70 



NORTH-EAST AFRICA. 



found to coincide witli those published by the naturalists of the French expedition, 

 and with the uninterrupted series of modern observations. At the same time the 

 floods oscillate within certain extreme limits. Sometimes there is insufficient 

 water to supply all the canals, while in other years the overflow is excessive, and 

 on these occasions the land does not dry soon enough to insure good harvests. 



The rate of the land-tax generally varies according to the height and volume 

 of the river. Hence the public crier appointed to proclaim the state of the 



Fiff. 25. — Yearly Oscillations of the Nile. 



inundations has often been compelled by the Government to make false reports on 

 this point. The day when the Nile reaches the proper level for cutting the dykes 

 separating it from the irrigation canals is a day of rejoicing for all the riverain 

 populations. Formerly a young maiden was on this occasion borne with great 

 pomp to the river and cast into the seething waters, in order to obtain abundant 

 crops from the local divinity. Now her place is taken by a dressed-uj) doll, which 

 is still offered by the public executioner, a curious reminiscence of former human 

 sacrifices. 



