The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-02-05
Miscellaneous.
Joseph's Well.

Ewbank, in his Hydraulics, gives an ac-
count of the remarkable well at Cairo, which
is known us "Joseph's we'll" From this
work the following is condensed, and is a
brief description ofthe Well:
This well is, in all about three hundred
feet deep. 1t is bored from top to bottom
through solid rock. Its form is that ofan OBJ
long square, twenty-four four feet by eighteen,
surrounded by spiral gallery six feet two
inches wldc,and seven feet, two inches high
descending so gently, that persons may ride
up and down 1t OH mules. This gallery is
separated from the shaft, by a wall of rock
six inches thick, left by the conslructors-
Light is admitted into it from the shaft
through frequent sem-circuar openings
The well does not, however, preserve this
form and the dimensions TO the bottom. At
the depth ofonc hundred and siXty-five feet,
it terminates in large chamber containing
reservoir for receiving the water, which is
drawn up from below through n second
shaft, not in a direct line ofthe first ofwhich
the depth is one hundred and thirty feet, and
the plan is fifteen feet by nine. Around this,
there is also spiral gallery; but it is not pro-
tected by an inside wall, and it is therefore
somewhat dangerous to strangers. The wat
er is elevated from the bottom 10 the reser-
voir in the chamber, by animal power; and
again, from the reservoir to the surface, in the
same way. The horses or oxen employed
for the first elevation must, ofcourse, be with
i'll the chamber itself Hence the construc-
ton ofthe spiral gallery ofso large dimen-
eions and of so gentle descent. The appera-
tus used to lift the WATER is what is called
lthe chain of potts." consisting ola series of
large earthen jars firmly fastened to endless
ropes, which go over wheels at the top. Each
| jar, as it passes over the wheel, is inverted,
and pours the water into trough. The
skill displayed in the construction ofthis well,
has excited the admiration ofnll who have
seen it. The French philosophers who visit
ed Egypt with Bonaparte were particularly
struck by il. 1t is remarked that to execute
such n work upwards, above the surface with
every aid from rules and measures and the
! light of day would be difficulE but it must
| have been infinitely more so under ground,
| especially as any deviations from true line
could not be remedied Still it is said that
the uniform slope of the descent is perfectly
preserved, as well as the equal thickness ev-
cry where ofthe partition wall 1t was re-
marked by Mr. Jomard, that it must have re-
quired singular care TO leave and preserve so
small "A portion, while eXcavating ON both
sides of it.
In regard TO the date of this nothing can be
considered positively known. Phe common
tradition ascribes it TO the patriarch of the ST.
realitish history But it has likewise been at
tributed to vizier named Joseph, who lived
only eight hundred years ago. Again some
have supposed il to have been the work of
the brave Saladin who SO manfnlIy resisted
the crusaders. A traveller in Egypt in the Eth
century says that some ofIhe people believed
it to have been constructed by spirits.-This,
ii is observed, is an evidence of its great an
tiquity as the ignorant in the enst very conf
monty ascribe Il supernatural origin to those
monuments concerning which history or ira
dtlon has failed 20 preserve any account
DIR. Robertson remarks that this is true in
India. But some writer's, considering the
evidence of skill furnished by the construc-
ton Of the well, believe it, and with every
plausible reason, TO have been the work of
more scientific people than any ofthe COM
paritively modern possessors of Egypt
! They suppose it therefore, to be coeval with
the pyramids. If this suppostion is true, it
is probably the oldest structure of its kind in
the world The fullest and most exact ac-
count of this well any where to be found, is
probably that contained in the splendid work
on Egypt, published by order of Napoleon;
but the great eXpensiveness of that work rem
ders it accessible but TO few. There are not
more than three or four copies oft in the
United States. Two Of those were recently
brought over by Mr.. Vattemare, being pres
ents from King of the French, in aid of his
system ofscientifc and literary international
exchanges. ......... ...
VVuAr re 4. pporrssop VLo loox,o,l