Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-09
THE NILE FLOOD.
Interesting Ceremony of the "CuttinS OF
the Khilig.''

4
the Khalig."
From the time so far back that his
| tory is lost in myth, the River Nile has
enriched the land, therefore the annual
Nile flood is the most important hap
pening in Egypt.
The ancient Nilometer, at the south
end of the island of Roda. just above
Cairo, is one of the most interesting
sights of the place. The water enters
from the river by culvert into a well
IS feet square, with a graduated stone
pillar in the center. On each side Of
the well is a recess six feet wide and
three feet deep, surmounted by point
ed arch, over which is carved in relief
Cutie inscription, and a similar in
scription is carried all around the well
consisting of verses of the Koran. 4
staircase goes down the well, from the
steps of which the initiated may read
the height of the water on the pillar;
but they are few in number, and the
hereditary sheikh of the Nilometer.
whose duty it is to keep the record, is
a person of some Importance.
The Nilometer dates from A. D. SCI .
and in the archives of Cairo may be
found the daily record for 1000 years.
After the river ha, begun to rise its
height is daily chanted through the
Cairo streets until it reaches 16 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.
There is no more interesting cere-
mony in Egypt than the annual "cuo-
ting of the khafigy" as the opening GER
emory is called 1t takes place be-
tween August and August IS.
Days before, preparations are being
made for the festival. Tents, with in
Vulnerable lamps, are placed along the
wall on the one side Frames for all
manner of fireworks are erected on the
sand-ban1 on the other side. All the
notables are there, in full uniform CIR
in canonicals. The khedive himself, or
his representative the Sheizh ul Islam
the highest dignitary of the Moham
medan faith-alI the learned seribes
of the great university of the Azhar,
the cabinet ministers and under secre-
taries, the general of the army and his
staff, the judges and the tinanciers.
The Egyptian troops are turned out,
salutes are fired, and about eight
o clock in the warm summer night, the
classes all assemble under the gayly
lighted tents, the masses crowd around
is lined with harem carriages full of
closeIy-veiled figures, though it r. not
much that they can see from their
broughams.
Out in the river, just opposite the
canals mouth, is moored old hulk.
which has been towed up from Bula<
during the day, and is an emblem. of the
time when the great republic OF Venice
sent an envoy to witness the cere
mony This boat is full of lamps and
too.
As the night deePens- the excitement
increases. The populace on the bridge
and the opposite banks shouting,
yelling and dancing wildly aroand the
fireworks. On the ether side are the
gay uniforms and lighted tents, from
which We can look over the wall
down on the dark water, where
you see brown figures plungin
waist deep, and digging with their
hoes the embanknent that blocks
the canals mouth, Long before mid
night the fireworks have gone out,
and left the splendid stars to them
selves; the grandees have all gone Ia
bed, but the people keep UP the revelK1.
and in the morning, by haEfpast sexsn
o'clock, everyone has come back
Then but little of TIN. bank is left IN
cut and few more strokes of the big
hoes will do it and the Drawn skins and
the brown ssater reflect the brighs sun
Eight from above Then the Sasfkh ul
Islzn solemnly thanks Allah, the all
powerful. the all-meresful. He fznpIores
HIS blessing oa the food, ami. ut a sig
I.aI. the bank is cut, the wat rs rush in.
and with them a ezayvd OF swimmers
A bag Of silver fisstres is scattered
among them, and the remony is at
an eRd-Golden Days.