April 11, 1859.] PIM ON THE ISTHMUS OF SUEZ. 205 



centuries past they have displayed this peculiar aptitude, and ther6 is a good 

 reason for it, for without canals Egypt would be nothing, and neglect of them 

 would condemn her to barrenness, poverty, and famine. No Europeans 

 could get through work of this description in such a climate. Although 

 they are stronger and better skilled than the Fellahs, it is an undoubted and 

 established fact that a European population could not continue to exist here ; 

 the first generation of foreign settlers manage to adapt themselves tolerably 

 well at first, but they languish in the end, the second becomes very nearly 

 exhausted, and the third dies out altogether. This is an incontestable fact. 



" Captain Pim states ' that towards the Bay of Pelusium the depth of 25 

 feet of water extends for a distance of more than three miles from the shore. 

 That the prevailing winds, exposure of the Bay of Pelusium, the lowness of 

 the coast, and the absence of land-marks, increase the danger of navigation.' 



" ' That the quantity of alluvium carried by the easterly current in the 

 Mediterranean, towards the Bay of Pelusium, would have the effect of choking 

 up any harbour or channel which might be made.' 



*' Now I beg to observe that in 1857 the Commission of Engineers fixed the 

 outlet of the canal at 28^ kilometres (17 miles 6^ furlongs) westward of the 

 point adopted in the project ; the shore being there less exposed to the pre- 

 vailing winds, while it is steeper, and projects farther towards the open sea. 

 Nearer to the n.w., in the Bay of Dibeh, and under the point of Damietta, 

 a vessel could not right herself by a n.e. wind. Moreover, the length of the 

 canal would be uselessly extended. The projection formed by the shore 

 opposite Said, between the Bays of Pelusium and Dibeh, evidently offers the 

 most favourable site ; it will be easy to stand out, whatever wind is blowing, 

 and a vessel caught suddenly in a gale of wind from the offing, at this part of 

 the coast, can always right herself and get out into the open sea again. 



" The local winds are extremely regular, and the anchorage on the coast of 

 Egypt is better than any one to be found throughout the entire coast of Syria, 

 which is directly exposed to the prevailing winds from the n.w., whereas the 

 Egyptian coast is partially sheltered from them. The holding ground is every- 

 where excellent. 



" M. Larousse, during his sojourn in the roadstead of the Bay of Pelusium, 

 frequently observed the ship's position at intervals, and found no difference, 

 although it had been blowing all night. If it were desired to bring a vessel to 

 anchor previous to entering the canal, there would be no fear of her dragging 

 her anchors. The native coasters declare that in rough weather they easily 

 obtain shelter eastward of Damietta, in the very locality where the canal is to 

 terminate. It should, moreover, be remarked, that previous to the establish- 

 ment of Austrian and French companies for steam navigation, the coasting 

 vessels engaged in what was called the Caravan Trade, on the coast of Egypt 

 and Syria, frequently sought shelter in the western part of the Gulf of Pelu- 

 sium. This is sufficient proof that these coasts are far from being so formidable 

 as they were imagined to be in the absence of any positive knowledge of the 

 facts ; and it may be taken for certain that a vessel, sheltered from the w.n.w. 

 winds, could keep her moorings with long cables during all weathers in water 

 of 12 metres (39 feet) depth. 



" In farther confirmation of these facts, I beg to call the attention of the 

 meeting to the report of Captain Philigret, entitled ' Observations Hydro- 

 graphiques dans la Baie de Peluse.' Captain Philigret was purposely stationed 

 on board a corvette, belonging to his Highness the Viceroy of Egypt, during 

 three of the worst months in the year, in the Bay of Pelusium, in order to 

 ascertain the safety of this roadstead and make observations respecting the 

 winds and currents. 



" At Port Said the western or northern jetty would be 3500 metres (3827 

 yards) long, in order to reach a depth of 10 metres (32 feet). That on the 



