Prevention and Eradication 



55 



of irrigation in Upper and Middle Egypt and in tbe southern half 

 of the Delta. In the fields it is not an uncommon sight to see the 

 water being lifted from deep wells by means of Persian wheels or 

 " sakias," as they are termed in Egypt, driven by one or two 

 blindfolded animals : usually buffaloes, but sometimes camels and 

 bullocks (fig. 24). The "sakia" consists of a vertical wheel carrying 

 an endless rope, slung with earthen pots or buckets which dip into 



Fig. 21.- a 



use in Llie lields 



the water. On its axle is a rough wooden-cogged wheel actuated 

 by another cog-wheel placed horizontally. This wheel is moved by 

 a pole fixed at one end to the axle and at the other to the neck 

 of the animal being used to turn it. 



According to Mr. Crawley there are five thousand two hundred 

 and fifty-five " sakias," and two thousand two hundred and ninety 

 wells with engines and pumps, drawing subsoil water in fields in 

 the Lower Egypt Irrigation Inspectorate. 



