National Republican., 1882-08-03

Egypt, and finished by Ptolemy Phila-
delphus. By means of this water COM
munication was established between n
point on the Nile twenty-eight miles or
so northeast from the present city of
Cairo and the Red Sea. The work had a
length of some ninety-six miles, accord
ing to the best authorities, and existed
for period of 1,400 years or
more. Sir j. Gardiner Wilkinson,
in his Manners and Customs of
the Ancient Egyptians" says of it:
Some have reckoned its length at up
ward of 1000 stadia [equol to a little
over III English miles, its breadth at
100 cubits, or, according to Pliny, 100 feet,
and its depth forty. n
Though filled with sand, its direction is
easily traced, as we'll from the appearance
of its channel as from the mounds and
vestiges of ancient towns upon its banks,
in one of which l found a monument
bearing the sculptures and name of
Ramcses 1.-THE more satisfactory
as being strong proof of its
having existed at least as early
as the reign of that monarch"
The modern canal, though under serious
consideration as early rs 1S49, was not
actually commenced until the latter part
of the year 1860, when, having obtained
most valuable and extraordinary conces.
sions from the then Viceroy (Mahomet
Said Pasha), M. De Lesseps constituted
the Universal Suez Canal Company, rails
ing about half the funds subscribed on the
continent of Europe France contributing
most), the other half being found by the
Egyptian ruler, and work was at once
begun.
The concessions included or contem-
plated the formation of q "sweet water "
canal to run nearly parallel course for
the use of the workmen engaged, and
the company were to become proprietors
of all the land which could be irrigated
thereby. Another one of the conditions
of the concession was that the Niceroy
should procure forced labor for the exc
cution of the work, and for some time
from $4,000 to 10000 workmen were fur
nishcd in accordance with such under
| standing.
On the death of Said Pasha he was
succeeded by his brother Ismail, who
alarmed at the extent and uncertainty
of the grants to the canal company, and
the agreement regarding labor, refused to
ratify or agree to the concessions pre-
viously made, and so the whole matter
was eventually referred to Napoleon the
| Third, then Emperor of France, for arbi-
tration. He awarded the company as an
indemnity for loss of lands and labor the
sum of 93,S00,000, or nearly S20000O00
which money was applied to the prose
cution of the works. Still later England,
by virtue of purchase, and loans made by
British subjects to the now deposed
| Khedive, became the real, if not the
ostensible owner of a controlling interest
in the canal and out of the financial
grown the present unfortunate condition
in which the Egyptian people now find
| themselves.
| The whole length of navigation be.
| tween Port Said and Suez is SS geograph.
ical miles, of which distance &C miles are
actual canal, formed by cuttings; IA miles
are made by dredging through lakes, and
miles required no works, the natural
depth being equal to that of the canal.
In the execution of the work it is esti-
mated that about S0,000,000 cubic yards
of material were eXcavated and at one
time 60 dredging machines and nearly
10000 laborers were employed. The cost,
including the harbors, is stated to have
been about ECO, 100000, or, in round num-
bers, $lO0,O00,000, of which amount, il is
safe to say, Egypt paid, or is yet held re-
sponsible for one half, if not more.
The water began to flow from the Medi-
terranean in February, 1869, and from
th9Red Sea in July, and navigation was
opened in October following, when huge
ships went sailing over the desert sands,
which had been bleaching in the suns OF
centuries. Since then the commerce OF
the world, it may be said, has passed
through the gateway thus opened by the
hand of man, and, as is usual in such
cases, the people most yitally interested
those who did the greater portion of the
work and upon whom the heaviest burden
of expense fell, have now the least to say
concerning its management. A lust for
power, together with cupidity and fraud
have wrestcd from Egypt her sovereign
rights in the premises, and her historic
soil is even now threatened by invading
armies seeking to make doubly secure
that which has thus far been so success
fully accomplished. With history that
antedates the sacred writings of Scripture
by thousands ofyears, Egypt, once theland
and the exact and occult sciences were
known and taught long before Moses re,
ceived the Books Of the Law on Sinai,
Egypt. the cradle, as it were, of our mod
ern knowledge and civilization, now lies
PROSTATE, her people degraded and op
pressed, yet struggling, nevertheless
against q domineering foe for freedom
from foreign control-struggling for ma
tional existence. After having beer
cursed for centuries with Turkish mis-
rule, she now finds herself crushed
bleeding-yet with spirits undismayed-
at the feet of more powerful foe-ont
who is none the less greedy because ricl
and prosperous; neither more just no.
generous to the weak by reason of being
a Christian nation, fighting under the
banner of the Cross.
Ifit be said that Egypt is not wisely
governed by Egyptians the answer i
that the assassination of nation, as o
an individual, is too severe penalty 70
unthriftiness.