The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-11-15

hanks. It is about 10 n. wide and +. deep
and is used for navigation, az well az for do
nestle purposes and irrigation From Isnai-
liza to Port Said fresh water is conveyed
through large pipes. Plugs are inserted in
the pipe along The route where necessary e
allow the withdrawal Of water for use.
The great canal itself differs in dimensions
in different places, being narrowest where the
amount Of cutting vas greatest. For about
four-6fths Of its length ca miles) il Is az n
wide at the surface Of the water, " Il at The
bottom, and 20 II. deep; for the remainder
20 miles) i IS oSly le6 4. wide az the surface,
she other dimensions being the same. Many
portions Of the canal were easily enough made,
but at other points the excavation demanded
an immense amount Of labor. In one place
the workmen had to cnt passage 90 #. deep
and 200 f. wide through sandstone rock. Port
Said was chosen as the Mediterranean entrance
Of the canal instead of Tineh, because here the
deep water is n0arer the shore II has grown
up since the works commenced, and posses
ses basins, quays, a lofty lighthouse with
electric light, and a harbor protected by two
breakNaters or Iiers, the ore 2070 yards long,
the other 2I3o. Leaving Port Said the canal
FIRST passes for about "a miles through Lake
Menzaleh, an extensive and in this portion a
very shallow lagoon The water Of the lake
is not admitted into the canal, which is con-
fined between embankments, and is from 26 n.
to 20 #. deep, much deeper than the lake. Be-
yond Lake Menzaleh occurs a sandy strip Of
three or four miles, after which the canal en-
tiers Lake Ballah, where embanking and
dredging had to be again resorted to; passing
through this for about eight miles, II next
runs through land portion of the same length
in which occurs the formidable cutting men
toned above, and it then reaches lake Tismah,
about half way across the isthmus. This is a
small lake, and had long run dry, but is now
filled with sea water, and abounds with fish.
Lake Tismah is a stopping place for vessels
passing through the canal, and affords a large
space suitable for anchoring. Between Port
Said and Lake Timsah the canal is nearly
straight, and between the former place and
Lake Ballah quite 50; the southern half Of its
course is more winding. On the western shore
Of Lake Timsah is situated the town Of Ismai-
liza, which owes its existence entirely to the
canal and the railway which connects it with
Galazig, Cairo, and Alexandria. Al. Ismailia
the fresh water canal is connected with the
great canal by means Of locks their levels
being different. In the nine miles through
which the great canal is carried after leaving
Lake llfnSany enormous quanuue6 OF rock mad
to be removed; then come the Bitter Lakes
like Lake Timsah, formerly dried up. but now
filed with sea wuter; then a length of seven
teen miles, partly through a shallow lake,
partly through sandy desert, after which the
canal reaches its terminus at Suez. Extensive
works have been constructed here, among
which are mole $50 yards long; a dry dock,
Alb #. by 95 f., built by the Pasha of Egypt
another, $50 # by IS ftu for the PeDinsular
and Oriental Company, etc
The shipping passing through the canal has
steadily increased since its opening. In 1870
1856 vessels Of total burden of 654,9l5 tons
sailed through it, yielding the company an in
come Of E2O6, 400; in 1874, 1884 vessels, Of
$40, Iss tons, passed through, and the receipts
amounted to 81 ,O29, 4e2. In 1878, 1893 vessels
of 1921 SIS tons passed through, and the
gross revenue was El,25l, ia, net revenue
$50 ,225. The year 1879 was less favorable.
About three-fourtbs of the tonnage passing
through belongs to Britain. After Britain in
decreasing order come the vessels of France.
Holland, Italy and Austria. The tolls charged
are 10 francs per ton register, and 10 francs
for each passenger.
The distance between London and Bombay
by the old route round the Cape is about Il, >
220 miles, by the new route opened up by the
canal it is 1922 miles. Steamships are allow
cd to sail at a speed Of to knots an hour
along the canal.