t^ft PIM ON THE ISTHMUS OF SUEZ. [April 11, 1859. 



inn in the midst of the Desert, of use only as an entrepot for 

 goods. 



The delays and difficulties met with on the present line from Cairo 

 to Suez have already been alluded to. 



Regarding the present proposition of a railroad from Alexandria 

 to Berenice, if the speed of only 20 miles per hour was maintained, 

 the journey could be performed in 35 hours ; add to which 12 hours' 

 rest at Thebes, and it will be seen that the entire passage will only 

 occupy the same time now taken up between Alexandria and Suez : 

 that is to say, the steamer will arrive as usual on the 17th, and the 

 mails and passengers will be at Berenice, which is one third of the 

 way down the Red Sea, instead of at Suez by the 19th, thus saving 

 two clear days in our communications with India. 



At Berenice there is a good and safe harbour, with sufficient 

 water to allow the largest steamers to come alongside, and quays made 

 for that purpose ; therefore passengers, mails, and cargo could be 

 transferred without the least difficulty or delay from railway to 

 steamer. 



The advantages are therefore a gain of two days in time, one 

 third of the Red Sea passage avoided, and a convenient harbour at 

 the end of the line, instead of the miserable Port of Suez. 



The time of transit might still further be reduced by the con-, 

 struction of a pier at Alexandria, alongside which the steamers 

 might go in all weathers, and thus avoid the usual delays. 



The above advantages apply only to the improvement of the 

 present Overland Route, but Egypt and the entire commercial 

 world would share largely in the benefits of such improvements. 

 For instance, the entire Nile Valley belonging to Egypt would be 

 opened up, and a high road formed conducting to the heart of Africa, 

 the inexhaustible riches of which country remain yet untouched. 



Finally, the port of Berenice would be admirably situated for 

 developing the Red Sea trade, which is at present slumbering for 

 want of such an entrep5t.* 



The maintenance of our Indian empire in its integrity is of vast 

 importance, and nothing can so surely consolidate the rule of the 

 mother country as a speedy means of communication with her 



Shortening the route to India by two days is, doubtless, a great 

 gain ; and, as the time is past when the authorities can assert that 

 "they require no steam to the East at all," it is to be hoped that 



* Sir Gardner Wilkinson differs entirely from these views, and says that the 

 " Port of Berenice has long since been filled up with sand, and has only a small 

 quantity of water in it, even at high tide." — Ed. 



