3-021-557 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Isthmus of Suez Maritime Canal: workmen loading dromedaries, 1869. 'The Engraving on our front page shows one or two groups of the fellahs, or native Egyptian labourers, of whom 4000 are now at work on the canal. They are using camels and donkeys to carry away the earth from the excavation. Parts of the line have to be constructed in this way by manual labour; the other parts are done by the use of dredging-machines...The canal, with its ports at each end, when finished, was to be the property of the company for ninety-nine years, after which it would belong to the Egyptian Government...The company was to take all the land wanted for the construction of the canal and to quarry the stone for building free of cost. These conditions of the original agreement are still in force; but some other conditions, relating to the supply of labour by the forced service of 20,000 fellahs, or Egyptian peasants, ordinarily bound to work by way of feudal tribute on the Viceroy's estates, have since been altered; the company has also been deprived of the right of selling or leasing the lands ceded to it'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.