New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-11
HIGH NILE.
THE FESTIVE OBSERVANCES OF PIIARAOITS
TINE, Still, KEPT IN EGYPT.

1IME d MI ~ i-pii -
Now Is the time OF High Nile In Egypt Now,
too Father Nile governing all things In that andeht
land Is the COptic Years Day. For three days.
September 10 II and II. the whole people give t"f'-
selves up 10 festive mcrrmcnt and jubllation ""ou
hath given abundance" thankful burden OF every
voice. The annual inundation has come In us luz
moss. The dry plains now marsh covered VII"
tho fertile gift OF tho oondan and another rch mar
vest is assured There is ample cause for thanks
giving.
For many weeks the rising OF the river has been
a matter of the deepest daily interest. on July TN
Muuladee began his rounds through the streets Of
Cairo lie Is the "Crler OF the Nile and from time
immemorial he and his predecessors have gone
through the city daily from that date the 9th OF the
Coptlc month Bacoueh. 10 september IL, Ncrooz Day.
proclaimiIrg in monOtonous chant how much the
river has risen since the day before. The ancient
Nilometer on the island OF Rhoda IN old Cairo was
for centuries the Of his Information. Perhaps
1t stl Is, and perhaps it Is still accurate and tri'
worthy. Who knows AssIredly no one in Cairo
seems to care. Important as Is the rising Of the
river the people OF the city In these later years pay
no attention to IT, unless It is long delayed, or Is
50 abnormally great rs 10 threaten disaster. They
have learned last that the chant Of the Munadee
and their own anxiety have effect either TO hasten
or 10 rctnrd the Hood
Among the people Of the villages, and especially
among the feahecn in the Delta, however, the
Interest Is lnucScrlDuuE htcn anu i"''N
IS from July 70 September IL but one form OF greet
ing: How much has the Nile risen todayl' Yon
hear It everywhere under all circumstances; most OF
an perhaps at evening, when tho call TO evening
prayer has sounded. II Is the one vital theme OF
conversation. At first, all through July and we'll
into August, the question means, "Will the Nile rise
high enough" VIII its mud-laden waves spread over
all is, territory that needs their fertilization! But
sometimes, as August beHus to wane and the food
rises higher and higher, the question is asked in
different tone. Then the anxiety Is no longer that
the river should rise high enough. but that II shall
not rise too high. 1t Is not often That this occurs
but whom it does. disaster Is the result. In l56'
I'm 1862 and In 1874 the river rose to an unwonted
height Fmbankmcrts were swept away. towns
were dclugcd iacalcu'ahlc damage vas done 10
property and many people drowned. Then. in
truth the whole country was a lake and every town
q Venice. But IT IS seldom that such catastrophe
occurs and n rule High Nile the country Is not
Il lake but merely muddy swamp.
The Gift Of the Nile' IS the name Ierodotus
gave to Egypt and appropriate one IT is and has
ever been The country IS to-day dependent upon
the river for prosperity IL was In the days OF the
Pharaohs. And almost much rs ever the river
dominates the whole life OF the people. The Mahom-
ctaps are master, row; yet they have Lad u
conform 20 Coptic ways and manners. The Mahom-
ctan calendar Ia, not been able 10 supplant the
ancient Coptic. 20 u this day, among the common
pie tie year begins at Ncrooz, the 18th OF the
coptlc monr'i loot. just as IT did In the time Of
Nose, 80 with the other festivals. From the
Coptic Easter or Ed eli kebeer to Whtsunday, or
Fed cl Ausarih Is the KEamaScon. or fifty days
during Which the hot winds How from the south ard
we,h The Mahomcan- ,Sshvc The umck arG
seasons but they are appointed by the Optic cal
endur.
Although In Cairo Itself little heed is paid to the
Munadce and his daily announcement OF the state
e. ,f, lo rounds Is faithfully
ever lie Is attircd always in gala dress, and is
accompanied hy two ASSISTANTS one OF them plays
inc',.untly upon darabukeh. or Egyptian drum,
vile hc other performs monotonousy upon a
hautboy God hath given ABUNDANCE Is his cry
when late IN the season. It is that the food will
be sufficient God hath given abndantly;' and
therefore will not the good people of Cairo give OF
their abundance to the faithful bearer OF good It'd
ing,l - In these days the Muniadee Is nothing in
the world but a picturesque beggar, only insead OF
grinding threadbarc opera airs from barreEorgan,
he chants the words that have echoed through every
Egyptian city on every day OF every summer Tor
Thousands Of years. His appeal Is generously
answered and literal showers Of small coins cast
upon him by the easy going Carcnes. who regard
him Hike the sphinx and the Pyramids one OF
he ancient Institutions OF Egypt that must be main
talncd.
Further south. in Upper Egypt. ancient customs
sill more hod sway and Ncrooz Is day Of extra
ordinary festivities. 1t IS, of course time OF idle
ness on the part OF the farmers. They can do no
more work till the Nile subsidies. Ncrooz marks the
turning point. when the food reaches Its highest and
begins to cbb. for three days. september 10. IL.
and IL, the carnival holds high sway The plough and
hoe arc abandoned. The drum and fiddle take their
place 4 master OF misrule Is chosen. lie is some
fnn-lovlng farmer lie Is called .\bou NerOoz, and
wears Il tall cap and bells. For three days he is the
supreme authority. Even the Pacha yields 10 his
power The courts suspended The law Is In abey-
ance AbCu Nerooz Is supreme. lie goes about
levying and Collecting taAes. which he puts into hi,
own pocket. and promulgang all sorts of laws and
cdcts, all OF which unhesatingy obeyed for
three days At the end OF TINT period his subjects
rise against him. Ills cap and bells taken from
him and east into fire. he goes back TO his farm
work, and the Ner0Oz festival Is ended.