Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-03-24
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
NUMBER *.

CAIHo, Jan %, 1853
Ny DEAR SIR,--On the Eth of Januarv |
left Cairo for Upper Egypt on new steumer
built by the Pacha of Egypt, aud expressly fitted
for that trade. The boat was small but comfort
able, having separate state rooms for thirty pas
sengers. We numbered only fifteen, OF whom
nine were Americans, and 10 us was accorded
the privilege Of carrying at mast head the flag
Of our nation during the voyage Thirty Amer
ican travellers were in this city at the time ]
arrived, and many others up the river in small
boats. The steamer was commanded and man
ned by natives, with the exception Of the engi-
neer, who was a Scotchman from Glasgow
The Pilot seated himself at The bow and ISSUED
his commands, which were repeated by a mau
stationed abreast the wheel house and executed
by three men who were constantly at the rul-
der, thus employing five men TO do that which
by our mode Of navigation would hive been
done by one man and to far greater advantage
The same principle prevails in doing amos, ev-
cry thing. The ground is cultivated with the
hoe and great proportion Of the water to irri-
gate the fields is raised by hand So much has
been written on Egypt and the Nile that feel
itwould be difficult to present the subject in
any very new light. shall not therefore at.
tempt to give minute details, but simply present
few general remarks in reference to the coun.
try as seen on an excursion of near six hundred
miles from Cairo to the first cataract. The val
ley of the Nile is on an average about six miles
IN width between abrupt and barren sandstone
cliffs rising from one to three hundred feet high
and from the summit OF which commences the
desert on either side. The valley is alluvial
soil on either side and extremely fertile, produc.
ing two or three crops a year, but the labor OF
cultivation Is very great This arises from the
fact Of having no rains 10 water the lnnds-
When at the cataracts on old resident informed
me that there had been but one rainy dav in
fifteen years, and not more than twice wear
was there as much as a sprinkle; but nearer the
coast the showers became more frequent but At
Cairo they do not exceed five or six in year.
Formerly, owing 10 the immense labor of irripa-
ton, only narrow tract on the borders Of the
river could be cultivated in grain; but by the
efforts Of the late Pacha canals were excayated
IN many places to conduct the water from the
nver at ITS annual rise to remote places, and so
made as TO form long basins or reservoirs where
the water could remain after the falling of the
nver sufficient time to furnish supply for one
crop in the vicinity. But the largest proportion
Is cultivated by raising constant daily supply
from the river, and conducting 1t by means OF
small bitches TO the various portions Of the
ground. For the more extensive fields the wa
ter is raised by sinking large well Immediately
on the bank, and connecting 1t bya ditch with
the river. Over the well Is placed perpendic-
.ular cog wheel connected with one placed hor.
izontally, which is turned by an OK going round.
Two ropes pass over The perpendicular wheel,
and pass into the water below, and between the
ropes at equal distances. are fastened earihern
jars, and as the wheel revoyes, the jars are sue
cessively filled and empted into a trough above.
The other mode Is much like the ordinary well
sweep and bucket worked by hand. That re-
quires three successive Taisings of six or eight
feet each, TO get the water to the upper level.
They handle them very dexterously, and a large
amount OF water may be raised in day in that
manner. The whole length Of the river is stud.
ed, at every few rods distance, with one or two
OF these apparatus. The fields are divided BY
small ridges into squares Of about one rod each.
into which in succession the water is conducted
until sufficiently wet for ose time. Seeing the
large number of towns laid down on the maps
as being upon the Nile had anticipated seeing
something like habitations suitable for ciyiz-
ed people, but from Cairo TO the cataract saw
nothing Of the kind. 1t is true. the places aud