Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-11-19
IN THE OVERFLOW
OF THE NILE
A correspondent Of the London

A correspondent Of the London
Times writes
"0n the night Of the 10th OF De-
tober, owing 70 the extraordinarily
sudden rise ia the Nile, an inundatiou
occurred, which for the celebrity with
which it rose is, perhaps, without par
allel. On this night / happened TO
be staying 10 one Of the doomed VIII
lages. had therefore opportunities
which rarely fall to the lot Of an Eu-
rOpean Of Witnessing intimately che
immediate effect Of che calamity on
the poor villagers, and I am induced
to send you this brief account Of what
came under my own experiences and
observation as a tribute 90 the remark
able patience and foFtituds Of the
Arabs under very trying and psrilous
circumstances.
About two clock in the morning
our Bed0uin servant aWOke az, saying
that the water was rising rapidly. Ev-
cry inhabitant Of the village-man,
woman or child--Was working with an
energy seldom witnessed here, making
banks to stem the eucr0aehing water,
or carrying their bread and winter sup
ply of grain TO spots which had hith-
ertO proved sufficiently high for safe
ty. But il was Of no avail. The banks
were washed down and the bread doat-
ed away. Now, indeed, the scene be-
gan TO get dismal enough-the dark
ness, the uncertainty, the Wailing Of
che Arab women and then came the
fall of the FIRST no use. This was 40
occasion for universal shTieking and
lamehtatiOn, but the water soon had 10
ell It's own way, mOnopoiEing even
the noise, and nothing was now heard
but house after house surging and
coming down with dull soUBe into
the water.
Our house being higher and strong
eF than the Others, we went 90 the TOP
and began TO construct a raft there,
intending to launch it from the roof
We we're very soon compelled to re-
linquish our task, and we're scarcely
clear when the walls gave way at wa
ter level and the whole came down
All now made their way, with the wa
ter breast high, 20 the highest spot
fortunately still several feet above the
water level. Here was soon collected
every inhabitant Of the village, but
how changed 1.-The women no longer
Wailing, and the men no longer dis
contented, for the last house was gone;
it was no longer possible 30 save any
thing, and the water was still rising.
There was, therefore, nothing for them
but TO await their destiny, which they
set about doing with every appearance
Of eontentment, the village beauties
(neyeF seen except at such timel even
seeming, as il seemed 10 me, 70 enjoy
the state Of things as a relief 60 the
mOnotony of their existence.
1T now became necessary TO think
of our raft again, so, after making
several excursions from our present
comfortRble standing-place 90 the site
Of our late residence, Wo bad collect
ed sufficient wood for the purpose
over this we placed dried COrn-stnlks
and bound the whole together with
ropes from the camel-paoks So
quickly did the water still rise that
our rafl, commenced on dry land, was
finished floating on over q foot of wa
ter. We now Joined the villagers on.
the little mound and awaited the SUM
rise. A conspicuous figure WEa the
dignified old sheikh' Of the village,
as he passed from one family group 90
another, evidently impaFtinR conf
dence to all. To him Wo proposed 90
TAX off with as as many women aud
children as cur raft would bear but
be replied that 'Allah was great, aud
would send boats ia time IF it was
His will 10 save His people that oar
bark was frail, our poles short and
the current strong, and if any went
with rs be washed bis hands Of any
His arguments we're
backed by the sight Of a sail ia the
distance, 80 We bad 20 put of By our
selves Is the base Of the hills between
two aud three miles distant. Arrived
there, we sent the raft back bY two
Bedouins and made our way 30 where
some boats were employed ia carrying
stone. One Of these we procured for
the assistance Of our late neighb0r5,
and we had the satisfaction before
leaving Of seeing them all encampod
under the hills"