Persepolitan monument, | | | upon a block of sandstone, | | | south of the Bourdaloue | | | excavations. |11 _m._ 6300|11 _m._ 3700| 0 _m._ 2600 | | | Station on the Caravan Road, | | | at the Staff Station, | | | 3 L. 1853. | 2 _m._ 3900| ---- | ---- | | | Station at the staff at | | | the starting point | | | No. 1, L. 1853. | 1 _m._ 5186| ---- | ---- | | | Station on the quay of | | | the Suez hotel, the same | | | as that of M. Bourdaloue. | 2 _m._ 4286| 2 _m._ 6100| 0 _m._ 1814 The most striking fact to be observed in the examination of this table is, the slight relief of the ground above high water of the Red Sea, in the whole extent of the Isthmus. There are only two points somewhat elevated. The first, proceeding from Suez, is met with before Lake Timsah, and is that which we shall call the Serapeum bar; its greatest elevation is 16 _met._, 5950, above low water in the Mediterranean. The second point is at the outlet of the lake, and its greatest elevation is fifteen _metres_, at the spot known as the bar of _El Guisr_; but the line of the Canal may be carried in a direction where but ten _metres_ are met with for some _kilometres_ of length. Supposing therefore the bed of the canal to be established at the depth of 6 _met._, 50, below low water in the Mediterranean, the greatest excavation would be at the bar of _El Guisr_, and would show a total depth of 16 _met._, 50, which is nothing extraordinary; supposing it even twenty _metres_, the requisite excavation would bear no comparison with what was executed in Mexico, during the Spanish occupation. For, in their then difficult position, and in the absence of tools and improved means, the Spaniards were able to effect, near the town of Mexico, which was threatened with invasion by the waters of the neighbouring lakes, the cutting of Huehuetoca, the total length of which is 20,585 _metres_, and its depth from forty-five to sixty _metres_, for a length of more than 800 _metres_, and from thirty to fifty _metres_ for a length of 3500 _metres_. And yet the expense of this work was only 31,000,000 francs.