AKD LOWER EGYPT. .^I^ 



by a steep shore or mountains of rocks, are never 

 agitated by the conflict of a rapid current and the 

 impetuosity of the wind, but flow along smoothly 

 and unimpeded, between two low and slimy banks, 

 against which the boats are in no danger of being 

 dashed to pieces. 



The farmers of this part of Egypt never employ- 

 ed for the watering of their land the same swipe- 

 levers which are to be seen above Cairo. Industry 

 has there made a greater progress. They make use 

 of a sort of wheel with a chain-pump, which is 

 turned by oxen, and which, raising the waters of 

 the Nile, diffuse them over the plains or the adja- 

 cent gardens. But whether it be that the construc- 

 tion of these hydraulic machines, although exceed- 

 ingly simple, appears too expensive to be under- 

 taken by husbandmen in general, or whether they 

 are unwilling to multiply them, being only employ- 

 ed for temporary waterings ; I saw them put in 

 practice besides another sufficiently singular mode 

 of conducting the water over the cultivated lands. 

 Two men seated on the bank of the river, at a 

 certain distance from one another, hold each the 

 end of a rope, in the middle of which is fixed a 

 couffeox basket of rushes ; by means of a constant 

 balancing motion which they give the cord, the 

 basket is filled with water, and at the extremity of 



the 



