The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-10-05
FLOOD OF THE NILE.
THE GREATEST EVENT or ALL THE
YEAR At CAIRO.

Impressive Ceremonies at the Cutting Of
the Bank to Allow the Water to Flow
Into tho Canal-The Ancient NiIorneter
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 food The ancient Nilometer at
the south end Of the island Of Roda, Just
above Cairo, is one Of the most interest
ing sights Of the place. The water en-
tiers from the river by a culvert into a
well about IS feet square, with gradu-
ated stone pillar in the center. On each
side Of the we'll is a recess about feet
wide and feet deep. surmounted by
pointed arch, over which is carved in
relief Kufc inscription, and similar
inscription is carried all around the
well, consisting Of verses Of the Koran
A staircase goes down the well, from
the steps Of which the initiated may
read the height of the water on the pill
lar, but they are few in number, and the
hereditary sheikh of the Nilometer,
whose duty it is to keep the record. is
person Of some Importance The Nil
ometer dates from A d. SCI. and 1 De-
heve in the archives Of Cairo may be
found the daily record for 1000 years.
need hardly tell you that when our
English engineers took the river in hand
We established a number Of gauges at
Wadi- Halia, Assuan, Cairo and many
other points on more 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 l6 cubits
ON the 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 OF empty it is
little more than a sanitary abomination
at present, but in former days il occu-
pied an important place. and when the
Nile water was high enough to flow
down its bed it was looked ON that the
food had fairly set in, and that the kind
" fruits Of the earth might be duly ex.
pected-
The head Of this canal is on the right
bank Of the river. just south Of Cairo.
The water enters channel some 30 feet
wide, with high wall on its left and 8
/ sloping bank on its right or southern
flank. The water then flows under th'
a pointed arch Of an old stone bridge. Thu
! bed Of the canal is cleared so that i
: would flow in at gauge Of about IA J.
4 cubits, but an earthen bank is thrown
D across it about four feet higher.
There is no more interesting ceremon,
! in Egypt than the annual cutting Of tn
: khalig, as the opening ceremony /
called It takes place between Aug
q and To- Days before preparations ar
q made for the festival Tents with innu
q merable lamps are placed along the wal
, on the one side Frames for all manne
. Of fireworks are erected on the sand ban
4 ON the other side. All the notables ar
A there in full uniform or in canonical:
l. The khedivo himself or his represents
n tive. the Sheikh III Islam. the highes
n dignitary Of the Mohammedan faith
n the Sheikh ell Belri, the Sheikh ell Sadai
a all the learned scribes Of the great IN
= versity Of the Azhar, the cabinet minii
tiers and under secretaries, the sirder {
q the army and his staff, the judges an
o the fnanciers.
l. The Egyptian troops are turned on
salutes are fired, and about s O'Clock
the warm summer night the classes a
assemble under the gayly lighted tent
ct the masses crowd round the frames Il
rs the fireworks, the street is lined wit
ig harem carriages full Of closely veilC
ne figures, though it is not much that the
is can see from their broughams. Out
ne the river Just opposite the canals moui
30 is moored an old hulk Of a certain Sc
ig going outline, which has been towed l
vs. from Bulak during the day and is 1
On emblem Of the time when the great 7
en- public Of Venice sent an envoy to wi
Sc ~ - ss....s.s... ILL., hsat j. 81
ed