Machinery, tools, fuel, &c., had also to be imported from Europe; indeed everything, except sand, and in some places salt water had to be carried to the line of the canal. Here, at any rate, Dr. Watts's lines were strictly applicable,

"O, what a wretched land is this, That yielded No Supplies:" Though, perhaps, an exception ought to be made as regards camels, which are plentiful, and apparently the only animals which could be used; and also a kind of thistle, the only specimen of vegetation in the desert, but fortunately just the kind of produce which the camels eat. How wonderful the wisdom of the Almighty in the adaptation of animals to the state of the countries and districts where they are most plentifully found. Humanly speaking, without camels (the ox, the ass, and the horse, being of no use) the Suez Canal would have been a far more difficult, if not an impracticable undertaking.

The mode in which the canal was constructed was this. A trench, or water feeder, about twenty feet wide, and four feet deep, was first excavated by Arab labour, and this was filled with water from the Nile. Dredging machines, of shallow draft, were then employed, and the trenches deepened as required. In a few words, these machines may be described as a chain of iron buckets made to revolve over or with two cylinders, one at the top, and the other at the bottom of the water. On reaching the top the buckets threw the sand on a canvass sheet, which was made to revolve on rollers from the side of the machine to the banks, whither it was carried and deposited. Where the latter arrangement was impracticable, either from the height of the banks, or the width of water, the sand was drawn in waggons up the embankments, or carried in flat bottom boats, as circumstances required. In one part, after the canal had been made to a considerable depth, rock presented itself. To empty the canal of water was impracticable; so the rock had to be bored underneath, and then blasted with hermetically sealed tins of powder. For a considerable distance the canal runs through the "Large and Small Bitter Lakes," which had, however, to be deepened. The course through them is marked off by buoys. The total length of the

canal is about eighty-six miles, with a depth in the middle of twenty-six feet, so that vessels drawing twenty-four feet of water are allowed to pass through. In the Charter of Concession the following express conditions are laid down

1. That dues be collected, without exception or favour, from all ships under like conditions.

On

2. That for the simple right of passage through the canal, the maximum toll shall be ten francs (or about 88.) per measurement ton on ships, and per head on passengers. In addition to these charges, however, there is pilotage and tug steamers, if taken; so that for passing through the canal one way, a steamer like the "Viceroy," of 2,250 tons register, and with one hundred passengers, would have to pay in toll, &c., something like £1,000. The maximum speed for vessels in the canal is fixed at about five miles the hour. At certain distances there are stations, where the canal is wider, and vessels are able to pass each other, and between which there is telegraphic communication. At one of these stations vessels are obliged to moor when instructed to do so by the authorities. As we had no tug steamer, and got aground so frequently, we had to moor twice to allow vessels to pass us. one occasion we had a narrow escape of being run into by a Portuguese man of war which was trying to pass us. Fortunately for us she ran aground, and was stopped a few yards astern of our ship, otherwise she would have done us considerable damage. On one side of the canal there is a telegraph wire, and on the other posts of distances, and mooring posts. Half way between Port Said and Suez is the town of Ismalia, called after the present Viceroy of Egypt, and where M. de Lesseps made his head quarters during the construction of the canal. Here the pilots change, the one returning to Port Said, and the fresh one going on to Suez. On Wednesday afternoon, when within six or eight miles of the latter place, our ship ran aground, and as all efforts to get her off were unavailing, the captain telegraphed to Port Said for a tug steamer, which reached us on Thursday fore

noon.

In passing along we saw and felt several of those dust storms which are so trying to travellers across the

desert. The immense quantities of material, all of which had to be imported, lying on the banks of the canal, in the shape of engines, boilers, dredges, boats, waggons, wheelbarrows, &c., served to furnish an index to the vastness and expensiveness of the enterprise. Though said to have cost something like fifteen millions sterling, the work is far from complete, and several millions more require to be expended in making the canal both wider and deeper. The French, however, have no money; and the Sultan of Egypt, it is said, objects to the English purchasing it on the supposed ground that it would tend to strengthen British power in the East. It is to be hoped, however, that an enterprise in which such an immense amount of money has been expended, and which promises to be of such service, will not be allowed to become practically useless. No doubt the original shareholders will have to sustain heavy losses.

SUEZ.

We reached Suez on Thursday afternoon, instead of Tuesday, as we hoped. Near to where we anchored it is supposed that the Israelites passed through the Red Sea and that Pharaoh and the hosts of the Egyptians were drowned. The mountains, between which and the Red Sea the Israelites were hedged in, still present their perpendicular sides of stone, and look as firm now as they did thirty-three centuries ago, when they took part in those wonderful events recorded in Exodus xiv. and xv. After the Israelites had passed through the Red Sea, the inspired narrative informs us that "they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water and threescore and ten palm-trees; and they encamped there by the water." On the opposite shore from Egypt, wells still exist, and are called the "Wells of Moses." What is remarkable in the matter is, that they are the only wells of sweet water to be found within a radius of many miles. As may be supposed, we looked with intense interest on the spot where many ages ago the Lord appeared on behalf of His people, and where the grand old song of deliverance was composed and sung. In our boyish days we were taught to sing, "Sound the loud timbrel o'er Egypt's dark sea,' but little did we then think that ever it would be our lot to sail over its waters.

On Friday morning we went by boat to the town of Suez, which is situated about four miles from the anchorage. Immediately on landing we were besieged by donkey boys, all anxious for customers; but not having been able for some time to use my own legs on terra firma, I much preferred using them to a donkey's. Camels, too, were very numerous in the streets, and apparently as harmless as lambs. The bazaars are quite characteristic of old Eastern towns, and the streets are narrow, dark, and dusty. Everything seemed to have an ancient appearance, and if some of the mummies were to return from the pyramids I should fancy that they would find many things much as they left them ages ago. We appeared to be in the midst of living illustrations of the ancient Egyptians, with the pictures of whom we had been long familiar. Women wearing veils were more common here than at Port Said. Another remarkable thing is the number of men with only one eye. In many cases it is supposed that these organs of vision have been destroyed by disease and flies, both of which are common; but it is said that in more cases they have been wilfully destroyed, in order that the men may be disabled from serving in the army. Many of the native houses are in a very dilapidated condition, and the only buildings worth the name are those erected by or for Europeans connected with the overland transit. Among these are the railway works, the post office, and hotel. At the latter we had the opportunity of seeing English papers of a week after our embarkation. From these we learnt that the weather was very rough about the time we left England, that there had been floods in London and Lincolnshire, and that several ships had been wrecked around the English coast and in the Bay of Biscay. Severely, therefore, as we suffered, others fared far worse. About noon we returned to the ship, and towards four commenced our voyage down

THE RED SEA.

As we sailed along, various objects of historic interest were pointed out to us, among which may be specially mentioned the Sinai range of mountains. Various parts of Arabia on the east, and of Egypt, Nubia, and Abyssinia on

the west, were occasionally in sight. In some parts dangerous rocks present themselves, on two of which, two of the mail steamers have been wrecked, viz., the Alma in 1859, and the Carnatic in 1869. We had a good view of Mocha, so celebrated for its coffee. The Straits of Babel Mandeb (i.e., Gate of Despair) being so narrow and dangerous, considerable interest was excited as we were passing through. Happily for this critical part of the journey, we were favoured with a beautifully clear moonlight night, and the majority of the passengers remained on deck until the danger was passed, when all seemed to experience a sense of relief. In every part and season, the heat on the Red Sea is intense, especially so in the south, and everyone undertaking this journey will do well to have a supply of thin wool clothing. In the "stokehole" of the ship the thermometer rose to 149 degrees, so said the chief engineer. Night or day, sound comfortable sleep was out of the question, and we had to exist as best we could. Unfortunately, too, our ice disappeared, so that the only drinking water we could obtain was tepid, which seemed to increase rather than to quench our thirst. We passed close by Aden, where the pilot was sent on shore, but we did not anchor. The mail steamers stay here for about twelve hours to take in coal and other supplies. The place, however, is barren, hot, and uninviting, but being an important military position-giving the English the command of the entrance to the Red Sea as Gibraltar does to the Mediterranean-it is strongly garrisoned both by European and native troops. Aden contains a telegraph and post office, also a church lighthouse. As it seldom rains oftener than once in three years, water is scarce. Several condensing machines are engaged in preparing fresh water from salt. Ice is also made daily by the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the use of their agents. After leaving Aden everything progressed favourably till we got into the midst of the Arabian Sea, when from some cause or other one of the eccentric rods belonging to the engine broke, and we were brought to a stand. It was to have been repaired by Tuesday, the next morning, but again and again the time fixed for starting came and passed, yet no start was made. Delay after de

lay made the passengers feel anxious, especially as we had little or no wind, were about a thousand miles from land, and out of the course of ships, the captain having taken a new course.

PROPOSAL

FOR A GENERAL BAPTIST MISSION TO ROME. To the Editor of the Missionary Observer.

Dear Sir,-In closing my second letter on the Baptists of Italy, which appeared in the Dec. number of our denominational magazine, I anticipated the convening of a meeting of christian friends of Italy, and expressed a hope of meeting yourself, with the editor of the magazine, and others to whom invitation was about to be sent. On my return from Italy I had the honour and pleasure of meeting our brethren Pike, Clifford, T. Stevenson (Leicester), and Dr. Jabez Burns; also the secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society and the Sunday School Union, J. B. Smithies, Esq. (the devoted editor and proprietor of the British Workman, the Children's Friend, and a countless number of beautifully illustrated and excellent works for both the aged and the young), and with them several other gentlemen and a number of ladies, all interested in the tidings that it was my pleasure to communicate from Rome. My object was to procure for missionaries and teachers in Rome supplies of elementary publications, tracts, Scriptures, &c., and to raise the question of the practicability of establishing a Press, and Book and Tract Depôt. These matters were discussed with much christian interest, and it was resolved to invite the committees of the Sunday School Union and the Religious Tract Society to give attention to the subject; and gentlemen present undertook the responsibility of convening meetings when I may have the opportunity of repeating the statements made at the meeting of the 7th inst.

At the close of the above meeting, and when only a few were left but those acknowledging "one Lord, one faith, one baptism," the question was started, Could not the General Baptists do something for Rome? Would it not be practicable to establish a branch of our Missionary Society in Rome, to aid the devoted brethren there in their

vigorous attempts to furnish that scriptural instruction which is now most eagerly sought and thankfully appreciated? I was requested to make this project the subject of my THIRD LETTER.

Most cheerfully do I respond to that request, and I only wish I could do full justice to the subject. Rome open to Bible teaching! Rome free to receive the gospel! Romans of the working population crowding to places of worship to hear the truth as it is in Jesus! Discussions such as I heard on auricular confession and other Catholic dogmas, conducted in the lowest parts of the city with order and decorum, and followed by crowds signing a paper expressive of their desire to renounce Popery, and receiving copies of the Scriptures; numbers more being registered in the church books as inquirers for salvation, and a goodly number having already united in Christian fellowship; such are the veritable realities of christian progress in Rome. A brother writing me since I returned says: Baptist principles are destined to prevail to a large extent in Italy. It could not be otherwise in this land of primitive christianity. The time has come for the energetic prosecution of our denominational work, which has for its object the pure and simple return to the primitive christian church." It is seen that the people, taking the New Testament as their only guide, in the natural order of things become Baptists, and General Baptists too, and that without knowing much, if anything, of Baptist denominations in other countries. Among the discoveries in ancient Rome are large baptistries, and deep down in the excavations of the church of St. Clement, built over the house of "Clement of Rome," has been found a fresco representing the baptism of Christ in the Jordan by immersion. These discoveries confirm the impressions produced by the simple reading of the Scriptures, and the unsophisticated disciples become Baptists, after "first giving themselves to the Lord.” great and effectual door is opened" for christian teaching in Rome and various parts of Italy, and in the proper use of means none can work more successfully than Baptist teachers. Will the General Baptists share in this good work? will they add new interest to their Foreign Missionary operations, at comparatively

"A

trifling expense, by sending a missionary to Rome? Nothing can be more easy, nothing more practicable. In sixty hours, for a travelling expense of less than £20, a man and his baggage may be landed in Rome, where he may find work to do whilst learning the Italian language, and may best learn the language amid scenes of active labour. If a missionary has a wife to cheer and help him in teaching the little ones, all the better; for never were children more eager or more apt to learn than little Romans, amongst whom a glorious work has been inaugurated by good Mrs. Gould. That estimable lady has had the honour of beginning the work, and the Baptist ministers are taking it up in earnest. The Liberal Italian Government favour the work, and Mrs. Gould says in her first report that if the priests get away one child, a dozen stand ready to take its place. Beautifully does this brave and enlightened Christian woman say in the first paragraph of her first report, "I wonder if we shall ever realize how much entered the breach at Porta Pia with the Italian army on the 20th of Sept. of last year. The gates that were then battered down had long been closed against all progress and religious freedom. Ah! what long draughts of free air swept into Rome that day! What earnest longings were fulfilled! What a sweet rebuke was given to us of little faith who had waited and longed for, but had not dared to hope, that we might ourselves see the dawn of that glorious morning! Now we might aid in paying the great debt which the world owes to Italy for having hidden away in her mountain fastnesses the Word of God; now, in her new capital, we could aid in civilizing and christianizing her people. In a community where the men are Gallios and the women bigots, and men and women alike ignorant, it was easy to see where our work lay. We must begin with the children." And with fifty francs (£2) this woman of faith and love began her work, and in eight months has a school of eighty children, many of whom have made astonishing proficiency.

General Baptists, will you aid in evangelizing Rome and Italy? Could you more suitably celebrate the jubilee of your work in Orissa than by such a step? Pooree and Rome! The. former the seat and centre of abomina

ble idolatry, the latter the seat and centre of the Papal Antichrist. You had the courage to commence the assault on the hoary Juggernath; opened Rome invites you to spare a few blows for the not less idolatrous system of Popery. I know some of you are ashamed that the Centenary Fund is not completed, but for all that a vast amount of centenary work has been done. Don't, then, wait to finish that which will surely be accomplished by the next Association. Rome is a step on the way to India, and perhaps you may, ere long, step out from Rome to Jerusalem. Our large-hearted brother Wall, one of the Roman missionaries, wants to turn my tours from the Alps to Jerusalem into a line of missionary operations. Gladly would I do all possible to render my arrangements subservient to such a glorious end. Forty-three years ago it was my honour and happiness to labour under a General Baptist Village Mission Committee, and it will be a source of real pleasure if I may again have the honour of co-operating in Mission work on a larger and more extended scale. With a Mission

in Rome there would be frequent opportunities of communication; for in this age of railways and locomotion, of Alpine tunnels and express trains, Rome seems as near to London as Stamford seemed near to Melbourne in 1828. Forty years ago the General Baptists would have rejoiced in such an opportunity of sending the gospel to Rome. Who will help now the door is open and the way is easy? It is thought that a missionary may be supported in Rome for a year, and all incidentals covered by £250. What a trifle for 20,000 people to accomplish! If there is a will to do it the object may be effected at once, by moderate New Year's gifts, and without in the slightest degree interfering with our Mission work in India. Delighted should I be when I go to Rome again at the end of January to be able to cheer the hearts of our brethren by the prospect of speedy accession to their strength. I am sure the secretary of the Mission will be cheered by the receipt of contributions and promises for this new Mission. THOMAS COOK. Leicester, Dec. 11, 1871.

Ashby and Packington

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