The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-10-21
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The Rising of the Nile.

Delta, or Lower Egypt, there are about 800
miles of country, the settled population of
which is peculiarly dependent upon the
great river for very existence, and every
year swayed by hopes or by fears as the
waters of the stream are sufficient or scarce
or too abundant The welfare of the Egyp-
tian is, in truth, intimately bound up with
the annual recurrence of natural phenom-
enon known as the "Rising of the Nile, |"
which has to be taken into account in all
matters affecting them, and more especially
to be considered in view of any military
operations to be carried on within the linn
its of the land of the Pharaohs. The Delta,
or Lower Egypt, is that part of the country
most likely to be affected by the events of
an immediate future, and therefore any
description of what is termed "the Valley
of the Nile" may be dispensed with. The
river, issuing from the valley few miles
north of Cairo, enters the low, wide plain,
which from its resemblance of the fourth
letter of the Greek alphabet, received from
that people the name of the Delta. The
stream divides itself into two branches, that
of Rosetta or Canopie, and that of Damiat
or Phatnitic Between these two are nu-
merous canals, large and small, intersecting
the country in every direction.
Along the sea coast are the salt lakes or
marshes, called burlos, communicating with
the sea by an outlet, which is probably the
same as the Sebennytic mouth of the an
cient geographers and Menzaleh. Proceed
ing westward the Rosetta or Bolbitine
mouth is reached, which, with that of Da-
miat, are now the onl ly two entrances from
the sea into the Nile-accessible only to
small vessels. The river at Rosetta is about
800 feet wide, and at Damiat nearly 800
feet. West of Rosetta salt marsh, called
Lake Etko, has been formed, which COM
municates on one side with the Nile and
on the other with the sea, or Aboukir bay,
by an outlet which corresponds to the old
Canopic mouth West of Lake Etko Is
the Lake of Aboukir, which likewise COM
municates with the sea, and is divided from
Lake Mareotis, to the southwest OF it, by
an isthmus, along which passes the canal
of Alexandria, known as the Mahmoudieh
of passengers by the overland route to In
dia. From its mouth at Afteh travellers
proceeded along the Nile to Boulak, the
port of Cairo, in steamboats, constructed for
the service, and thence across the desert In
caravans to Suez. The greatest breadth of
the Delta or cultivated plain of Lower
Egypt is about eighty miles from east to
west; its length from the bifurcation of the
river to the sea is estimated at ninety miles.
The interior of the country is covered with
fields, orchards and plantations chiefly of
cotton.
The rise of the Nile, occasioned by the
periodical rains of Central Africa, begins
in June, about the summer solstice, and
continues to increase until September, over
flowing the lowlaDds along its course The
Delta then looks like an immense marsh,
interpersed with numerous islands with vii
lagos, towns and trees just above the water.
Should the Nile rise few feet above its
customary elevation, the inundation sweeps
away the mud-built cottages of the fella-
heen, browns the cattle, and involves the
whole population in ruin. Again should it
fall short of the ordinary height, bad crops
and dearth are the consequences. The in
undations having remained stationary for a
few days begin to subside, and about the end
of November most of the fields are left dry
and covered with fresh layer of rich,
brown slime; this is the time the lands are
put under cultivation. During the winter
in England which is the spring in Egypt
the delta, as we'll as the valley of the Nile,
looks like delightful garden smiling with
verdure and blossom. Later in the year
the soil becomes parched and dusty, and
in May the suffocating khamsin begins to
blow frequently from the south, sweeping
along the fine sand and causing various dis
eases until the rising of the river comes
again to refresh the land. Showers are
very rare in Egypt except on the sea-coast
it rains occasionally at Cairo, and some
times in Upper Egypt. The nights, how
ever, are cool, and the dews heavy. Strong
winds blow from the north during the sum,
mer, at the period of inundation, and are
useful in propelling vessels up the Nile
against the current. u.
An extremely low Nile is apt to produce
diseases, both in man and beast. The hu-
midity of the atmosphere is principally con-
trolled by the rise and fall of the stream
Fogs prevail during the first two months
of the receding of the waters. During May
and June the Nile remains at its lowest
In the middle of September, at its height
all the canals are filled, and the water i,
admitted into the fields Such surface
materially alters the temperature, and light
dews occur about sunset all through the
lower country. As the river falls, leaving
the land wet and exposed to the action of
the sun, exhalations arise which render the
Delta somewhat unhealthy, the prevailing
diseases then being opthalmai, dysentery:
diarrhea and ague. By the middle OF
November the river has retired within its
banks The Nilometer, used for the pur-
pose of measuring the height of the Nile
is situated on the Island of Roda, opposite
old Cairo. 1t consists of square well OF
chamber, in the center of which is grad.
uated pillar divided into II cubits, each
about 21 ZIG inches long. Owing to the
elevation of the bed of the Nile, the rela-
tive proportion of the rise of water has been
altered, and it now passes about one cubit
and two-thirds above the highest part Of
the column. The state of the stream is
proclaimed in the streets of Cairo during
the inundation, every day, by several criers,
to each Of whom particular district is al
lotted From "a feet to 26 feet may be
taken as the ordinary maximum of the rise
at Cairo.
Quarantine was invented in Venice in
the year 1137, all merchants and others
from the Levant or eastern ports being
obliged to remain in the house of St. Laz-
arus or the Lazaretto 40 days before they
were allowed to enter the city. Various
other southern states copied the example OF
Venice; the habit was soon spread in every
European country, and was introduced by
the Venetians into Syria and Egypt. At
GAIA or Beyrout the guardian who former
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