Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

254 ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD. A SUCTION DREDGER AT WORK “ MAKING GROUND ” BY DEPOSITING SAND INSIDE A WALL. (By courtesy of the Suez Canal Company.) and stern hawsers, to the deeply-embedded bollards on the western bank. At once all our lights were extinguished— the signal that we were fast —and the approaching steamer drew near majestically, her searchlight projecting a brill- iant light ahead as she glided on. The welcome signal to proceed—a red light above a yellow—finally flashed forth for us from the station; the Arabs deftly uncoiled hawsers, cast off, and jumping into their small boat were along- side and aboard in an instant. shrubs which have been planted to protect the Canal shores. Passing through the Canal. The croakings of frogs were the only sounds that broke the silence of the desert. On the eastern bank distances are marked in miles, on the western bank in kilometres. In the Our lights once more shone out,' and we proceeded on our quiet way. Ismailia, on Lake Timsah, was perhaps the most interesting place passed on the whole route. This is the central point of the Canal, and is a thriving town. The homes of the pilots are situated here ; it boasts restaurants, shops, cafés, a theatre, and a lakes the deep channel was indicated by white buoys on the east and by red buoys on the west. At night, of course, these are illuminated. Be- fore we had proceeded very far, signals (two red lights above a yellow) informed us that it was our turn to wait the passing of a mail steamer from Suez. Immediately our speed slackened as we ap- proached the mooring-posts. A small boat must always be in readiness for use with each steamer, and, manned by two or three agile Arabs, a dark object shot out from our side, while shadowy forms jumped ashore, making fast, by bow CONSTRUCTING A CANAL WALL. (By courtesy of the Suez Canal Company.)