14 



surpassed in Egypt. Farmers are in their lields cultivating- the ground 

 and cleaning- away cotton stalks and other vegetation of the summer 

 season. Here and there are oxen pulling wooden plows and farmers 

 are cultivating by hand the land which can not be worked conveniently 

 in any other way. Along some of the canals water- raising machines 

 are in operation. Here and there two sturdy men are swinging a basket 

 and lifting water from a canal for the irrigation of nearby farms. 

 (See p. 44:.) Herds of water buffalo, cattle, sheep, and occasionally 

 horses can be seen grazing in the lields of clover. 



A number of large canals, many of which are branches of the Manu- 

 fia Canal, which leaves the Nile at the head of the delta, are seen from 

 the train. The Damietta branch of the Nile is crossed, and after pass- 

 ing a few small towns and crossing a deep canal, which has been com- 

 pleted since the occupation by the English, the Pyramids, 20 miles 

 awa}^, come into view, and Cairo is reached. 



Many interesting scenes can be witnessed in Cairo itself, showing- 

 the methods employed by farmers and gardeners. Between Cairo and 

 Old Cairo to the south are a number of small tracts of farming land 

 where the native may be seen at work. Across the river from (^airo 

 a trolley lino runs to the Pyramids of Gizeh. Along this for a distance 

 of 6 or T miles one can see farmers working in the lields almost an}^ 

 time. The farms spread out on either side resemble but little those 

 with which we are familiar in the United States. No fences are seen 

 and no houses have been provided on the farms themselves. The 

 farms are narrow, and it is impossible to use a mowing machine 

 or a })inder on some of them for this reason. Dwelling houses are 

 found only in the villages, except where perennial irrigation has been 

 practiced for many years. 



Early in December wheat and barley are just sprouting from the 

 ground in places while some lands are being prepared for the seed. 

 Clover and beans are usually well advanced. Corn is piled here and 

 there along the levees where it is to be husked during the later winter 

 months. The lields of clover on either side are dotted with buflalo 

 and other live stock. The farmer himself is a picture not to be for- 

 gotten. His long-flowing black or white gown, while not appearing 

 to be designed for the convenience of a laborer, lends attractiveness to 

 the farming scenes. 



The view from any point along the road to the Pyramids is full of 

 interest. To the east is the village of Gizeh, the Nile, and, beyond it, 

 Old Cairo and the hills of the Arabian Desert on the horizon. Either 

 to the north or south nothing can be seen but green fields, canals, 

 levees, and villages of sun-dried brick, sheltered by palms and other 

 trees. To the west is the Lybian Desert, the Pyramids of Gizeh, and 

 the Sphinx. The latter looks over the farming lands below and across 

 the Nile, as it has for 2,800 years. It is supposed to represent the 



