156 that' 



seventy-four miles, and is barren 

 and uninhabitable, it has always 

 been of great importance, as a 

 barrier to the ocean commerce 

 between the east and west. 



The town of Suez lies on the 

 southern border of the Isthmus. 

 There is here a considerable sea- 

 port; and since the establishment 

 of the overland route to India, 

 the town has become of conside- 

 rable importance. The transit 

 across the Isthmus, from sea to 

 sea, was once effected by caravans 

 of camels, 8, and afterwards 

 vans were employed, 9 ; but 



8 9 



480. 



now a railway flies across the 

 inhospitable barrier, and the 

 triumphs of science overcome 

 that which for ages has proved 

 a gigantic obstacle to commerce. 

 It was that part of the Red Sea, 

 called the Gulf of Suez, which 

 the Israelites crossed in their 

 flight from Egypt.* 



The latter country is as re- 

 markable for its physical pecu- 

 liarities, as for its place in his- 

 tory; it still retains, in its won- 

 derful monuments, the earliest 

 /ecords of civilization. Egypt is 



* A ffreat many inttrestinff pa ficulnrs upon the 

 Geography of Scripture History will be t'ounJ in " The 

 Biblical Ks;i«'.>u Why." 



S IT ; 



now called by the natives, and 

 throughout the East generally, 

 Misr, or Masr, a name evidently 

 connected with the Mitsraim of 

 Scripture. The ancient Egyp- 

 tian name of the country, Khemi 

 (whence Cham or Ham), signified 

 black, and was probably sug- 

 gested by the dark colour of the 

 sedimentary soil. 



Of the inhabitants of Egypt, 

 the great majority, those of the 

 peasant class, or Fellahs, as they 

 are called, are undoubtedly indi- 

 genous, and may be regarded as 

 descendants of the ancient Egyp- 

 tians. These having embraced 

 Mahomedism, are now generally 

 denominated Arabs, though easily 

 distinguished from the true Arab, 

 who regards the - Fellah class 

 with contempt. The Copts are 

 Egyptians who still adhere to 

 the Christian faith; though com- 

 paratively few, they continue to 

 hold a respectable position in 

 society, by means of their edu- 

 cation and useful talents. Of 

 the historical monuments and 

 sacred history of this ancient 

 nation, we can only give a few 

 particulars. 



10 



481. 



