39 

 CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF CANALS AND LEVEES. 



Nearly all large public works in Egypt have been constructed by the 

 corvee (See p. 74.) The system was much abused when the English 

 began their occupation in 1882. As soon as possible some relief was 

 afforded the corvee by direct appropriations, under which a part of 

 those employed on pul)lic works were paid for their labor at a price 

 fixed ])y the government. These appropriations were increased until 

 in 1889 all work of cleaning canals was paid for. Since that time the 

 corvee has been called out only for the protection of the Nile levees 

 during flood season, a period of from sixty to ninety days. While thou- 

 sands of men are thus compelled to give their time without compensa- 

 tion, it is for the public benefit, and the length of their service is short, 

 seldom longer than fifteen or twenty days. But little complaint is now 

 heard, as the work is necessary and the service must ])e compulsory to 

 be eflicient. The time will doubtless come when this service will also 

 be paid for. 



The manner in which the native digs or cleans canals is interesting. 

 His one tool, which resembles a hoe, is illusti-ated in the accompanying 

 sketch (fig. T). The engineers measure the material which is to be 

 removed, and each man or party 

 excavates a certain section contain- 

 ing a known yardage. (PI. III). 

 Frequently a number of men will 

 work together, one using a hoe and 

 the others carrving Imskets holding ^ _ „ , ^ .. , 



^ ^ ^ Fig. I. — Hoe used by native farmer. 



about half a cubic foot of earth. 



The earth is loosened and the baskets filled by the use of the hoe. 

 Where dry .sand is encountered the hands are used to fill these baskets. 

 Children are often seen carrying the baskets, but the hoe is nearly 

 always handle<l by the men. Under this method of excavation canal 

 sections are made smoother and more regular than under the methods 

 commonly employed in the United States. Steps of earth are left in 

 the banks, enal)ling those carrying material to walk with considerable 

 ease. On the smaller canals and laterals the earth is often loosened 

 with the hoe and thrown out by hand. Sometimes it is necessary to 

 clean these when a foot or more of water is standing in them, in 

 which case the material, if plastic, can be easily handled. Where the 

 banks are higher, the earth mav be thrown bv a man in the bottom of 

 the ditch to another on the bank, and by him pitched out. 



Near Medinet el Fayum a photograph was secured of a number of 

 natives cleaning a small ditch. (PI. IX, fig. 2.) The soil was a black 

 loam, thoroughly saturated with water. The men loosened the mate- 

 rial with their hoes where necessar}' and removed it by hand. The 

 material was sufliciently plastic so that each handful retained its form 



