The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-08-01
Our Olio.
ON THE NILE.
A Young Mans Impressions of the
Great Egyptian River.
The Beautiful Sky COlOrIng ut Sunset
The Ancient TOmbs and Temples
The Inhabitants He Met.


wei in the Philadelphia Ledger.
The Nile is one of the largest rivers in
the world, and is unbroken for a distance
of about 1850 miles above its mouth. 1t
is the one main artery, without which the
country through which it passes would
have remained barren, mountainous, un-
inhabitable waste. As the only waterway,
besides furnishing the means of traffic and
communication between different sections
of the country, it has afforded opportunity
for pleasure excursions of all sorts since the
days of the kings of the most ancient dy-
nasties, but never until the last few years
have its beauties been Systematically opened
up to the gaze of the tourist. This has
been accomplished through the enterprise
and energy of Messrs. Thomas Cook & Son,
and later, also, by Henry Gaze & Son, who
saw here wide field for their tourist SER
vice. The British occupation also has
helped much to open the country and pop
ularize the trips. Through these means
the public now have the opportunity of
seeing the Oldest relics of history, together
with remarkably beautiful scenery. Above
all, the customs and habits of these ancient
Egyptians can be observed and studied in
all their antiquity. 1t is truly wonderful
what little change in this respect the last
two or three thousand years have effected.
European push and enterprise have not
as yet entered the country, except in one
OF two important particulars, and one might
well imagine himself living in the nine
teenth century B. c., so great is the gen
eral stagnation. Indeed, as a nation the
Egyptians have retrogressed. Their ancient
grandeur and glory, together with their
knowledge of many valuable arts, have long
since disappeared, and they now represent
the wreck Of what was once an all powerful
civilization.
THE NILE AND ITS COMMERCE.
Among the important enterprises referred
to are the steamers plying the river, partic-
ularly the two largest, which are models of
perfection for their line of work These
latter accommodate so passengers quite
comfortably, and give abundance of deck
space They draw but 81 feet of water,
are 225 feet long by 20 feet beam, with a
speed of II miles an hour, and are fitted
out with electric lights and hot and cold
baths. The table is very fair and the SER
vice good throughout. The only comfort
not provided is smoking room
A feet of sail and steam "dahabeahs' is
at the disposal of special parties The side
excursions on the regular trips are arranged
so as best to utilize the time, giving, how
ever, sufficient chance for recuperation.
They are all made on donkey back, which
feature adds spice and novelty to them; in
fact, donkeys in Egypt take the place of
our cabs, and are used by all classes for
general service. The tourist season is from
November to the last of March, the heat
Of the rest of the year being too great for
the comfort of travellers Even during the
last named month navigation is very diff
cult except for the smaller vessels, partly
because the channel is continually changing
with the rapid current, which runs at the
rate of from three to four miles an hour,
and partly on account of the slight depth.
The river is lowest in May and highest
in October. At Cairo the average rise is
25 feet; in upper Egypt it is more. The
cultivated strip ON both banks together is
never more than eight or nine miles in
width, while at some points the high sand
and limestone bluffs come to the rivers
edge. The deposit of rich soil by the
annual foundations amounts to about six
inches in 100 years; is, though apparently
not much, sufficient to permit of rich cul-
tivation. In ancient times the height of
the water at different periods Of the rise
was registered, and from the schedule thus
made during the many years the maximum
height Of each inundation could be pre-
viously ascertained and anticipated. This
was an important duty, for foot more or
less made considerable preparation neces-
sary. The special walls on which these
rises we're marked were called snilometers.
One is to be seen on the island of Elephan-
tine and still another in Philae.
THE NILE SCENERY.
The Nile scenery is mild, soft and tropi-
cal in character. The low, sandy bluffs
and mountains, totally devoid Of vegetation,
become more prominent as one ascends the
river; occasionally they encroach to the
river bank, but generally form gray back
ground for the rest of the picture. In the
foreground we have perhaps perfectly
level stretch OF rich green. broken here and