350 COFFEE. 



many millions of dollars capital. "While most persons are, 

 doubtless, familiar with the main facts in connection with this 

 great work, a review of history is sometimes interesting, and I 

 will give a few facts and figures in relation to it. 



To Monsieur de Lesseps, the world is indebted both for the con- 

 ception and execution of this work. Appointed French Consul in 

 Egypt in 1831, after some years' residence in that country, M. de 

 Lesseps became possessed with the idea of cutting a canal from 

 the Mediterranean across the desert to the Eed Sea, a distance of 

 some eighty nautical, or about one hundred English miles. It 

 was not till 1854, however, that the co-operation of the Egyptian 

 Government was secured, and in November of that year the final 

 concession was granted to M. de Lesseps. A company was formed, 

 and a subscription to the stock opened in November, 1858. A 

 large share of the subscriptions was reserved for English capital- 

 ists, but England stood aloof, and took no interest in the enter- 

 prise, although, if a success, the greatest benefit must inure to her. 

 Twenty-five thousand French subscribers at once came forward, 

 and these, with the aid of the Egyptian Government, insured the 

 construction of the canal. The estimated cost of construction was 

 at first twenty millions of dollars. The difficulties in thewaygi'adu- 

 ally increased, until the estimated cost became forty millions of 

 dollars, and, before the opening, the expenditure was seventy-five 

 millions, and at this date has exceeded eighty millions, or 

 about four times the original estimate, notwithstanding that the 

 country through which the canal is constructed is peculiarly favor- 

 able for such a work, there being little or no rock-cutting, and the 

 sand-hills in no place being more than forty feet high ; while for 

 about half the distance shallow lakes or lagoons could be utilized 

 by merely dredging. An idea of the magnitude of the work, 

 however, can be formed from the fact that, although prosecuted 

 with the greatest energy, it took ten years to accomplish it. 

 Besides the actual, work on the canal, there was the commence- 

 ment indispensable for the workmen; sheds and buildings for 

 an army of men were necessary, and a supply of fresh water 

 in the desert. To insure the latter, water was first carried from 

 Zagazig through fifty miles of wilderness in skins on the backs 

 of three thousand camels and donkeys, while two years later 



