42 PROJECTS FOR CANALS UNITING THE TWO OCEANS. 



surmounted, in many instances of a similar nature, in Europe and in the 

 United States. On the other hand, the country contains only a few 

 inhabitants of the most wretched description, from whose assistance in 

 the work no advantage in any way could be derived; so that all the 

 laborers, with all their clothes, provisions, and tools, must be transported 

 thither from a distance. The heat is at all times intense, and the wet 

 season continues during eight months of the year ; the rains in July, 

 August, September, and October, being incessant, and heavier, perhaps, 

 than in any other part of the world. As to salubrity, there is a differ- 

 ence of opinion ; but it is scarcely possible that the extremes of heat and 

 dampness, which are there combined, could be otherwise than deleterious 

 to persons from Europe, or from the Northern States of the American 

 Union, by whom the labor of cutting a canal must be performed, unless, 

 indeed, it should be judged proper to employ negroes from the West 

 Indies on the work. 



It seems, therefore, that a canal is practicable across the Isthmus of 

 Panama : there is, however, not the slightest probability that it will be 

 made during this century, if ever ; the commercial utility of such a 

 communication being scarcely sufficient to warrant the enormous ex- 

 penses of its construction and maintenance. Ships from Europe or the 

 United States, bound for the west coasts of America, or the North 

 Pacific, or China, would probably pass through it, unless the tolls should 

 be too heavy ; but those returning from China would pursue the route 

 around the Cape of Good Hope, which would be, in all respects, more 

 advantageous for them, as well as for vessels sailing between the Atlantic 

 coasts and India, or Australia. Not only is the direct distance from South 

 Asia and Australia to the Atlantic coasts greater by way of the Pacific, 

 but vessels taking that route must deviate very far from the direct course, 

 in order to avoid the trade winds, which blow constantly westward over 

 the intertropical parts of the Pacific. 



As regards political effects, it may he assumed as certain, that, should 

 the canal be made by any company or nation whatsoever, it will, in 

 time, notwithstanding any precautions by treaty or otherwise, become 

 the property of the greatest naval power, which toill derive a vast increase 

 of political strength from the possession. 



