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| Official Journal of the French Empire Monday, 29 November 1869 (n°328 p1527) |
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| Everything in Port Said was ready for the ceremony of the
blessing of the canal. The quay of Port Said and the main houses,
administrative, military and religious buildings of the new city
were built to the right of the canal, on African soil. On the
opposite bank, there were three platforms of which one was for the princes
and the authorities and the other two were for the Christian and
Muslim clergy. The first of those for the clergy was where the Catholic priests
were to officiate and it was mounted with a Cross; the second, for the
Muslim clergy, was adorned with the Crescent. An hour before the start of the ceremony, two regiments of the Egyptian infantry lined the route of the procession. Next came the deputations from the different European countries which took their places on the large platform: each one was headed by its consul and several army and naval officers. There was a considerable crowd on the beach, made up of people from all over the world and providing a most varied spectacle. It seemed that all races on earth were represented. And the confusion of the gaily coloured costumes of the different nations come to view this festival of civilisation was a remarkable sight. There were the Orientals in brightly coloured clothes, African tribal chiefs wrapped in big robes, Circassians in war dress, officers of the British Indian Army with their shakos draped in muslin, and Hungarian magnates dressed in the traditional clothes of their country. The gunfire, the shouts from the crowd and the noise of drums announced the arrival of the princes. The bishop of Alexandria, mitre on his head, took his place on the platform with his clergy and seconds later the Greek priests, Israeli rabbis, muftis and ulemas appeared. Soon afterwards arrived the Empress, the Austrian Emperor, the Khedive, the Prince and Princess of the Netherlands, the Prince of Prussia, the emir Abd el Kader and M. de Lesseps with the higher ranking employees of the Compagnie de Suez. The platforms looked splendid with the picturesque effect of the rich uniforms, vestments and green and purple kaftans of the ulemas and muftis. What dominated peoples thoughts, though, was the grandeur of this work that so many princes and representatives of the civilised world had come to inaugurate on this solemn occasion. Everyone understood the character of this international celebration and there was a great sense of the august nature of the event as the religious ceremony begin. The Muslim priests recited verses from the Coran and lifted their hands to heaven to ask for the divine blessing of the work accomplished, then the Catholic clergy sang a psalm. Monsignor Bauer gave a speech, highlighting the majesty of this great event and calling for God’s protection of this work of peace which was carried out with enormous perseverance and with the backing of many noble friends. These words were applauded by all. There then followed the singing of the Te Deum and, finally, the bishop of Alexandria, Monsignor Ciurcia, formally blessed the canal which united the two seas. |
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