Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-03-14
The Wonders of the Nile For the Young
Reader.
BY MRS. CHARLES PARKHURsT.

Perhaps nothing is more wonderful than
the history of the efforts to discover its
real source. The names of Speke, Grant,
Baker, Livingston and Stanley are forever
linked with the Nile. Baker declared
that the Nile had its source in the lake
which he named Albert Nyanza in 1864.
The river forms several cataracts or falls
on its way, but during high tide they
completely disappear and may be passed
by steamers of light draught. 1t follows
course nearly north until within 1876
miles Of its mouths, when it divides and
forms, between these branches, triangu-
lar island, called the delta. This island
is traversed by several smaller branches
which enter the Mediterranean sea. The
mouths of the Nile, in number, include
a territory of $50 miles between the outer
branches. The fertility of the soil of
Egypt for miles, on either side, is due to
the overflow of the river. The annual
rise and fall of the Nile is SO constant
that it may be anticipated within a few
hours. The deposits spread over the soil
and make it so rich that three crops are
raised in single season. The mould left
consists of black mud of clayey
nature. The length of the Nile is about
$500 miles; the greatest breadth is -
miles; the least 2 miles. Over fifty
varieties of fish are found in its waters.
Among the trees that fringe its borders
is the date palm, or breadfruit tree. This
supplies the native with food, clothing
and furniture. The papyrus grows here
from which the Egyptians prepared their
paper used in writing. This tree was
largely utilized in constructing light boats
and in the manufacture of sails. The
acacia is common, from which comes the
shittim. wood of the Bible and from which
the ark was made. We find too the
sycamore tree.
The faithful beast of burden, the camel +,
plods along its banks. The hippopotamus
is found on the upper banks of the Nile.
Along the very streets of some of the
larger towns the night is made hideous
with the cry of the wild dog and the
hyena. The crocodile laves in its waters
and basks in the sunshine upon its banks
of sand. The most curious specimen
among the feathered tribe is the crocodile
bird" This bird subsists upon the flies
and insects which gather in the mouth of
the sleeping crocodiles, and as faithful
monitor, wakens the crocodile by Shrek
of alarm at any approach of danger. The
picture of this bird, standing unalarmed
between the huge, open jaws Of its patron
monster, Is an impressive sight. There
may be seen "Pharioh's hen," perched,
with trailing wings and dropping tail,
upon the ruined monuments of those old,
desolate cities. So tame are many of the
smaller birds that they light on the deck
of your vessel and catch at fly on your
foot. So necessary is the Nile in its
overflow to the prosperity of Egypt that
1t was deifed by the people. They
believed that the God Osiris was buried in
its waters, and rose once every year to
bestow blessings.
On its banks we're certain priests who
faithfully rendered services of devotion to
this deity. They were to perform burial
service also for any dead body found upon
its banks. No dead body was allowed 10
be thrown into the river lest it should
defile its waters. Hence the reason for tho
vast rock hewn tombs that border on its
banks. A crier annually goes up and
down the banks of the Nile, calling out
the fact of its overflow. Many festivals
were celebrated as the waters of this