DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0043
MAHM0UD1EH CANAL. 43
board, and that a sparing one. During a sleepless
night, as I lay sick on my hard made bed, I thought of
kindred and friends far away, good beds, and nourish-
ing things. Added to this, I was sorely annoyed by
fleas and musquetoes, which abound in Egypt, even in
winter. To be taken sick in such a place and under
such circumstances, was a thought gloomy enough.
In the morning, though weak and feverish, I besoug it
to be set on shore that I might breathe a pure air and
take a little exercise. The sickly scent of our filthy
cabin, was peculiarly oppressive. Our boat was then
moving but slowly, and my English friend went on
shore with me. We walked at a very moderate pace
for about a mile. The morning air was balmy and
bracing, while the odor of various kinds of trees on
our way, was delicious and invigorating. On return-
ing to the boat, I felt refreshed, and from that time
continued to mend. In two days my health was
good.
The entire length of the Mahmoudieh canal is said
to be sixty miles. It is designed as an opening for the
commerce of the Nile direct to Alexandria, instead of
the hazardous route by way of Rosetta and the Mo -
diterranean. Nearly the whole distance we traveled
it, the canal passes near the shore of Lake Mareotis,
and finally unites with the. Nile at the town of Atfe.
This lake is a broad, tranquil sheet of water, perhaps
ten or twelve miles wide, and stretching considerably
farther West than the city of Alexandria. To the
South of it, the Lybian Desert spreads itself in bound-
less desolation. The Mahmoudieh canal is an effort
of the pacha, to raise fallen Alexandria. For that
board, and that a sparing one. During a sleepless
night, as I lay sick on my hard made bed, I thought of
kindred and friends far away, good beds, and nourish-
ing things. Added to this, I was sorely annoyed by
fleas and musquetoes, which abound in Egypt, even in
winter. To be taken sick in such a place and under
such circumstances, was a thought gloomy enough.
In the morning, though weak and feverish, I besoug it
to be set on shore that I might breathe a pure air and
take a little exercise. The sickly scent of our filthy
cabin, was peculiarly oppressive. Our boat was then
moving but slowly, and my English friend went on
shore with me. We walked at a very moderate pace
for about a mile. The morning air was balmy and
bracing, while the odor of various kinds of trees on
our way, was delicious and invigorating. On return-
ing to the boat, I felt refreshed, and from that time
continued to mend. In two days my health was
good.
The entire length of the Mahmoudieh canal is said
to be sixty miles. It is designed as an opening for the
commerce of the Nile direct to Alexandria, instead of
the hazardous route by way of Rosetta and the Mo -
diterranean. Nearly the whole distance we traveled
it, the canal passes near the shore of Lake Mareotis,
and finally unites with the. Nile at the town of Atfe.
This lake is a broad, tranquil sheet of water, perhaps
ten or twelve miles wide, and stretching considerably
farther West than the city of Alexandria. To the
South of it, the Lybian Desert spreads itself in bound-
less desolation. The Mahmoudieh canal is an effort
of the pacha, to raise fallen Alexandria. For that