Page 318 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)

XIV.] COAST OF ARABIA. 299

will at least place the matter at rest, and
will, it is to be hoped, be successful in both.
The country forming the basin of the
Euphrates, like that of Egypt, owes its fer­
tility to the annual overflowing of its river.
The width of the cultivated ground does not
average more than two or three miles, and on
this strip the agricultural classes reside: the
nomadic hordes are again dependent on this
class; and the banks of most parts of the

river being low, a steamer traversing it would
command the whole fertile and inhabited
districts, and consequently every portion of
the country over which it might be neces­
sary to extend our influence.
Though the difficulties of this route may
be very great, yet, if these prove surmount­
able, its utility, under certain peculiar cir­
cumstances, would more than counterbalance
them. Should war, pestilence, or other un­
foreseen contingencies, temporarily interfere

with the Red Sea route, we should then have
another at our command. This line might
also be expected to benefit and extend our
commerce in the countries through which it