Page 314 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XIV.] COAST OF ARABIA. 295

impediments to a steamer than the lower
portion. The ancients, indeed, adopted more
southern ports, at an enormous increase of
land and river carriage, because their rude
vessels were unable to encounter the prevail­
ing north-westerly breeze in and below the
Sea of Suez.
If the railroad be laid down, all difficulties
between Suez and Cairo disappear; but if
not, as the distance is only eighty-two miles,

and as level as any Macadamised road in
England, we have only to establish wheeled
vehicles on it, which would have been long
since done had the country been in European
hands. The rising of the Nile offers no im­
pediment to the conveyance of goods through
Egypt; but, on the contrary, by filling the
canal which connects one of its principal
branches with the port of Alexandria, the
communication is maintained by water be­
tween Cairo and that city at other periods of
the year *.

* Much has been written on this “ passage of the Desert.”
Patent springs for camel saddles were invented; masks to pro­
tect the face from the scorching rays of an Egyptian sun; green
spectacles, umbrellas, tents, &c. &c. have also been recommended;
all, no doubt, very comfortable, und for invalids very necessary,