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

This great canal, which may be said TO have
converted Africa into an island, runs for near
ly 100 miles from Port Said, on the Mcditer-
ranean, to Suez, on the Red Sea, forming a
channel nayigable for large vessels between
the two. 1t is not the first work of the kind
constructed in the same locality, large canal
from the Red Sea to the Nile being known to
have existed from six centuries before the
Christian era to the latter part of the eighth
century after it, when it finally became choked
mp and useless. Napoleon |, when in Egypt,
bad thoughts Of making great ship canal
across the isthmus; and from that time various
schemes for accomplishing this were proposed
At last, about 1854, NJ. Ferdinand de Lesseps,
French engineer, obtained from the late Said
Pashs, Viceroy Of Egypt, the concession Of
exclusive privilege Of making a ship canal
from SueZ to Tineh, on the Mediterranean /;
and after his plans had been weighed and de-
bated for years, he was able to form compa-
ny in 1865 for the purpose Of carrying them
out. Half the shares were taken in France,
fourth in Egypt, and very few in England,
mainly owing to Lord Palmerston's objections
on political grounds, and Robert stephenson's
on engineering considerations. After many
compromises the following important condi-
tons were agreed o:-The land on both sides
Of the canal is to be retained by the company
for ninety -nine years. The quantity Of this
land is only to be sufficient for the purposes Of
the canal and for the various works at Port
Said, Ismalia, and Suez; none Of it is to be
sold to other parties; all persons residing up
on the conceded land are to be subject to the
same local and consular jurisdiction as resi-
dents in other parts Of Egypt. Some Of the
privileges already granted to the company by
the Viceroy Of Egypt were bought back by
him at very high prices some others he was
unable to fulfil, and paid corresponding com
pensation by RENTING certain demands which
be would have been otherwise entitled to
make. In these and in other ways the Vice
roy became largely interested in the scheme
In November 1875. the British Government
bought from the Ficeroy his interest in the
canal, consisting Of 49, COZ shares for the sum
Of $1,000, 900.
1855, and it was estimated that the canal
would be wholly completed in 1854, at cost
Of &c, 600 900. It was opened only on the 18th
November 1859, and the total cost was about
El6,000, 900. Large numbers Of men were Of
course required for the work, and crowds Of
fellahs, Arabs, Nuhians. Negroes, Siciiians,
Greeks, &C., were engaged upon them, While
dredges and other machines Of great power
were also employed. To facilitate the con-
struction Of the great caisal. service canal 20
n. wide and #. deep was constructed for part
Of The distance, by which men and materials
coul5 easily be conveyed. A canal was also
constructed for bringing fresh water from the
Nile at Builak, near Cairo, since without an
extensive supply Of this necessary Of life the
canal works could not have been carried on
in the waierless region Of the isiLmus. This |
canal reaches the salt water canal al Ismailis, |
about midway between The Mediterranean and |
the Red Sea, and then runs almost parallel to
the course Of the ship canal ill Il arrives at /
Suez. Previously existing canal works were
partly available FOR he hfsh water canal Il /
has proved boon lo the country al along ila