Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-03-30
THE LAND OF THE PHARAoHs.
Nerooz Day and Its Festiyities-After the
Nile Has Withdrawn.


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Serooz pay and It's Festivities-After the
Nile Has Withdrawn.
That not only the Egyptian seasons
should be regulated by the rise OF the
Nile, but that the modern Arab should
even go so far as to date the coming In
of the New Year from the day when it is
supposed to reach its highest point, is
significant of tho preponderating infiu-
ence that the Nile still exercises on Egyp-
tan life. The Mohammedan mode OF
reckoning time, with its lunar months
never quite supplanted the old Coptic
calendar. The Copts, probably follow
ing the custom of tho Pharaohic Egyp-
tians, always began their year in the
part of the calendar corresponding with
IL September, and the Moslems in
Egypt have had to conform to this usage
their agricultural year beginning on
the 10th or 18th of the Coptic month
loot.
The Coptic New Years day, or NE
ROOF" day, is then an occasion for I'M
usual merrymaking. Those who have
no almanac are not allowed to remain
long in ignorance of the day and its PEI
culiar features. The Muniadee or crier
of the Nile comes round, perambulating
every street in Cairo, and letting every
one know that the mile is full" His
duties are now nearly over. He has been
at his monotonous chant ever since the
Sd of July-the 9th of the Coptic month
Ba-ooueh-when he began to proclaim
how much the river rose every, day. The
measure of the old Nilometer in the
island of Rhoda, in Old Cairo, is sup
posed to guide his statement. But no
ono depends upon his accuracy; and, in
deed, tho Cairene little troubles himself
about it unless an abnormal delay on the
part of the river has aroused a general
apprehension. His perambulations of
the capital have become little more than
an opportunity for q sing-song repetition
of religious commonplaces, and an inn
FORTUNATE appeal to the heart of the
householder.
Nerooz day in upper Egypt is a great
occasion for festivities. 1t is period OF
enforced idleness to the husbandman.
He has done all he can for his fields, and
now he leaves the river to play mis- part,
his labor not recommending till the Nile
has withdrawn again and the soil begins
to dry. While his hoe and his pillow arr
laid up he brings out his fiddle and his
tamborine. The fantasia" holds undis-
puted sway; and the brown-shirted
farmer in masquerade attire INDUCES in
antics resembling somewhat the eccen-
t~ricities Of the Latin carnival. On the
same day OF at any rate, atthe same sea
son, the anci mt Egyptians engaged III
similar sports and pastimes; and the god
Thot and Hermes. whose fete fell on the
10th of the Coptic month foot, was hon.
ored with a festival very like Nerooz
day.
After the Nile has withdrawn, and the
fields have begun to dry, the Stritawee
or winter season, begins in earnest. This
is the most important period of the yeal
for agricultural operations, especially in
upper Egypt, wheat, barley, lentils
beans, peas, clover, ETC., being raised OF
the rich all,iyial soil that the overflow
has made. The lands SO inundated ar
called the "rein lands; those that are toe
high for the inundation to reach az,
called the "sharakee" lands. The latter
never receiving any rain, in upper Egyp
at any rate, owe their crops entirely t.
artificial irrigation. But these lands ar,
commonly made to bear three and some
times four crops in succession, whereas
the rel only produce one crop, which
is sown in October or early November
and reaped the following March, April
or May.
Wheat is put in al soon as the waite
has turned into mud. While the soil j
still mire the primitive plough is passe'
once over it and the seed sown broadcast
Barley il sown in November and nal
vested in May, when it is pulled up b
the roots like maize, and not subjecte
to the sickle like wheat. Beans are SOW.
in October and gathered in March
Clover sown Immediately after inunds
ton ripens in two months, and in som
lands as many as four crops of th
prime necessity for cattle of all sorts az
grown within the twelve months. TIL
plough (mihrat) Of Joseph's time serve
to scratch the Shiny, stoneless soil. ]
consists of a pole, a handle and a share
all of wood, the latter only being tippe
with iron. Narrowing. is accomplish
by a palm branch dragged by cattle Owe
TIE surface.-London Globe.
#a s#H 49,