1870.] Mr. J. F. Batcman on the Suez Canal. 



141 



of the year there is on the average of the day a regular current from the 

 Red Sea to the Mediterranean. 



This is an interesting as well as important question ; and it is to he hoped 

 that regular observations will be taken at all points along the canal, and at 

 each end, which may show accurately the rise and fall of tide, the velocity 

 and duration of the currents in each direction, and the relative height of the 

 various portions of the canal and the Lakes it traverses. 



The range of the tide in the Mediterranean is, as already stated, about 

 12 inches, while in the Red Sea at Suez it varies from 4 to 6 feet. 



On the day of the opening thirty-two vessels reached Lake Timsah 

 without let or hindrance ; one Egyptian vessel, the ' Garbia,' coming 

 after this number, stuck fast for some hours about 12 miles from the 

 Lake, and retarded a number of vessels in its rear ; but eventually all 

 came forward, and the mighty fleet assembled on Lake Timsah the fol- 

 lowing day. 



At Port Said I counted on the day of the inauguration more than 

 ninety vessels, chiefly of the largest class (many being upwards of 2000 tons 

 register), and including a fleet of British "iron-clads," which anchored within 

 the western pier. Here, however, a good deal requires to be done. The 

 harbour is formed by two jetties built of concrete blocks, the western one 

 being run out to sea, at right angles to the shore, for a distance of 2400 

 metres, and then turned eastwards for 300 metres more. The eastern 

 jetty starts from shore at a distance of 1400 metres from the western pier, 

 is continued out to sea for a length of about 1700 metres, gradually 

 approaching to within about 700 metres of the western jetty at its termi- 

 nation. 



The western jetty has been erected for protection, and for the purpose of 

 intercepting the sand and alluvial matter which are undoubtedly drifted 

 from the mouth of the Nile eastwards. This work is too light and too open 

 effectually to answer its purpose, and requires improvement. Close in shore 

 a considerable amount of the drifting sand has been arrested, and where 

 the sea recently flowed there is already an accumulation of dry land. 

 On the land thus formed were erected the temple in which the Viceroy- 

 received his principal guests at the inauguration, and the temples for 

 the worship of the Mahometan and Christian churches, where all the 

 religions of the world were supposed to be present and to ask a blessing on 

 the great undertaking the opening of which they were assembled to cele- 

 brate. In its present condition, the jetty favours the deposit of material 

 within the harbour ; and not until the passage of the sand through the 

 interstices of the concrete blocks of which it is built has been checked, 

 will there be any effectual protection against the silting up which is 

 taking place. Perhaps by degrees an inner bank or shoal may be 

 formed, which would answer the purpose of a breakwater ; but this would 

 create a crooked and inconvenient channel, and would be ineffective 



