386 



NORTH-EAST APEICA. 



proposed to construct along the old route from Keneh to Kosseir, which might thus 

 again become one of the chief commercial outports of the Nile Valley. Here the 

 large steamers plying on the Red Sea might ship goods, thereby saving the heavy 

 transit dues across nearly the whole of Egypt to Alexandria. In 1862 an alter- 

 native but longer line was proposed by the English, running from Keneh to the 

 ancient port of Berenice, and mainly following the old Roman route. Were this 



Fig. 116.— Kosseir. 

 Scale 1 : 110,000. 



\:^^:^^JLâ^^:u:>..^^^^ , 



Depths. 



160 to 320 

 Feet. 



320 to 1,600 

 Feet. 



.3 Miles. 



1.600 Feet 

 indupwaids. 



railway constructed, sailing vessels would be enabled to avoid the tedious and 

 dangerous navigation in the northern waters of the Red Sea. 



The present town of Kosseir stands on an almost flat beach, in front of which 

 the shipping is obliged to anchor in an exposed roadstead. But the smaller Arab 

 craft find a shelter close inland, where they are protected by a coral reef from the 

 north and north-east winds. The dilapidated fort commanding the town was built 

 by the French during the Egyptian expedition under Bonaparte. Kosseir is 

 badly supplied with wells, which explains its scanty vegetation. The only really 

 fresh water comes all the way from the Nile ; but most of the inhabitants are fain 



