dug with facility. The tribes axe pastoral, but only partially nomadic, and might
be easily rendered agricultural. The distance from Aleppo and the Mediterranean
is at a minimum, and the country is adapted for post-roads, railroads, or a canal.
The whole character of the descent of the river made by the “ Euphrates”
steamer, demonstrated in the most decisive manner that the great moral difficulties
which it was supposed would have to be overcome, only exist in the exaggerated
alarms created by the predatory habits of the Bedawin of the Desert, or degenerated
tribes like those of SinjSr. The Arabs, I &mly believe, never dreamt, and are
incapable, except when guided to it by superior wisdom, of a combined plan of
operations. But it was an unexpected spectacle which was offered at the opening
of the navigation, in the coming forward of the sheiks and elders of the most
reputable and powerful tribes to cultivate the acquaintance and seek the profec-
tion of the commander of the Expedition.
When a melancholy accident deprived the Expedition of half of its physical
power, the same impression continued in operation; and instead of a demand of
tribute or customs, as was so confidently anticipated by some, the tribes were
ready even with pecuniary sacrifices to- seek the protection of the British flag.
That little dependence can be placed upon the Arabs, is, with regard- to many
of the most affluent tribes only, the calumny of an irritated or an ignorant traveller.
At all events it'must be kept in mind, that the first who may bring those
uninformed nations in contact with a civilization which excites their love and
admiration, is at least the most likely to establish lasting associations in theif
bosoms in connexion with the early dawn of a new order of things.
The advantages which 'are' presented by .the opening of the navigation of
the river Euphrates, belong .to universal civilization, as well as to an increase-of
national power. The waters of this great river flow past the habitations ~of
upwards of four millions of human beings, amongst whom their own traditions
have transmitted the sense of a revolution to-be effected by the introduction of a
religion of humility, of charity, and of forbearance.
The intellectual powers of the descendants from the most noble stocks of the
human race are not extinct in their present fallen representatives, and it would be
difficult to say to what extent civilization might flourish when revived m its most
antique home. The mental privileges of the Arab, overwhelmed by moral
despotism and political insecurity, are not less than those of their Assyrian, their
Babylonian, or their Palmyrean ancestors.
The national importance of this navigation is of the most comprehensive character.
Every one acquainted with the history of the communication of nations,
which as Montesquieu has ably pointed out, is the history of commerce, must be
aware that those circumstapces which led to the annihilation of the commerce of
the east, would be revolutionized by the opening now proposed to be effectedand
that while civilization might be confidently expected to return to its almost primeval
seat, it would do so under a. very different aspect, and with vastly improved
means-over the days of Opis and Ophir, or of Caucasium and Callinicum.
All these advantages are to be obtained by the navigation which you have
entered upon, and of which you have proved the practicability. The establishment
of a friendly intercourse with the natives would also be effected, to secure
which and to keep up supplies of fuel and provisions, two or three resident
agents might be stationed at distant points on the river, besides one station at the
junction of the Hai and the Euphrates.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
(Signed) W i l l i a m A in sw o r th ,
Surgeon and Geologist to the
Colonel Chesney, E.A., Euphrates Expedition.
Commanding the Euphrates Expedition.
(N.)
COMMERCIAL OPENINGS IN WESTERN ASIA.
T he exploratory voyages in descending and ascending the rivers Kanin, Tigris, Navigability of
and Euphrates, have sufficiently proved the practicability of their navigation with
vessels of a suitable construction. With regard to the latter, Lieutenant now t.ion tenant.
Commander C. D. Campbell, of the Indian Navy, having ascended the river from Campbell’s
the bar to Beles, in the spring of 1841, a distance of 1030 miles, using chiefly
wood and bitumen as fuel, stated in a letter to the author : I quite agree with Beles.
your officers regarding the description of vessels, and have proposed a small one
for the rapids. Even without this I will bring the paekets in sixteen days from
Basrah to Beles, after a little more experience of the river.”
The steamer now proposed'by Mr. Laird of Birkenhead as most suitable for
the Tiver, and which would combine all the advantages of the larger vessel recommended
by the officers of the Expedition, particularly by Commanders Cleaveland
and Charlewood, should be of the following dimensions
Feet.
Length on deck . . . . 130
Length on water-line, about • . 110
Beam . . . . . . . . 20
Depth at sides and ends . . . . 5
With a raised deck amidships over cabins and engines. Engines, a pair of 25-
horse power, with tubular boilers.
The vessel to be divided into thirteen compartments by water-tight bulkheads,
longitudinal and athwartship, and constructed on the principle of the Hon. East
India Company’s steam-vessel Napier, now doing good service on the Indus.
The principal of construction is to round the vessel up at each extremity by an
easy curve, leaving only a small portion amidships flat, by which means she is
enabled to glide over the water and turn in so small a space that she is more
manageable than a vessel of 90 to 100 feet long built on the ordinary construction.
The'rudder is hung on a bar loose, so as to drop to a level with the keel, and
in case of striking the ground it is merely raised up, and again falls into its place
Without receiving any injury.
The vessel being of a light construction, the draft of water would not exceed
2 z 2