24 



tributaries to the main stream and no local precipitation in Nubia or 

 Egypt. 



The ancient Egyptians worshipped the Nile and the sun. All bene- 

 fits came from these two sources. The inscriptions on man}' of the 

 temples show the Nile in different phases of its discharge, and many 

 of the scenes pictured there represent the rulers or priests navigating 

 the river. Unfortunateh% the tourist seldom sees the Nile in flood. 

 Instead of a gigantic river he sees a sluggish stream of muddy, unin- 

 vitino- water. Its channels are tilled with many sand bars. Its banks 

 may be protected l)v riprapping; they may be rocky or sandy to the 

 water's edge, or supporting a luxurious growth of wheat, clover, or 

 beans. As the river falls crops are planted wherever possible to the 

 water's edge until extreme low- water level is reached. The tourist 

 observes shadufs and other water-raising devices by thousands, ])ut 

 unless he travels otherwise than by boat he has but little opportunity 

 to examine these curious devices for carrA'ing water over the high 

 banks of the Nile, nor does he see much of the land which is watered 

 in this way. He often leaves Egypt without understanding why the 

 Nile should be known as the Father of Rivers and one of the most 

 remarkat)le in the world. To an American it looks like the Missouri 

 below Omaha at low water. The similarity would be even more strik- 

 ing if the bluff's bordering the Missouri were barren sand hills instead 

 of being covered with vegetation. 



The low-water period of the Nile continues until the middle of July. 

 The critical season is between the middle of May and the middle of 

 July. The sun shines from a cloudless sky and the air is filled Avith 

 dust. Land not perennially irrigated'' is cracked with heat and thor- 

 ouohlv sun baked. Both man and beast suffer for water except where 

 the Nile, the perennial canals, or wells can be easil}^ reached. Even 

 the branches of the Nile in the delta are practically dry in many places, 

 the water all being diverted at the barrage or pumped from the chan- 

 nels of the river lielow this structure. During the first part of July 

 all are anxiously awaiting the first appearance of high water. About 

 the 12th or loth of August the basins of Upper Egypt begin to receive 

 water. The canals for perennial irrigation in both Upper and Lower 

 Egypt are then running bank full and everyone is irrigating the crops 

 so lately threatened with drought. 



About the 1st of September the Nile is a mighty torrent, having 

 increased from 12,000 cubic feet per second to 400,000 cubic feet per 

 second or more. Upper Egypt, with the exception of the land peren- 

 nially irrigated, is a lake dotted with island villages for thirty to forty- 

 five days. After thirty days have expired people are anxious for signs 

 of retreating waters and eagerly await reports from Assuan and other 



« Lands along deep canals which always carry water are irrigated throughout the 

 year, hence the terms "perennially irrigated," "perennial irrigation," etc. 



