are 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 125 
this end. His troops were to have been transported on rafts, constructed of timber 
cut down in the vicinity and on the banks of the river and sea coast. With a little 
of his daring we might do the same at this moment, and with much greater facility. 
There have been various proposals at different times for opening a communication 
with India by the Euphrates Valley. That which took the most practical shape was 
elaborated by Lieutenant Campbell, then of the Royal Engineers, in 1843. His pro- 
posal and map were in all essential points identical with those more recently pro- 
posed by the great engineer, Sir R. Macdonald Stevenson. These and many other 
subsequent proposals, both French and English, have all now become merged in the 
company of which Mr. Andrews is Chairman, and Sir John MacNeill, a man well- 
known among you, Engineer-in-Chief. I was induced last year to proceed to Con- 
stantinople to obtain the Sultan’s firman, and make all preliminary arrangements 
for the proposed line to India; andI afterwards proceeded, accompanied by Sir John 
MacNeill, C.E., and two assistant engineers, to examine carefully the coast of Asia 
Minor, where the Taurus touches the sea, in the hope of finding a practicable valley 
for a future line through that country, and then proceeded to examine the coast for 
a good harbour. That of Alexandretta did not promise to answer, on account of its 
mountains, impassable for a railway ; and the ancient harbour of Seleucia was also 
condemned as not affording sufficient depth of water. But on the southern side of 
the Bay of Antioch, a spot was selected by Sir John MacNeill admirably adapted to 
form a safe and commodious harbour of refuge. It will be capable of receiving 
second-rate line-of-battle ships, and will be as good as, or superior to, the harbour 
of Kingstown. The spot chosen is three miles south of the river Orontes, and six 
miles east of the old harbour of Seleucia. The harbour is proposed to be formed by 
running out a breakwater on the south side of the small natural harbour, which is @ 
perfectly safe and secure landing-place for boats, with good holding-ground ; so that 
vessels taking out materials for the construction of the railway could anchor in safety 
off this landing-place. Stone of the finest quality abounds close to the point where 
the breakwater will abut on the land, and can be quarried also to any extent in the 
immediate neighbourhood. It is proposed to construct about 1000 feet of the break- 
water in the first instance, and to complete each portion as the work advances, so as’ 
to afford shelter and landing wharfs within the first year or eighteen months, which 
will enable vessels drawing 20 feet of water to lie in safety during the winter months, 
if required to do so; and within six months from the commencement of the work a 
landing-place can be formed, and perfect shelter for boats, at an expense of £20,000. 
The harbour, when completed, will be capable of giving shelter to thirty or 
thirty-five vessels. The average depth of water will be from 20 to 40 feet. Our 
survey of the country and the subsequent trial sections of the engineers, extended! 
from the coast to within sight of the Euphrates, taking in the towns of Antioch and 
Aleppo. Beyond the latter, all engineering difficulties cease, the country presenting 
a hard dry level surface (called in Arabic “ Ka Jalide,”—flat and hard), most admi- 
rably adapted for a railway. And even between the Mediterranean and Aleppo the 
difficulties are such as would be considered small in this country. There will not be 
a single tunnel, and only two cuttings of any consequence. Two chain bridges over 
the Orontes will be necessary; but neither do these present any obstacle to the 
engineering science of the present day. The estimated expense of the whole line is 
£6,000,000. 
It is impossible to over-estimate the political and commercial advantages which 
England would derive from the opening up of this most fertile country. History 
proves what a powerful influence has at all times belonged to the possession of the 
Valley of the Euphrates ; and to science, to the geologist, the naturalist, the ethno- 
logist and the archeologist, fresh and most interesting fields of inquiry would be 
opened by this line of communication with India. The difficulties of dealing with 
the Arabs have been much exaggerated. They are a singular people, combining 
the extremes of good and evil in their character. But with good faith on our part, 
judicious management, and a little foresight, there would be little to apprehend from 
them. The chief difficulties in dealing satisfactorily with the Arabs would arise from 
their ignorance, the hostile state of their tribes, and their blood feuds. ButI know 
