What farm implements and tools are in use are exceedingly primitive ; 

 chief amongst them appears to be the " fass " a heavy triangular hoe, with 

 which the bulk of the field work is done. The Egyptian plough is the old 

 Koman plough, still in use in India and Southern Europe ; it has a heavy wood 

 body, to which is attached a strong cultivator tine, which is made to tear 

 through the ground, frequently to considerable depths. The soil is merely 

 ridged, the sod not being turned ; and the work to be effective must be followed 

 immediately by a second ploughing given at right angles to the first. 



Another useful Egyptian implement is the " cassabia," or levelling scoop, 

 essential to a race of irrigationists. The fellah handles this levelling scoop 

 admirably ; with the aid of his eye alone he is able to level off perfectly his 

 seed-bed. 



The native threshing implement consists of a series of revolving discs fixed 

 to a sort of cart, which is dragged over the stalks of corn by oxen, both chaffing 

 the straw and treading out the grain in one and the same operation. It is 

 this chaffed straw which so inefficiently succeeds " berseem " as the summer 

 feed of live stock. 



Fortunately for Egypt its system of irrigation does not involve any high 

 lifting of water. The highest lift known on the river was stated to be about 

 60ft. In the majority of cases, however, at flood times the water flows over 

 the channels, and floods the prepared areas ; at the outside there may be a 

 lift of 4ft. to 6ft., which is carried out by native water-wheels and Archimedean 

 screws. There are many, however, who think that it would have been better 

 policy to force the fellah to raise his water to greater heights. This would 

 have forced upon him the use of a greater number of draught stock, the 

 manure from which would serve to enrich his land, and at the same time 

 helped to check him in that extravagant use of water, which appears to be 

 fast ruining the country. 



There is very little to be said in praise of the general live stock to be seen 

 about the country. Horses are never used in field work, and are practically 

 confined to city vehicles. Occasionally one sees a few fine carriage pairs ; 

 but the bulk are very light and weedy. 



Donkeys are the pride of Egypt, and are very numerous. I should not be 

 surprised that if a census were taken they were found quite to equal in numbers 

 the native population. Mules are frequently used as draught animals ; I was 

 not, however, impressed with either their size or quality. Camels are mainly 

 beasts of burden, and whilst superior to those of Aden, inferior to Tunisian 

 and Algerian camels. 



The work of the fields appears to be done almost exclusively by bulls and 

 bullocks and cow buffaloes. The bullocks are ungainly, badly built animals, 

 but in the whole heavier than might have been anticipated. They are very 

 leggy, and might readily be improved upon. Of the buffaloes, curiously 

 enough, none but cows are ever to be seen ; they are useful but ungainly 

 B 



