the
English abandoned the work through in
ability to obtain laborers at any price.
and that the French only succeeded by
convict labor that the soldiers stood
guard, and refusal to work was instant
ly followed by shot md that every
foot of the canal is monument to some
poor devil sent IN short order to the Ara
ban paradise. However this WAS, the
canal was finished, and is the only route
for steamers to the East. About one
o'clock the pilot came on board and in q
few minutes we left our moorings and
steamed into the canal The channel has
about twenty-six feet Of water in it, and
is only kept at that depth by constant
work at the dredges, and by strengthen
ing the sides with sinking rock and wall
ing up the sides where they are the most
threatening. On both sides the embank-
ments rise up to n height os ten or fifteen
feet, and are composed Of the dull brown
sands which stretch away on both sides
rs far as the eye can see, the horizon
shrouded in the binding glare of the
heoted air rising from the burning sands
till the eyes ache and the heart sickens at
the dismal scene. With what relief we
turn to the canal, stretching like blue
sparkling ribbon, and feast our eyes at
the sight Of station looming up half
mile ahead with its little cottage, it.
shrubbery and trees. planted right in the
midst of desert ani drawing life from
soil which has been brought one hun
dred miles to make life endnrnble to the
station master, banished away out here,
hundreds of miles from his own fair
France; for who else but Frenchman
would ever think OF bringing his garden
with him, with its flowers and trees, out
here in this wilderness of sands. We
tied up for few seconds to let one OF the
large p. and o. steamers pass us. for
every vessel must give way to the Royal
Mail, except men-of-war, which have the
right Of way everywhere. The canal is
not wide enough for vessels to pass each
other, 80 every mile or 30 there ID q wider
place for tying up, and the vessel carry
ing the mail or man-of-war, both OF which
go right ON through without stopping eI-
cept during the night On the right
hand side runs track, and l was startled
by the familiar sound of the engine whis-
tie, and the next minute train swept by
at the rate of forty miles an hour, while
overhead,
Like strings OF ghosts
The telegraph posts
Came quickly troopingby
noticed on the other bank veritable
caravan, such as one reads about and
sees no much in pictures OF the great
desert-borses and camels and the old
man all wrapped up in his white clothes,
with the same long rifle with its crooked
stock which I have seen duplicated on
canvas, till felt an inclination to extend
hand and say, "How are you old boy?"
for old acquaintance sake. And then |
thought what difference between the
two banks. Here the railroad the tele-
graph, and there the old Arab travelling,
ns his father and his grandfather and his
great grandfather did hundred years
ago; o century separated by this narrow
stream. At dusk we tied up, having
made about thirty miles, as we were only
allo wed to go "slow" through the canal
for fear of injuring the banks. The next
morning found us on our way, and soon
we were threading the crooked channel
through the lake. with the town of Is
mailia broad off the port beam. After
abont two hours steaiuing ut full speed,
We again slowed down and entered the
other part Of the canal, aud again passed
through between the same brown banks
with disgust, and only enlivened by the
stations. with their few feet of surround.
ing verdure and occasional steamers
bound to the westward. too few and far be-
tween, which we passed, or which passed
Ms, until We finally steamed into the Gulf
OF Suez about five in the afternoon. OF
on our left cleaned the houses of Suez,
and here we left our French pilot, and
took up native Red Sea pilot, black as
coal and mute rs one of the sphinxes
which adorn his native deserts.
The latest record of preferences Of dele
gates to the New Hampshire Republican
State convention. as made at the Hale head
quarters In Concord. shows 804 certain to
vote for the nomination Of Mr.. Hale. This
is but 10 short of a majority Of the entire
convention. OF the others "a are classed
as uncommitled, Fifty are yet to he
chosen.