THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 305 



principle of the direct route from Suez to the Medi- 

 terranean. 



"2nd. It has rejected the plan for supplying the 

 maritime canal with the Nile water, and has adopted 

 the plan for supplying it with salt water. 



" 3rd. It has discussed the advantages and draw- 

 backs of a canal with continuous banks from one sea 

 to another, and has in the end decided that there shall 

 be no banks where the canal passes through the Bitter 

 Lakes. 



" 4th. As the interposition of the Bitter Lakes left 

 open will have the effect of deadening the tidal cur- 

 rents, the Commission was of opinion that locks at the 

 two extremities of the canal would not be necessary, 

 subject, however, to the possibility of having to 

 establish them afterwards. 



"5th. The Commission has adhered to the breadth 

 of 325 ft. at the water line and 150 ft. at the bottom for 

 the whole of the distance (12J miles), which is to be 

 walled in between Suez and the Bitter Lakes, reducing 

 it by one-fifth in the remainder of the canal. 



" 6th. The outline of the preliminary project of the 

 engineers appointed by the Viceroy is retained. 



" 7th. Entrance from the Mediterranean (Port 

 Said). The Commission adopts for the port of Port 

 Said the proposal for jetties made by those of its mem- 

 bers who went to Egypt, except that the width of the 

 channel shall be 440 yds. instead of 550 yds., and 

 that a second basin shall be made. 



VOL. i. x 



