Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-04-22

Are Reunited in the Final End-AEri-
culture Leading Industry Through Irri-
cation from the Nile-Means of Applica-
tion of the Life-Givinf Flow Of Water
Funerals in Cairo-Cortsfe Generally on
Foot-Casket Carried on Shoulders of
Men-Odd Water Carriers-Party Was
Glad to Get Aboard the Cleveland Afain
at Port Said.
BY FRANK NJ. KENNEY.
While we were in Cairo the Khe-
dive, as the ruler is called, returned
from an extensive European tour to
again take up his official residence
here. All were anxious to see him,
and as the hotels and many of the
stores decorated their fronts we pre-
sumed there would be a very impos-
ing procession surprising any given
to our President. Long before the
appointed hour for his appearance,
troops passed by on their way to the
station where the special train was
to arrive. l took up my position on
the hotel porch so as to see the Khe-
dive and if possible obtain picture.
In both was successful, but was
both surprised and disappointed to
see such little enthusiasm displayed,
for there was no cheering at all; just
a line up along the streets and very
few outside Of the police even saluted
him. l presume they have so little
to give thanks for here, they cannot
get up any enthusiasm when they, as
a class, are so poor. The disap-
pointment was general in any show
ing OF grandeur. A short dis
tance ahead of the Khedive came
troops. All of these we're
trotting along and the Khedive in
his carriage was saluting right and
left to the people. as he passed by.
He was not decorated, and as he is
as white as any American, he looked
like one of our rulers. and il it were
not for his fez and body-guard he
would have appeared the same as
any other gentleman out in his car
riage.
We next visited the Museum, and
saw many relics of by-gone days.
The most interesting of them being
the mummies and the mammoth
stone statues. It was the belief of
the ancients that the soul and body
would at some future day re-unite,
and for this reason they preserved
the bodies so that when that time ar
rived the body and soul could again
become one. Their process of en-
balming was certainly o success, for
here are to be seen mummies as far
back as 1174. and they are as well
preserved as though only yesterday
it was q living, breathing being, and
ages win come and 60 and still the
handiwofk OF the ancient Egyptians
will oe as good as to-day. To think
that they then knew how to do
things We to-day. in our so-called en-
lightened age, cannot equal, makes
one think we, not they, should be
called the .unenlightened. The prin-
cipal mummy is that of Rameses II,
who is called The Pharaoh Of the
Oppression"
Agriculture is extensively engaged
in and as there is no rainfall worth
mentioning, the Nile is the source of
their water supply for irrigation
purposes. Every year at about the
same time and to the same extent,
the Nile used to rise and overflow
the lands, but an extensive dam has
been built at Assuan. This dam is
approximately one and q quarter
miles long, and was commenced Feb
ruary 18th, 1899. and opened Decem-
Der 10th, 1902. During high water,
the 1SO steel sluice gates are open
but gradually closed and the water
stored for use as needed. 1t was es-
the yield of crops would be
increased nine fold by this dam, and
may later on be made
for the building Of this dam higher
than it now is. Where the canals
are lower than the land, mechanical
means must be employed to elevate
the water, and all kinds of contriv-
ances can be seen. One of these was
a water wheel having openings in the
side in which the water would flow
in when it was down and out when it
was up. This wheel was turned by
means of a cog wheel-the native
power being an OK, blindfolded, and
travelling in circle. Another
method was a cylinder, one end of
which was in the water, the other
sufficiently elevated to let the water
dow on the land. This was made
like corkscrew inside and it was
vigorously turned by two natives.
The most primitive method seen was
where a bucket or tin can had been
fastened to one end of a pole and on
the other end was counterbalance
equal to the weight of the can when