"One of the first features of interest was a 'floating bridge,' thrown across the Canal by steam,at a point which, I was told, was in the track of the caravans.Now here was a most curious conjuncture of modern and ancient civilisation.This caravan track is one of the most ancient of all roads, leading from Egypt into Palestine and Syria,on the very line along which Jacob's sons may have gone down into Egypt to buy corn;and there we found one of the appliances of modem civilisation, in the shape of this 'floating bridge,'consisting of a large flat-bottomed boat which crosses and recrosses the Canalby means of chains wound and unwound upon large drums by a steam engine.This contact of ancient and modern civilization is one of the most remarkable features in Egypt."But there was another noticeable feature. There are stations all along the Canal,at which the officers reside, as well as the men who keep watch over the Canal,and who are ready to give help if any vessel should run aground.At most of these stations I noticed that there was a garden,generally with a gay show of flowers, and great cultivation of edible vegetables.Now what was the meaning of this? How could these gardens be made out of this sand and mud?The secret is, that every one of these places is supplied with fresh water."That fresh water is brought all the way from the Nile; for there is no fresh water
