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From the above it will be seen that the cost will amount to about two millions sterling; and it would be difficult and fruitless to attempt any nearer estimate until we are in possession of more detailed and precise data. No doubt, if the section of the canal was diminished, the cost might be reduced most materially; but my opinion is, that the size assumed will be required to give the sea river the momentum required to preserve its mouth navigable, and to admit with freedom the traffic which may be expected to pass between the two seas.

In the foregoing calculations, it has been assumed, that the straight line across the Desert would meet with no serious natural obstacles; but if such should be found to exist, and we are driven westward and obliged to adopt the basin of the Bitter Lakes as a portion of the navigable channel, I should prefer running the line from Serapeum straight to Tineh, by the green line or project No. 2, a distance of forty-seven miles, whieh, together with thirteen and a half miles between the Bitter Lakes and Suez, gives sixty and a half miles of canal for construction. But this I fear would effect no saving in the estimate, as from the great evaporation and absorption of the water of the Bitter Lake when filled, the channel of thirteen and a half miles from Suez would have to be nearly doubled in capacity to maintain the lake at the required level, and to preserve the salt water river flowing out of it at a constant and equable velocity; and with such an arrangement the lake might become the medium of absorbing the tides of the Bed Sea, and of furnishing a stream issuing with a constant level and velocity. But I am strongly impressed with the idea that the basins of the lakes and lagoons lying between Suez and Lake Menzaleh have, from offering an apparent facility, drawn all former attempts at con­necting the two seas from a truly permanent, effective,