jeanflop/post_ocr_correction2 huggingface dataset:
son Merenptah that the Israelites left Egypt in the year R.C. 1230 (approximately). The mummy of this Pharaoh can be seen in the Muséeum and his handiwork at Thebes. Both he and his work look thoroughly obstinate. It has been objected by some critics that it is extraordinary to have the mummy of a man who was reported in the Bible to have been drowned, but the Bible nowhere says that Pharaoh was drowned. Pharaoh was overthrown and his host were drowned, but Pharaoh himself, as we can see, was not drowned. The first plague is thus tersely described in the Psalms: «He turned their waters into blood and slew all their fish.» This refers to the red muddy waters of the Nile which are not only not destructive of fish but are very beneficial to them. The right interpretation of this text is the key to the comprehension of all the remaining plagues. When I first came to Egypt in 1883, before masonry regulators had been built on the tail reaches of the inferior branches of the Nile, it was the custom to close these streams some twenty miles above their ends, with early dams thrown hurriedly across the channels. This was done so that the waters they carried might overfill the country and irrigate the fields ready to be ploughed up and planted with cotton. On such occasions, the sudden cutting off of the fresh water left the tail reaches of the canals open to the advance of the sea water. The fresh water fish trapped in these tail reaches were killed in myriads by salt water; and I have, on occasions, seen the branches of the Nile almost white with them floating dead on the surface. In those days of perennial irrigation, the dams used to be thrown in in March, but in the old days of basin irrigation, these same early dams were thrown across the inferior branches of the Nile on the arrival of the red water of the flood about the 1st of August, so that the water level might rise and the rich
channels. This was done so that the waters they carried might overfill the country and irrigate the fields ready to be ploughed up and planted with cotton. On such occasions, the sudden cutting off of the fresh water left the tail reaches of the canals open to the advance of the sea water. The fresh water fish trapped in these tail reaches were killed in myriads by salt water; and I have, on occasions, seen the branches of the Nile almost white with them floating dead on the surface. In those days of perennial irrigation, the dams used to be thrown in in March, but in the old days of basin irrigation, these same early dams were thrown across the inferior branches of the Nile on the arrival of the red water of the flood about the 1st of August, so that the water level might rise and the rich red muddy water might enter the historical basins of the Nile valley. The Israelites, who had outlying settlements near the ends of the branches just as the Bedouin have today, saw annually myriads of fish die just at the time that the red water came, and it was to the arrival of the red water that they attributed their destruction, and not without a good deal of reason. In a very low Nile carrying poor supplies of water, the stronger communities to the immediate south of the field of Zoan threw early dams into the branches considerably higher up their courses and the number of fish which were killed must have been undoubtedly very serious. If the Nile continued low, these dams were maintained through the whole duration of the flood and the waters of the river diverted into the upper basins and remained there until the time of winter sowing came round. To allow the water to escape from a basin before the time was ripe for sowing was to lose half the crops, and, may be in a low year, the whole crop. During the low flood of 1888, I have seen the last basin bank of Kena
arrival of the red water that they attributed their destruction, and not without a good deal of reason. In a very low Nile carrying poor supplies of water, the stronger communities to the immediate south of the field of Zoan threw early dams into the branches considerably higher up their courses and the number of fish which were killed must have been undoubtedly very serious. If the Nile continued low, these dams were maintained through the whole duration of the flood and the waters of the river diverted into the upper basins and remained there until the time of winter sowing came round. To allow the water to escape from a basin before the time was ripe for sowing was to lose half the crops, and, may be in a low year, the whole crop. During the low flood of 1888, I have seen the last basin bank of Kena province stiff with armed fellahen from Kena who would not allow a single fellah from Girga, the next province, to approach the bank, lest he might be tempted to enter it and turn the water into the Girga basins. Similarly, the more powerful communities upstream of the dams on the inferior branches of the Nile in the Delta in old days doubtless guarded their own basin banks and rigidly excluded the water from the lands north of them until the time of sowing came round in November, by which time most of the water had been lost by absorption and evaporation. What remained over the requirements of the well-irrigated basins furnished its way into the field of Zoan and though late and in totally insufficient quantities, still sufficed to wet the ground sufficiently to ensure inferior crops over fairly large areas. Not a drop of water reached the salted lands near the lakes. The first plague began early in August and resulted in the destruction of all the fish in the tail reaches of the Nile branches. This was followed by all the fish dying in the canals, the pools, and the ponds from which the further supply of fresh
inferior branches of the Nile in the Delta in old days doubtless guarded their own basin banks and rigidly excluded the water from the lands north of them until the time of sowing came round in November, by which time most of the water had been lost by absorption and evaporation. What remained over the requirements of the well-irrigated basins furnished its way into the field of Zoan and though late and in totally insufficient quantities, still sufficed to wet the ground sufficiently to ensure inferior crops over fairly large areas. Not a drop of water reached the salted lands near the lakes. The first plague began early in August and resulted in the destruction of all the fish in the tail reaches of the Nile branches. This was followed by all the fish dying in the canals, the pools, and the ponds from which the further supply of fresh water was cut off. The sub-soil water of the field of Zoan was salted and the people had to content themselves with drinking the stagnant filthy water of the pools and ponds and such water as they could find in pits dug round about the rivers. The destruction of fish on a much smaller scale was witnessed annually by the Israelites on the arrival of the red water of the Nile flood, and it was on this account doubtless that the records tell of the magicians of Egypt doing likewise with their enchantments. The magicians in this case were probably the irrigation engineers. The Bible record adds that seven days were fulfilled after the Lord had smitten the river, from which we infer that the first plague was sudden and soon over, for within a week the salt water had traveled up all the streams and killed all the fish. Dr. W. F. Hume, Director of the Geological Survey of Egypt, thus accounts for the fact of there being sweet sub-soil water in the land of Goshen and salt sub-soil water in the field of Zoan: "It seems to me that we might perhaps think of it thus: Two branches
on a much smaller scale was witnessed annually by the Israelites on the arrival of the red water of the Nile flood, and it was on this account doubtless that the records tell of the magicians of Egypt doing likewise with their enchantments. The magicians in this case were probably the irrigation engineers. The Bible record adds that seven days were fulfilled after the Lord had smitten the river, from which we infer that the first plague was sudden and soon over, for within a week the salt water had traveled up all the streams and killed all the fish. Dr. W. F. Hume, Director of the Geological Survey of Egypt, thus accounts for the fact of there being sweet sub-soil water in the land of Goshen and salt sub-soil water in the field of Zoan: "It seems to me that we might perhaps think of it thus: Two branches of the Nile were passing, one through Tumilat, the other past Faqus, the former being the more ancient of the two. Consequently, the annual flood through the soil itself had washed out the salt to a large extent in the Tumilat area, but had not succeeded in doing so in the San el Haggar district owing to the low Nile. Both Hebrews and Egyptians were led to try for water away from the Nile, and both furnished the flood water of previous years not returned to the head of the river, or trapped from various causes. The Tumilat area lying further south from the lake area supplied fresh water, the other salt, the second plague was one of the frogs. As the salt water traveled up the branches and canals of the river, the fish died immediately, while the frogs were able to leave the water and stray onto the land. The land in August was dry and parched and covered in many places with salt efflorescence thrown off the salted areas bordering the brackish lakes. The frogs had nothing to drink on the baked earth. They consequently swarmed into the houses, into the bed-chambers, into the beds and into
the San el Haggar district owing to the low Nile. Both Hebrews and Egyptians were led to try for water away from the Nile, and both furnished the flood water of previous years not returned to the head of the river, or trapped from various causes. The Tumilat area lying further south from the lake area supplied fresh water, the other salt, the second plague was one of the frogs. As the salt water traveled up the branches and canals of the river, the fish died immediately, while the frogs were able to leave the water and stray onto the land. The land in August was dry and parched and covered in many places with salt efflorescence thrown off the salted areas bordering the brackish lakes. The frogs had nothing to drink on the baked earth. They consequently swarmed into the houses, into the bed-chambers, into the beds and into the empty ovens and kneading troughs, maddened with thirst and unable to move about on the heated ground. This plague, like the first, had been often witnessed by the Israelites in ordinary low Nile floods, and the records again state that the magicians did in like manner with their enchantments. The frogs died out of the houses, out of the courts, and out of the fields, and they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. This does not refer to the whole of Egypt but to the field of Zoan. Those of the Israelites who were settled along the lower reaches of the rivers suffered these plagues as well as the Egyptians, and they doubtless emigrated annually in August with their flocks and herds to the main settlements in the land of Goshen, where they had no canals in communication with the sea and where they had abundance of sweet water a few feet below the surface of the ground. It was with this water that they irrigated the cucumbers, the melons, the leaks, the onions, and the garlic which they often longed for in the wilderness. So far, no mention has been made of there having been
The frogs died out of the houses, out of the courts, and out of the fields, and they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. This does not refer to the whole of Egypt but to the field of Zoan. Those of the Israelites who were settled along the lower reaches of the rivers suffered these plagues as well as the Egyptians, and they doubtless emigrated annually in August with their flocks and herds to the main settlements in the land of Goshen, where they had no canals in communication with the sea and where they had abundance of sweet water a few feet below the surface of the ground. It was with this water that they irrigated the cucumbers, the melons, the leaks, the onions, and the garlic which they often longed for in the wilderness. So far, no mention has been made of there having been any difference between the difficulties of the Israelites and the Egyptians. The third plague of the sand-flies (called lice in the text, but sand-flies or fleas in the margin) and the fourth plague of flies may be considered as the insect pest, which takes us through the latter half of August and the whole of September. The ground was dry and parched and covered often with salt efflorescence, and as the water delayed in coming, the plague of sand-flies by night and midges by day began and was followed immediately after by that of the flies living on the heaps of dead frogs which corrupted the country. These plagues continued into October and November when the cold nights finally put an end to them. The sand-flies and midges in the aggregated form in which they appeared did not accompany ordinary low floods when limited amounts of fresh water furnished their way northwards, and it is stated that the magicians failed to perform this plague. It is not stated that there was any difference between the field of Zoan and the land of Goshen in the matter of sand-flies, but it is distinctly stated that the plague of flies was confined
August and the whole of September. The ground was dry and parched and covered often with salt efflorescence, and as the water delayed in coming, the plague of sand-flies by night and midges by day began and was followed immediately after by that of the flies living on the heaps of dead frogs which corrupted the country. These plagues continued into October and November when the cold nights finally put an end to them. The sand-flies and midges in the aggregated form in which they appeared did not accompany ordinary low floods when limited amounts of fresh water furnished their way northwards, and it is stated that the magicians failed to perform this plague. It is not stated that there was any difference between the field of Zoan and the land of Goshen in the matter of sand-flies, but it is distinctly stated that the plague of flies was confined to the field of Zoan which would follow naturally from there being no dead fish and no dead frogs in the land of Goshen. The fifth plague of murrain of cattle and the sixth plague of boils breaking forth upon man and upon beast may be considered as the plagues of animals and men following upon the drinking of impure and contaminated water. The murrain is a disease prevalent in Egypt among cattle, especially buffaloes, and known as barbone. In the bulletin of this institute for 1889 is an article by our President, Piot Bey, from which the following extracts are taken: "Barbone is practically unknown in Upper Egypt, and in Lower Egypt it appears wherever the following conditions are fulfilled: (1) If the drinking water has to be obtained from a small canal full of aquatic plants and the water nearly stagnant. (2) In the low-lying marsh region where the drinking water is obtained from drains or infiltration. (3) If the canals are nearly dry. (4) When the water in flood returns to these same canals. " Under the existing perennial irrigation the disease is confined to the period from June to mid-November. Under the conditions of the old
of animals and men following upon the drinking of impure and contaminated water. The murrain is a disease prevalent in Egypt among cattle, especially buffaloes, and known as barbone. In the bulletin of this institute for 1889 is an article by our President, Piot Bey, from which the following extracts are taken: "Barbone is practically unknown in Upper Egypt, and in Lower Egypt it appears wherever the following conditions are fulfilled: (1) If the drinking water has to be obtained from a small canal full of aquatic plants and the water nearly stagnant. (2) In the low-lying marsh region where the drinking water is obtained from drains or infiltration. (3) If the canals are nearly dry. (4) When the water in flood returns to these same canals. " Under the existing perennial irrigation the disease is confined to the period from June to mid-November. Under the conditions of the old world basin irrigation the same conditions would have prevailed from August to December. I again quote from Piot Bey: "Barbone is not as deadly as cattle-plague, but like most of the plagues of Egypt, it comes suddenly and leaves as suddenly. It is rare that the malady rages more than a week in the same locality. Buffaloes and oxen alone are attacked, while horses, mules, donkeys, camels and sheep are immune. Death from septic poisoning follows in ten hours after the first symptoms. Rarely does any animal which is attacked recover." Of the fifth plague it is stated that the cattle of the children of Israel escaped altogether. As these were supplied with their drinking water from wells of fresh water and not from stagnant pools they would be free from this plague, as were all the cattle of Upper Egypt and Southern and Lower Egypt. The plague was confined, like the others, to the field of Zoan. Of the sixth plague of boils, Dr. Frank G. Madden gives this explanation: "The Nile boil is a particularly virulent and painful variety of boil, which flourishes along the whole length of the Nile valley in the late summer and which often
a week in the same locality. Buffaloes and oxen alone are attacked, while horses, mules, donkeys, camels and sheep are immune. Death from septic poisoning follows in ten hours after the first symptoms. Rarely does any animal which is attacked recover." Of the fifth plague it is stated that the cattle of the children of Israel escaped altogether. As these were supplied with their drinking water from wells of fresh water and not from stagnant pools they would be free from this plague, as were all the cattle of Upper Egypt and Southern and Lower Egypt. The plague was confined, like the others, to the field of Zoan. Of the sixth plague of boils, Dr. Frank G. Madden gives this explanation: "The Nile boil is a particularly virulent and painful variety of boil, which flourishes along the whole length of the Nile valley in the late summer and which often comes out in crops and lasts a very long time. In the damper months there is also a special prevalence of a combination of prickly heat, dirt, boils and scabies and other local domestic fauna, which gives rise to the condition known throughout Egypt as Hamza-en-Nil, which connotes anything from a mild attack of prickly heat to the most formidable skin eruption and infection imaginable; the sovereign remedy for which is rubbing with a slice of watermelon which the Bible mentions as existing in the land in those days." This boil was probably what was known later as the boil of Egypt. In a year of very low flood, with its long continued absence of green food and pure water, this plague must have raged in the crowded villages of the field of Zoan. The seventh plague was hail. I have been in Egypt for thirty years and have seen but one fall of hail, and that was in April 1888, just south of Lake Buhrollos in the same latitude as the field of Zoan. Mr. H. E. Hirst, the head of the Meteorological Department of Egypt, has kindly supplied me with information about hail, from which I have learned
a mild attack of prickly heat to the most formidable skin eruption and infection imaginable; the sovereign remedy for which is rubbing with a slice of watermelon which the Bible mentions as existing in the land in those days." This boil was probably what was known later as the boil of Egypt. In a year of very low flood, with its long continued absence of green food and pure water, this plague must have raged in the crowded villages of the field of Zoan. The seventh plague was hail. I have been in Egypt for thirty years and have seen but one fall of hail, and that was in April 1888, just south of Lake Buhrollos in the same latitude as the field of Zoan. Mr. H. E. Hirst, the head of the Meteorological Department of Egypt, has kindly supplied me with information about hail, from which I have learned that in the 38 years between 1876 and 1912, hail fell in Cairo twelve times, but none of the falls were serious. Two of the falls were in October and the remaining ten between February and April. In February 1912 destructive hail fell in parts of Dakahlia, the old field of Zoan. Though I have not seen destructive hail in Egypt, I frequently saw it in Northern India, where the standing crops of wheat and barley were completely destroyed on long narrow strips of land, with the edges of destruction occasionally on lines as straight as an engineer could have laid down. The largest hailstones I have seen in Northern India were that size one and a half inches in diameter which killed cattle standing in the open and beat down pea fowl taking shelter in trees. This seventh plague was probably in the month of January, for it says that the flax and barley were smitten, but the wheat and vetches escaped as they were not grown up. As there are no basins today in the field of Zoan it is difficult to tell with exactitude the dates on which the different crops were sown in antiquity; but this
of Zoan. Though I have not seen destructive hail in Egypt, I frequently saw it in Northern India, where the standing crops of wheat and barley were completely destroyed on long narrow strips of land, with the edges of destruction occasionally on lines as straight as an engineer could have laid down. The largest hailstones I have seen in Northern India were that size one and a half inches in diameter which killed cattle standing in the open and beat down pea fowl taking shelter in trees. This seventh plague was probably in the month of January, for it says that the flax and barley were smitten, but the wheat and vetches escaped as they were not grown up. As there are no basins today in the field of Zoan it is difficult to tell with exactitude the dates on which the different crops were sown in antiquity; but this elucidation of the time seems to be an effort of some scribe who lived in Palestine or Syria, where barley and flax on one hand and wheat and vetches on the other are sown deliberately at different intervals of time, as distinct from the basin lands of Egypt where the seedsman follows up the retreating water of the basin and throws his seed broad-cast on the slime. Occasionally, wheat follows ploughing but the interval of time is small, and the vetches, owing to the milder winter, are not delayed as they are in Syria. This text is to my mind in keeping with the one which adds bitumen to the pitch with which Moses’ ark was smeared. In the field of Zoan today the wheat and barley if sown early, are put in on November 25; and if late, up to the 10th of January. As the field of Zoan was immediately south of Lake Menzaleh and the Mediterranean, the hailstorm fell severely there; while the land of Goshen, lying further south and separated from the former by a wide stretch of desert, escaped. The plague of hail was in no way connected with the low Nile flood, and could