The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-06-26
FLOOD OF THE NILE.
THE GREATEST EVENT OF ALL THE
YEAR AT CAIRO.

Impressive Ceremonies at the Cutting OF
the Bank to Allow the Water to Flow
Into the Canal-The Ancient NiIometer
on the Island of Roda.
The tourist who only comes to Egypt to
shun winter and foul weather" knows
nothing of the majestic glories of the
Nile flood The ancient Nilometer at
the south end of tho island of Roda, just
above Cairo, is one of the most interest
ing sights of the place. The water en-
tiers from tho river by culvert into
we'll about Is feet square, with gradu-
ated stone pillar in the center. On each
side of the well is a recess about feet
wide and feet deep, surmounted by
pointed arch, over which is carved In
relief Kufic inscription, and similar
inscription is carried all around the
we'll, consisting of verses of the Koran.
A staircase goes down tho well, from
the steps of which tho initiated may
read tho height Of the water on the pill
lar, but they are few in number, and tho
hereditary sheikh of the Nilometer,
whose duty it is to keep the record, is
a person of some Importance. The Nil
ometer dates from A d. Sol, and be-
heve in tho archives of Cairo may be
found the daily record for 1000 years.
Ineed hardly tell You that when our
English engineers took the river in hand
we established n number of gauges at
Wadi- Halia, Assuan, Cairo and many
other points ON moro scientific principles
than the venerable Nilometer of the
Roda island.
After the river has begun to rise its
height is daily chanted through the
Cairo streets until it reaches 10 cubits
on tho gauge At this point the Khalig
ell Masri, the old canal that flows through
the heart of Cairo, is opened-up to this
point it is dry, and full or empty it is
little more than sanitary abomination
at present, but i'll former days it occu-
pied an important place, and when the
Nile water was high enough to flow
down its bed it was looked on that tho
flood had fairly set in and that the kind
ly fruits Of tho earth might be duly ex-
pected.
Tho head of this canal is ON the right
bank Of the river, just south of Cairo
The water enters channel some 80 feet
wide, with high wall ON its left and q
sloping bank on its right or southern
flank. The water then flows under the
pointed arch of an old Stone bridge. The
bed of the canal is cleared so that it
would flow in Mt gauge Of about AK
cubits, but an earthen bank is thrown
across it about four feet higher.
There is no more interesting ceremony
In Egypt than the annual cutting of the
khalig, as the opening ceremony is
called. 1t takes place between Aug. 8
and 10. Days before preparations are
made for tho festival Tents with innu-
merable lamps are placed along the wall
on the one side. Frames for all manner
of fireworks are erected ON tho sand bank
ON the other side. All tho notables are
there in full uniform or in canonicals.
Tho khedivo himself or his representa-
tive, tho Sheikh III Islam, the highest
dignitary of the Mohammedan faith ;
the Sheil1h el Bellri, the Sheilkh el Sadat,
all tho learned scribes of the great uni
versity OF the Azhar, tho cabinet minis
ters and under secretaries, tho sirder of
tho army and his staff, the judges and
the financiers.
The Egyptian troops arc turned out,
salutes arc fired, and about o'clock IN
tho warm summer night tho classes all
assemble under tho gayly lighted tents,
tho masses crowd round tho frames for
tho fireworks, tho street is lined with
harem carriages full of closely yelled
figures, though it is not much that they
can see from their broughams. Out in
the river just opposite the canal s mouth
is moored an old hulk Of n certain sea-
going outline, which has been towed up
from Bulak during the day and is an
emblem of tho timo when the great re-
public of Venice sent an envoy to wit
ness tho ceremony. This boat is full OF
lamps, and fireworks too AS the night
deepens the excitement increases. The
populace on the bs'dgo and opposite
bank are shouting, yelling and dancing
wildly round the fireworks.
On the other side are tho gay uniforms
and lighted tents, from which we can
look over tho wall down ON the dark wa
bbIt MDtIb Jou bNo piONh PAthF7
ing in and, waist deep, digging with
their hoes Mt the embankment that
blocks tho canals mouth Long before
midnight the fireworks have gone out
and left the splendid stars to themselves;
tho grandecs have all gone to bed, but
the people keep up tho revelry, and in
the morning, by 7;30, every one has
come back. Then but little Of tho bank
is left uncut, and few moro strokes Of
the big hoes will do it, and the brown
skins and brown water reflect the bright
sunlight from above. Then tho Sheik hui
Islam solemnly thanks the Almighty,
Allah tho all powerful, the all merciful
He implores his blessing ON the flood,
and at signal tho bank is cut, the wa
tors rush in, and with them crowd of
swimmers. A bag Of silver piasters is
scattered among them. and the ceremony
Is at an end. Nature