130 SYLVICULTURE IN THE TROPICS n .n 



which is employed almost everywhere where the shadoof 

 is found. The groan of the sakia is one of the most 

 familiar sounds on the banks of the Nile. The sakia is 

 usually worked by bullocks or other draught animals, 

 but where the current is strong enough the latter is 

 used as motive power. 



The most common pattern of sakia consists of a large 

 coo-o-ed drum placed over the mouth of a well or over- 

 hanging a bank, bearing an endless rope to which, at 

 distances apart, earthenware or tin vessels are attached, 



Fig. 25. 



which each in turn scoop up the water and bring it to 

 the top of the drum, where it is poured into a trough 

 whence it is led away. The distances between the 

 vessels will depend on the height of the lift ; with a 

 high lift a large number of vessels filled with water 

 would be too heavy to raise. The drum is set in motion 

 by a cogged wheel revolving horizontally and turned 

 by means of a lever by a pair of oxen. Fig. 25 shows 

 one type of sakia, but in Egypt, where the drum is^ 

 usually thrust out as far as possible to be well clear of 

 the bank, the latter does not bear the cogs, but they are 

 placed on a cogged wheel at the end of the extend. -d 

 axle of the drum. This axle is extended horizontally 



