Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-05-29
ANEODOTAL LITERATURE.
Gathered and Compiled for the In
dependent by W. G.

Although most persons may have
heard about the popularity of the
Nile in annually OVERLOOKING the
northern part of Egypt, yet there
are probably few who know the ma
ture of it, and therefore brief de-
scription of it may not be amiss in
this connection.
During the month of May, and
the early part of June, the whole
land of Egypt hears the aspect OF
country suffering from complete aud
universal drought. The fields are
bare and parched. The. innumera-
BILE canals are dried up. Burning
winds blow from the south, accom-
panied by clouds of dust. The
population enervated and indolent,
pass their time chiefly within doors.
Yet all are waiting in hope. In the
night of the 18th Of June, though as
yet everything remains unchanged,
there is universal stir. 1t is the
"Night of the Drop" for it is vul-
carly believed, that, at a certain mo.
ment, precisely ascertained by the
astrologers, miraculous drop falls
into the river and causes it TO rise.
The night is spent by thousands on
the banks of the Nile. Visits of
congratulstion are exchanged. The
next day commences one long scene
of festivity and JOY. The river
slowly swells. An officer stationed
in the Nilometer, marks, by its
graduated sides, the daily rise.
From about the third of July, this
is also proclaimed in the public
streets of Cairo and other towns by
an officer called the "Crier of the
Nile" He presmbulates the city,
accompanied by youth, and the an
nouucement is connected with ejaou-
lations and prayers, chanted in
kind of rude, responsive measure.
ment. The following is brief
specimen
Crier-The treasures of the boun-
tiful are full!
Boy-And at the gates there isno
scarcity !
Crier--I extol the perfection of
Him who spread out the earth.
Boy-And hath given running
rivers.
Crier-Through whom the fields
became green.
Boy-After death he causeth them
to live.
The canal with which the country
is intersected, now gradually becomes
full. The lower pastures are cover.
ed ; and soon the country assumes
the aspect of an ocean dotted all
over with innumerable islands. The
town and villages, being for the
most part, erected on rising land, or
artificial mounds remains above the
surface. The public causeways
which connect them, are also raised,
but under-arches, for the free pas
sage of the water; while here and
there stately palmgrove, and now
and then lofty hill, swelling from
the waves, diversity and adorn The
scene.
About the 25th of September, the
river has attained it's full height.
This varies in different parts of the
the channel. II upper Egypt it
rises to from thirty to thirty-fye
feet above its ordinary mark. At
Cairo, about twenty three whilst
in the northern part Of the delta,
owing to the artificial channels and
the breadth of the food, it does not
exceed four feet.
When the first symptoms of de-
crease appear, the sluices of tho
canals are all closed, that the water
may be retained. The north wind
having for the last week been inces-
sanity blowing, as if to prevent the
current rushing towards the Medi-
teranean, ceases. TIE river grad
unlly sinks. The water retires from
the fields, leaving behind them a
layer Of rich soil. The cultiyator
has now scarcely anything to do
but to go forth (about the beginning
of November) and scatter the seed
assured of plentiful harvest. In
the meantime the cattle are grazing
in the pastures, and grow fat. In
the month Of March the rich harvest
is gathered in, and the series OF
events we have described, recon
mence. So that tie, land, in the
course Of year, successfully as
sumes the appearance of an ocean OF
fresh water, then of a miry morass,
then of a green, level plain, and fin
ally of parched desert of sand and
dust.
~
BOYS TAUGHT TO SEW.