The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-06-09
JOseph's Canal in Egypt.

How many of the engineering works
Of the nineteenth century will there
be in existence in the year $1,000 =!
Very few, we fear, and still less those
that will continue in hat far-off age
to serve a useful purpose. Yet there
is at least one great undertaking con-
ceived and executed by an engineer
which during the space of 1000 years
has never ceased it's office, on which
the life of a fertile province absolutely
depends to-day. We refer to the Bahr
Joussuf-the canal of Joscph-built,
according to tradition, by the son OF
Jacob, and which constitutes not the
least of the many blessings he con.
ferred on Egypt during the years OF
his prosperous rule.
This canal took its rise from the
Nile at Asiut, and ran almost parallel
with it for nearly 250 miles, creeping
along under the western cliff Of the
Nile Valley, with many a bend and
winding, until at length it gained an
eminence, as compared with the river
bed, which enabled ito turn westward
through a narrow pass and enter a
district which was otherwise shut off
from the fertilizing floods on which al
vegetation in Egypt depends. The
northern end stood seventeen feet
above low Nile, while at the southern
end it was at an equal elevation with
the river. Through this cut ran a
perennial stream, which watered a
province named the Fayoum, endoWing
it with fertility and supporting a large
population. In the timeof the annual
food a great part of the canal was
under water, and then the rivers cur
rent would rush in amore direct course
into the pass, carrying with it the
rich silt which takes the place Of
manure and keeps the soil in a con-
slant state of productiveness. All
this, with the exception Of the tradi-
ton that Joseph built it, can be veri-
fed to-day, and tits not mere suppo.
sition or rumor.
Until eight years ago it was firmly
believed that the design has always
been limited to an irrigation scheme,
larger, no doubt, than that now in
operation, as shown by the traces Of
abandoned. canals, and by the slow
aggregation of waste water which had
accumulated in the Birket ell Quorum,
but still essentially the same in
character. Many accounts have been
written by Greek and Roman histori-
ans, such as Herodotus, Strabo, Mutt
anus and Pliny, and repeated in
monkish legends, or portrayed in the
maps of the middle ages, which agreed
with the folk lore of the district.
These tales explained that the canal
dug by the ancient Israelites served
to carry the surplus waters Of the Nile
into an extensive lake lying south OF
the Fayoum, and so large that it not
only modified the climate, tempering
the arid winds of the desert and con-
verting them into the balmy airs which
nourished the vines and the olives
into a %fullness andfragrance unknown
in any part Of the country, but also
added to the food supply Of the land
such immense quantities Of fish that
the royal perogative of the right Of
piscsry at the great weir was valued
at ESQ, 900 annually, This lake was
said to be $50 miles round and to be
n~avigated by a fleet Of vessels, and
the whole circumference wal the scene
Of industry and prosperity.