THE KEY TO INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE KEY TO INDIA.

SUEZ CANAL HISTORY.

WHERE EAST MEETS WEST.

PASHA'S PRIVATE SURVEY,

feoventy years ago, on April 25, 1859, tho first spadeful of sand was turned near the sito of Port Said, and tho work of constructing ttie Suez Canal was bogun. This was not tho first attempt to unito East and West by a waterway. MVloro than 3000 years ago, when tho civilisation and commcrco of tho world centred about tho Mediterranean Sea, and tho Egyptians thought it important to find a market for their goods in tho East, they, too; built canals to carry on commerco.with Arabia, Persia and India. Seti 1., who reigned about 1380 8.C., is supposed to havo built tho first canal connecting tho Nile with the Red Sea. Ho reigned but a few years, nnd it is probable that his son, Rameses 11., contributed to (he buitdirg of tho Canal, which diverged from the Nile at Hubastis and continued to a port on a gulf, which no longer exists, but is known as tho Bitter Lakes, through which tho Suez Canal makes its course. But 3,000 years ago Egyptians believed some legend to the effect that tho level

of the lied Sea was nine metres higher than that of tho Mediterranean. If a canal-were built to unita tho two <.eas, an inundation of Egypt would follow, they thought. An so thoy hollowed tho cr.nal from Bubnstis and utilised that branch of the Nile known as tho Pelusaie to complete tlio passago to tho Red Sea, where merchandise was transferred to si ips. After a timo tlio " Canal of the Pharaohs " became clogged with silt and I'liaraoh Neclio built another one. Herodotus tells us that in this undertaking 120,000 men lost their lives, though tho work was not completed until f-20 I» C., when Darius undertook it. The canal was abandoned dining tho long wars and invasions to which Egypt was subjected from the death (f Darius to the reign of Ptolemy 11., who rcpniied it. Ho made a continuous canal and inserted locks at both ends. During the Arabian period the canal was hoik.wed out again under Caliph Omar, by Wmr, who conquecored Egypt in 639 A.D.

The Crusades gave a new impetus to trr.do with the East and as far back as the thirteenth century Franco began to rnako definito plans at one time and another to open a routo over the isthmus. When mora is known of tho [ol : ticul

motives of Napoleon it will be realised that liis thoughts centred about trade with the Orient. 80 that when Ferdinand de Lesseps undertook to carry out his idea of the Suez Canal lie found that other countries besides Franco sought the key to trade with India, and the}' offered the grmUst resistance to the accomplishment of his purpose, lie laid his plans at the feet of Mohammed Said Pasha, then Viceroy of Egypt, who immediately ordered a, survey at his own expense. Tho engineers Linant Bey and Mougel Bey were engaged to draw up plans. Said Pcsha gave his consent to go ahead with the work. At tlio head of I lie canal on (lie Mediterranean Spa ?lands the monument of Ferdinand do Lesseps. He beckons to tho ships as they arrive and with outstretched hands he directs the way to the Prienfa