378 STEAM NAVIGATION BY THE RED SEA. 



the whole Red Sea, and continue till October. From Oc- 

 tober to May the southerly winds prevail in the southern 

 latitude of the Red Sea only. In the northern latitudes the 

 northerly winds prevail during the whole year. The limits 

 of the two opposite winds, or the region of change, may 

 be placed between the 18° and 20° of north latitude. In 

 June, July, and August the northerlj' winds are strongest 

 near Suez. The end of June and beginning of July is the 

 proper season of arrival at Alexandria. The northerly 

 winds do not commence in the southerly part of the Red 

 Sea till the end of May, and continue till October. 



It must not be overlooked that the existing post-office 

 regulations are inimical to private enterprise as connected 

 with the establishment of a steam communication to India 

 hy the Red Sea. By law all vessels to India are compelled 

 to take letter-bags free ; therefore no remuneration can be 

 derived from the conveyance of letters. 



Mr. Waghorn's remarks on the navigation of the Nile 

 are as follows : — " There is no river in the world, perhaps, 

 that baffles a just description on this head more than the 

 Nile : its depth at Rosetta is sometimes ten feet. A north- 

 erly gale blowing in the Mediterranean vrould completely 

 close this up, and even raise a sand-bank in its place, 

 stopping the whole navigation between Alexandria, by not 

 allowing even a passage for the jerms or corn-boats to ar- 

 rive there. This will continue till the torrents gather, in 

 consequence of the sudden check thus experienced, and 

 again open the same passage by the strength of their 

 pressure. Again, there are certain parts in the river, one 

 in particular at Shallakan, where shoals constantly exist ; 

 the depth of water consequently depends upon the strength 

 of the current at the time. It was December when I 

 passed, and the depth of water was only two feet six 

 inches at places : there are many others where the channel 

 IS only four feet, with deep holes from thirty to forty. 

 Steam navigation on the Nile could not admit of comfort, 

 because the small class of the vessel would not allow it ; 

 but it would be perfectly useless, as the distance by water 

 doubles that of the land, and from the canal of Alexandria 

 only being navigable three months out of twelve ; and 

 if such a casualty took place as the gale before mentioned, 

 there would be no water communication whatever till the 



