The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-06
FLOOD OF THE NILE.
THE GREAT ST EVENT OF ALL THE
WA AT CAIRO.

Into the Canal-The Ancient Nilometer
on the Island of Roda.
The tourist who only comes to Egypt 60
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 culvert into
well about Is feet square, with gradu-
ated stone pillar in the center. On each
side Of the well is recess about feet
wide and B feet deep, surmounted by
pointed arch, over which is carved in
relief Kuic inscription, and similar
inscription is carried all around the /
well, consisting of verses Of the Koran.
A staircase goes down the we'll, 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 be-
lieve 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 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 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 and full or empty it is
little more than sanitary abomination
at present, but in 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 the
flood had fairly set in, and that the kind
II 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 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 30 that 1t
would flow in at a gauge Of about IAN
cubits, but an earthen bank 10 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. b
and 10. Days before preparations are
made for the festival. Tents with innu-
merable lamps are placed along the wal
ON the one side. Frames for all manner
of fireworks are erected on the sand banl
ON the other side. All the notables are
there in full uniform or in canonicals
The khedive himself or his representa-
: tive. the Sheikh III Islam, the highes
diQnitary Of the Mohammedan faith
: the Sheikh ell Belri, the Sheikh ell Sadat
all the learned scribes Of the great uni
{ yersity of the Azhar, the cabinet minis
o tiers and under secretaries, the sirder o
the army and his staff, the judges ant
. the financiers.
u The Egyptian troops are turned out
o salutes are fred, and about O'Clock L
I' the warm summer night the classes o.
n assemble under the gayly lighted tents
n the masses crowd round the frames 10
u the fireworks, the street is lined wit
IS barem carriages full Of closely velle
. figures, though it is not much that the
j. can see from their broughams. Out
o. the river just opposite the canals mout
ID is moored an old hulk Of certain SCI
going outline, which has been towed q
N from Bulak during the day and is a
emblem of the time when the great r.
rs nublic of Venice sent an envoy to WI
70 ness the ceremony. This boat Is full
a lamps. and fireworks too. As the nlgl
SO deepens the excitement increases. IL
n populace on the bridge and opposi
or bank are shouting, yelling and dancir
wildly round the fireworks.
IN On the other side are the gay uniform
an and lighted tents, from which we G.
IL look over the wall down ON the dark W
O. ter. where you see brown figures plum
- inc in and, waist deep, digging WI
| thar noes db buO
blocks the canals mouth. Long be1o
midnight the fireworks have gone Q
'er and left the splendid stars to themselvt
N the 0randees have all gone to bed' o
Oh the people keep up the revelry' ana
,c- the morning, by 1880, every one
lid come back. Then but little OF the pa
il left uncut, and few more strokes
lid the big hoes will do it, and the prov
nd skins and brown water reflect the Drie
en sunlight from above Then the Sheik
in Islam solemnly thanks the Almlgn
he Allah the all powerful, the all mercif
He implores his blessing on the no'
his and at signal the bank is cut the },
ters rush in, and with them CROWD
rn- swimmers. A bag OF silver plas'ers
up, scattered among them, and the ceremo
tie is at an end.
tie,
mt Always on Time.
Washington had many admirable ira
or g ;,,,;tation and one or Tn