Lastly, It is commonly conceived that divers Princes hath attempted to cut the Isthmus or tract of land [SN: Lingua maris Ægyptii. _Isa. 11. 15._] which parteth the _Arabian_ and _Mediterranean_ Sea: but upon enquiry I find some difficulty concerning the place attempted; many with good authority affirming, that the intent was not immediately to unite these Seas, but to make a navigable chanel between the Red Sea and the Nile, the marks whereof are extant to this day; it was first attempted by _Sesostris_, after by _Darius_, and in a fear to drown the Country, deserted by them both; but was long after re-attempted and in some manner effected by _Philadelphus_. And so the grand Signior who is Lord of the Country, conveyeth his Gallies into the Red Sea by the Nile; for he bringeth them down to Grand _Cairo_ where they are taken in pieces, carried upon Camels backs, and rejoyned together at Sues, his port and Naval station for that Sea; whereby in effect he acts the design of _Cleopatra_, who after the battle of _Actium_ in a different way would have conveyed her Gallies into the Red Sea. And therefore that proverb to cut an Isthmus [SN: Isthmum perfodere.], that is, to take great pains, and effect nothing, alludeth not unto this attempt; but is by _Erasmus_ applyed unto several other, as that undertaking of the Cnidians to cut their Isthmus, but especially that of _Corinth_ so unsuccessfully attempted by many Emperours. The Cnidians were deterred by the peremptory disswasion of _Apollo_, plainly commanding them to desist; for if God had thought it fit, he would have made that Country an Island at first. But this perhaps will not be thought a reasonable discouragement unto the activity of those spirits which endeavour to advantage nature by Art, and upon good grounds to promote any part of the universe; nor will the ill success of some be made a sufficient determent unto others; who know that many learned men affirm, that Islands were not from the beginning, that many have been made since by Art, that some Isthmus have been eat through by the Sea, and others cut by the spade: And if policy would permit, that of _Panama_ in _America_ were most worthy the attempt: it being but few miles over, and would open a shorter cut unto the East Indies and China. CHAPTER IX Of the Red Sea.