CURRENTS OF THE SEA. 185 



and have wants that are similar : for a commerce among them- 

 selves, therefore, they lack the main elements, viz., difference of 

 production, and the diversity of wants which are the consequence 

 of variety of climates. To reach these, the Mediterranean people 

 have had to encounter the tedious navigation and the sometimes 

 difficult egress — just described — from their sea. Clearing the 

 Straits of Gibraltar, their vessels do not even then find them- 

 selves in a position so favourable for reaching the markets of 

 the world as they would be were they in Liverpool or off the 

 Lizard. Such is the obstruction which the winds and the current 

 from the Atlantic offer to the navigation there, that vessels 

 bound to Lidia from the United States, England, or Holland, 

 may often double the Cape of Good Hope before one sailing 

 with a like destination from a Mediten^anean port would find 

 herself clear of the Straits of Gibraltar. It is therefore not 

 surprising that none of the great commercial marts of the pre- 

 sent day are found on the shores of this classic sea. The people 

 who inhabit the hydrographic basin of the Mediterranean — 

 Avhich includes the finest parts of Europe — have, ever since the 

 discovery of the passage around the Cape of Good Hope, been com- 

 mercially jDcnt up. A ship-canal across the Isthmus of Suez will 

 let them out into the commercial world, and place them within a 

 few days of all the climates, wants, supplies, and productions of 

 India. It will add largely to their wealth and prosperity. As 

 these are increased, trading intercourse is enhanced, and so by 

 virtue of this canal they will become better customers for 

 England and Holland, and all other trading nations whose ports 

 are havens of the Atlantic. Occupying this stand-point in their 

 system of commercial economy, the people of the United States 

 await with a lively interest the completion of the Suez Canal. 



380. Hydrometrical observations at sea icanted. — Of all parts of 

 the ocean, the warmest water, the saltest and the heaviest too, 

 is said to be found in the seas of the Indian Ocean. A good 

 .series of observations there -with the hydrometer, at the diflerent 

 seasons of the year, is a desideratum. Taking, however, such as 

 we have upon the density of the water in the Eed Sea and the 

 jMediterranean, and upon the under currents that run out from 

 these seas, let us examine results. 



381. Specific gravity of Bed Sea ivater. — Several years ago, Mr. 

 Morris, chief engineer of the Oriental Company's steam-ship 

 Ajdaha, collected specimens of lied Sea water all the way from 



