lis PIM ON THE ISTHMUS OF SUEZ. [April 11, 1859. 



from the shore of more than 3 miles. The current has a constant 

 easterly set, the velocity of which is much influenced by the strength 

 of the wind. The tides have a very inconsiderable rise and fall, 

 and are more or less dependent on the winds ; the maximum height 

 ever recorded being only 2 feet 8 inches. 



The prevailing winds are westerly and north-westerly in July, 

 August, and September, and continue to blow very much in the 

 same direction, with the exception of an occasional gale from the 

 south-west, until March; the southerly winds then prevail until 

 June, during which month easterly winds with thick weather and 

 northers at night may be expected. Thus, during the greater 

 part of the year westerly and north-westerly winds cause a constant 

 swell and surf to roll into the exposed Bay of Pelusium, which is 

 open to sixteen points of the compass ; and, when to this is added 

 the extreme lowness of the coast, without a single feature by which 

 any part can be recognized, some idea may be formed of the difficulty 

 and danger of the navigation. 



The south-east or Ked Sea coast-line is also extremely arid and 

 sandy, but unlike the Mediterranean shores, which are flat, parts of 

 it, such as Gebel Awebel and Gebel Attaka, may be called mountain- 

 ous. In the immediate vicinity of Suez the land is low, and the 

 roadstead encumbered with shoals and sandbanks, the latter of con- 

 siderable extent, jutting far into the sea, and susceptible of move- 

 ment in heavy winds. 



The harbour of Suez is only accessible to the small native coasters, 

 and even the roadstead has only a depth of 25 feet at about 3 miles 

 from the quay. The currents in the Red Sea are influenced by the 

 winds, and according to their strength attain a velocity of from 1 5 

 to 20 miles in the 24 hours. The tides have a much greater rise 

 and fall than in the Mediterranean, the maximum height being 7 feet 

 2 inches, and the minimum observed 2 feet, showing a difierence of 

 4 feet 6 inches between the highest tide of the Mediterranean and 

 that of the Eed Sea. The prevailing winds from March to Novem- 

 ber are northerly, but during the remaining three months, December, 

 January, and February, southerly winds blow, though by no means 

 steadily. This law is subject to some variation down to the Red 

 Sea, but as a general rule it holds good as far as the straits of Babel 

 Mandeb. The Red Sea runs about north-west and south-east 1308 

 miles from Suez to Aden, with a varying breadth of from 30 to 

 200 miles. The navigation is rendered very unsafe by the numerous 

 rocks, shoals, and coral banks which fringe the shore on either side, 

 but the centre is deep and free from any dangers ; this has been 

 abundantly proved by the steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental 



