| English | 222,000 | tons. |
| French | 103,000 | „ |
| Dutch | 84,000 | „ |
| Austrian | 63,000 | „ |
| Italian | 50,000 | „ |
| Spanish | 39,000 | „ |
| German | 28,000 | „ |
| Various | 65,000 | „ |
The present tonnage passing the Canal is much greater. All the world knows how and why England acquired her present interest in the Canal, but all the world does not appreciate its value to the full extent.
Suez has special claims to the attention of the Biblical student, for near it—according to some, eighteen miles south of it—the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea; 2,000,000 men, women, and children, with flocks of cattle went dryshod through the [pg 116]dividing walls of water. Holy Writ informs us that “the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.”[91] The effect of wind, in both raising large masses of water and in driving them back, is well known, while there are narrow parts of the Red Sea which have been forded. In the morning “the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.” We know the sequel. The waters returned, and covered the Egyptian hosts; “there remained not so much as one of them.” “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown in the sea. * * *
“Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
“The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.”
CATCHING PELICANS ON LAKE MENZALEH.