Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-07-13
THE BLUE NILE.
], .s~ns
Mighty River That Helps Feed
Egypt's Agriculture.

the Blue Nile not 1ar from mar
tum in the Anglo-Egyptian Su-
dan SO that the rich triangular
region between the two mighty
forks Of the most historic river in
the world may be turned into a
granary for all the Sudan is be-
ing considered by the British
government, newspaper dispatch
es say.
''The Blue Nile rising in the
highlands of Abyssinia,. together
with two other atfiuents from the
same source, furnishes the world
famous Nile with much of the
rich sediment which for centuries
has enriched the plains of lower
Egypt during the flood season, y
says bulletin Of the National
Geographic society.
Down through a region little
known and almost devoid of in
habitants or any form of civiliza-
ton, rushing over numerous cata-
racts and rapids, the Blue Nile
cuts it's way from it's source, the
beautiful broad sheet of water
known as Lake Tsana. The lake,
which in the future may become
the reservoir for the irrigation of
a vast area, lies 5000 feet above
sea level and about $500 feet be-
low the normal level of the pla-
teau in basin resembling some.
what the crater OF volcano.
Near it's southeastern corner,
through a great fissure in it's al
most inaccessible rim, the river
issues, and circling around the
mountains strikes out in an $50
mile course toward the north
west to join the chief branch of
the Nile at Khartum of Kitchener
fame.
1.-THE vast plains of Sennar or
Ell GeZira on it's left bank are
among the richest OIL the CONT
nent and it is these that the irri-
CATION projects are to develop.
In Sennar, the Dinder, Blue
} Nile tributary which also rises in
the Abyssinian highlands, adds,
during the rainy season, its sed-
imenr laden flood to that Of the
already swollen river, and to-
gether at khartum they discharge
over 10000 cubic meters of water
per second, thus outdoing the
White Nile itself during that
time.
"trom July to October this
mighty flooding goes on, the wa
tiers Of the Blue Nile, socalled be-
cause OF their clarity and blue
ness at ordinary seasons, ming
ling their chocolate brown with
the greenish-grey color of the
White branch of Father Nilus.
''This great difference in the
volume OF water from Abyssinia
is due to the heavy rain that
falls in the mountains Of the
country not far from its eastern
coast. The Nile system in itself
may be said to be simple one,
its basic source being that steady
flowing river from the tropics
which is fed by the great lakes
III the eastern and central portion
of the continent, augmented at
times by a great volume of water
from its Abyssinian affiuents.
Sine 1902 the inhabitants of
Egypt near the mouth of the
Nile have had their water sup
ply replenished during the sea-
son OF low water by the reserve
supply stored at the Assouan
dam.
Long stretches of the area
north OF the Blue Nile are almost
entirely uninhabited, one traveller
reporting that he travelled SO
miles in Abyssinia and had not,
seen dwelling or a sign of civil
ixation.' And even when one en-
counters inhabitants in the coun.
try further to the east he finds
them nnashamed of any crime or
vice. They perpetrate their
crimes with perfect indifference
and recount them with gaiety
end laughter as part. of the reg.
iliar conversation during meals.
Up in the highlands near the
rivers source despite the burning
tropical heat Of the day, one is
glad to crawl snugIy beneath his
blanket when night has. fallen.