DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11715#0169
SECTION V.
The Suez Canal.
THE separation of the African Continent from that of Asia, and the formation of a di-
rect waterway between the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans by cutting the Isthmus
of Suez, has been often and justly spoken of as one of the most daring achievements of
the present century. With less justice is it adduced to prove our immense superiority
over ancient engineers in works of great public utility. The canalization of the isthmus
is no modern project. It had been commenced whilst the Israelites were yet in Egypt,
and probably formed part of their labors at the period of the Exodus. It was carried
forward almost to completion by Pharaoh Necho, who defeated King Josiah in the great
battle of Megiddo.1 And a hundred years later it was finished by the Persian conquer-
ors of Egypt.
It would, however, be an error to suppose that M. Lesseps and his associates simply
inherited the ideas of the Pharaohs. The Suez Canal was designed solely to facilitate
communication between the Eastern and the Western Continents. For this purpose all
that was needed was the construction of a channel wide and deep enough for ocean-
going steamers, through the narrow neck of land which divides the Mediterranean from
the Red Sea, thus avoiding the long detour by the Cape of Good Hope. But the ancient
Egyptians were not a maritime people. To navigate the Nile was enough for them.
A mere ship canal was worthless to a nation which had no foreign commerce, and it
1 2 Chronicles -exxv. 20—24.
16s
The Suez Canal.
THE separation of the African Continent from that of Asia, and the formation of a di-
rect waterway between the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans by cutting the Isthmus
of Suez, has been often and justly spoken of as one of the most daring achievements of
the present century. With less justice is it adduced to prove our immense superiority
over ancient engineers in works of great public utility. The canalization of the isthmus
is no modern project. It had been commenced whilst the Israelites were yet in Egypt,
and probably formed part of their labors at the period of the Exodus. It was carried
forward almost to completion by Pharaoh Necho, who defeated King Josiah in the great
battle of Megiddo.1 And a hundred years later it was finished by the Persian conquer-
ors of Egypt.
It would, however, be an error to suppose that M. Lesseps and his associates simply
inherited the ideas of the Pharaohs. The Suez Canal was designed solely to facilitate
communication between the Eastern and the Western Continents. For this purpose all
that was needed was the construction of a channel wide and deep enough for ocean-
going steamers, through the narrow neck of land which divides the Mediterranean from
the Red Sea, thus avoiding the long detour by the Cape of Good Hope. But the ancient
Egyptians were not a maritime people. To navigate the Nile was enough for them.
A mere ship canal was worthless to a nation which had no foreign commerce, and it
1 2 Chronicles -exxv. 20—24.
16s