THE PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA BY THE ISRAELITES. 269 



Egypt and Asia, namely, that of Kantara. This has been the 

 recognised gateway to Egypt from remote ages, by which 

 invading armies of Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and 

 Arabs have all passed into Eg3^t. Thei-e might have been 

 a by-way between Lakes Ballah and Timsah, namely, the 

 small sandj^ plateau of El Guisr ; but if that existed it wonld 

 be well guarded by defensive works. It is possible that 

 Etham, " on the edge of the Avilderness," the second stage 

 of the Exodus, may have been close on the Egyptian side 

 of this plateau. 



On referring to ancient Egyptian records it appears that 

 there was a fresh water canal from the Nile near Bubastis 

 (Zagazig) to some place in the vicinity of the head of the 

 present Bitter Lake, where apparently there was a port for 

 ships coming to Egypt via the Red Sea ; consequently from 

 this point southwards there coidd have been no road out of 

 Egypt. 



It has been suggested that the point of passage may have 

 been at the southern or sea end of the Bitter Lake by 

 Chalouf, Avhere the channel would be narrow, and that at 

 low tide it might have been fordable. If such were the case 

 then it would not have been possible for Pharaoh to say, 

 " They are entangled in the land, the wilderness has shut 

 them in." The northern part of the frontier line was un- 

 questionably fortified, and made as secure as possible against 

 attack from the eastward, and it would be contrary to reason 

 to suppose that the Egyptians would leave a gap in their 

 defence practicable to an enemy at every low spring tide, 

 or that such was unknown to their military authorities 

 responsible for the safety of the country. Again, considering 

 tlie north and south direction of the channel referred to, an 

 east wind would have no effect on the water there, even if it 

 varied a point or two north or south. 



Several winter visitors to Egypt have lately given their 

 ideas as to the route of the Exodus, but apparently few, if 

 any, have actually traversed the ground they describe; as an 

 instance I may mention one writer, who attributes deeply 

 planned strategic schemes to Moses which would have 

 puzzled even Von Moltke to understand. This gentleman 

 finally brings the Israelites to a point on the Bitter Lake 

 by the South Lightshij), where even now there is a depth of 

 30 feet of watei-, and where no hurricane that ever blew 

 would make the place fordable. With some the narrows 

 between the two Bitter Lakes is considered a possible place 



u 2 



