1870.] Mr. J. F. Bateman on the Suez Canal. 143 



board the ' Hawk/ a steam corvette belonging to the Electric Telegraph 

 Construction Company, which had been placed at his disposal. On board 

 this vessel were assembled a small body of distinguished and intelligent gen- 

 tlemen, who had more than usual opportunities of obtaining such informa- 

 tion as time and circumstances afforded. 



I have the honour to remain, 



Very truly and faithfully yours, 



John Fred. Bateman. 

 Lieut. -General Sir Edward Sabine, P.R.S., K.C.B. 



Memorandum as to the Dimensions of the Canal. 



The following, it is believed, are the dimensions on which the canal has 

 been constructed. They are principally extracted from Mr. Fowler's 

 letter. 



• Width at 



^ lleS ;, m top water, 



length. £ feet ' 



1. From Port Said, through Lakes Menzaleh 



and Ballah, to near El Ferdane 37 327 



2. From near El Ferdane, through the great ex- 



cavation of Seuil de Guisr, to Lake Timsah .9^ 196 



3. Through Lake Timsah 5£ 327 



4. From Lake Timsah, through the excavation 



of Seuil de Serapeum, to the Bitter Lakes . . 7j 196 



5. Through the Bitter Lakes 23| 327 



6. Through the deep portion of Chalouf cutting .5 196 



7. Thence to Suez and the end of the canal ... . 11 327 



Total length 99 



The canal is intended throughout to be 8 metres, or 26 ft. 4 in. in 

 depth. In every case this depth is to be maintained for a width at the 

 bottom in the centre of 72 feet, with slopes on each side of 2 horizontal to 

 1 vertical to within a few feet of the surface. In the wider portions of the 

 canal the sides above this level are formed with flat slopes of 5 horizontal 

 to 1 vertical, with a horizontal bench between the two slopes of 58 feet 

 in width. A narrower bench is left where the canal is of the smaller 

 width. 



On board the 1 Hawk ' soundings were taken along the whole length of 

 the canal. Between Port Said and Lake Timsah the soundings near the 

 centre of the canal, on both sides of the vessel, showed a depth varying 

 from 21 ft. to 29| ft., the greater number being from 24 to 29. In Lake 

 Timsah the depth, according to soundings, was from 19 to 23 ft. Be- 

 tween Lake Timsah and the Bitter Lakes there were no soundings less 

 than 21 ft., except over the rocks at Serapeum, where vessels drawing 



