The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-18

The Sea of Reeds Along the River Nile Presents
q Scene. a More Desolate One Than mag-
nation Can Picture - The Great
Task Undertaken

growing III tho shallow lakes, 10 become
detached BY the roots. They are thus set
floating upon the surface of the laSoons.
These floating masses are sometimes OF
several ncrcs in extent, and move ABOUT
according to the direction OF the Wind
Eventually some portions OF them ma
their way into .ille river Itself and tloat
down with the stream. a bend III the
channel, or q narrow section, causes them
to stick fast, and q partial block is speed
ilv formed. The current brings down
fresh masses of weed upon those first
arrived, ana the sectional area OF the river
channel is quickly reduced. The velocity
OF the current is consequently, Increased,
and the succeeding portions are sucked
under the original block, thus adding TO
its thickness. BY degrees. under the
severe. action of the water the Whole De
comes compressed into n dense and Sold
mass, which covers the river surface from
bank to bank and underneath when the
stream ruslles as through 81 slulce-gate.
These blocks. at tines attain a thickness
Of fifteen feet below the water. ana tour
or five feet above it, The surface is forced
BY the pressure into what may be best
described as Il gigantic ridge and furrow.
In ulaces ii is so solid that h-ppopotarnl
and even elephants can cross 1t WITHOUT
danger Naturally, such q block causes a
rise in the water levels up stream. ana
the river Soils over into the adJaceh.
marshes. thus assisting fresh masses OF
panyr,ls to float adr.ft ana form the nucie-
no OF further Instructions lower down.
Navigation OF the river is tluS rendered
impossible.
FORMER ATTEMPTS TO CLEAR THE
CHANNEL.
III former years many attempts we're
made 10 remove the .'sudI' by the rulers
OF Ecynt. Some Of these attempts were
temporarily successful, bur III no instance
was the effect Of the work lasting, and
as a rule the channel quickly closed
again. During the period of Dcrvisn RUE
nothing was done i'll this direction. After
| the reconquest of the Soulan the Egyptian
|. Government took UP this important ques-
ton. and IN the winter of 1888 decided upon
| q fresh attempt at the removal Of the
..sudd" IN December, 1899, an expedition
was fitted out for this purpose and dis
pa tched to the spot. 1t was placed under
ii edirection Of Major Peake, an artil-
lery officer III the Egyptian service. With
him were several English officers, and
the workmen consisted Of some 500 or 100
Dervish prisoners. Five gunboatS were
employed upon the work.
The season Of 1899 and 1860 was, il
some respects, a favorable one for the
purpose, as the river at the time was
abnorrnally low, and the swamps We're
consequently drier than is usually the
case On the other hand, the lownesS OF
The river rendered communication with
the base at khartorm very difficult and
transport of supplies and material became
almost an inlpossibiity. In spite Of these
difficulties a surprising amount OF work
was done and by the end Of April COM
municat:on between khartoum and Fort
Berkeley. in the Uganda Protectorate.
was rendered possible by river. Another
seasons work will probably be required