25 



places. It is believed that if the water stands on the land more than 

 forty days insects will be plentiful and crops will be i^artially destro3^ed. 

 By prolonged high water the planting season is much dela3'ed and the 

 harvest extended into the hot spring months, which greatly reduces 

 the yield. The basins, however, can not be drained until the Nile 

 begins to fall. During all this time the levees must be watched and 

 an army of men working without compensation is called out for this 

 dut}'. About the 1st of October the flood is generally over and the 

 basins begin to empt}'. This is not only a diflicult operation in itself, 

 but the volume of water turned back into the Nile causes high water 

 on the lower reaches of the river and lengthens the period during 

 which the banks have to be guarded. In the delta the Nile runs above 



BANK OF RIVER 



Fig. 3. — Spur to prevent tTosion of river banks. 



the level of the surrounding agricultural lands and a breach of one of 

 the emV)ankments means an immediate overflow of the neighboring 

 country. 



Changes take place in the channel of the Nile during each season of 

 high water. Often the current will change, and where there had 

 formerly been a gradual slope and considerable agricultural land 

 a steep, caving bank will remain. The lowlands and the 1)anks of the 

 Nile which are farmed each year vary considerably in area from one 

 season to another. The agricultural land adjacent to the river is 

 perennially irrigated, and therefore highly productive. In addition, 

 the Nile banks are lined with )>uildings and expensive pumping 

 machiner3^ To protect the land and improvements the government 



