INTRODUCTION. *li 



pond or "birket " left by the receding Nile in some cultivated land near the edge of 

 the desert, about 6 miles from Abu Tig. This was repotted to be swarming with fish, 

 as it had not been worked for a whole year, owing to the hostility of the fellaheen in 

 the neighbourhood, who complained of the damage clone to their crops near the pond 

 by the fishermen on a former occasion, and added " that if anyone came again to fish 

 in their ' birket ' they would resist to the utmost/' The Multazzim of Assiut thought 

 that as I was working in the district it would be a good opportunity to have another 

 try at the " birket/' but suggested that a mounted policeman had better go with us, in 

 case of any disturbance. The Multazzims of two other important fishing-stations in 

 the neighbourhood were informed of the plan and told to collect as many fishermen as 

 possible and to meet us at the appointed place on the following morning. 1 went to 

 Abu Tig overnight by train, with the Multazzim of Assiut, and early in the morning 

 we set out and arrived at the meeting-place after riding about two hours over rough 

 ground^ picking up our mounted policeman on the way. Our arrival, and the 

 appearance of about 200 fishermen, caused a considerable amount of consternation in 

 the villages near, and resulted in a large number of fellaheen collecting at the spot. 

 The sheikh of the village was interviewed and told that the fishermen would be 

 prevented as much as possible from damaging the crops* and he in turn explained this 

 to the people of the village, when a great deal of chatter ensued. I now thought w 7 e 

 might get to business* but was informed that a very important matter must first be 

 settled, viz,, how the money resulting from the sale of the catch was to be divided. 

 As this seemed likely to prove rather a lengthy affair, I suggested an adjournment to 

 some place comparatively quiet and shady, as the sun was becoming rather warm. 

 The three Multazzims, with their clerks and the head fishermen, formed the conference^ 

 whilst about fifty fishermen Were hanging about outside the magic circle, not only 

 jabbering incessantly among themselves* but pouring in a continual volley of advice, 



The members of the conference argued* quarrelled, and expostulated, whilst every 

 now and then one of the Multazzim s Would threaten to withdraw himself and his men* 

 whichj needless to say, he had no intention of doing, After about twenty minutes, 

 during which everyone talked at the same time* matters appeared to be satisfactorily 

 arranged; meanwhile one set of men, who had already started work, Were attacked 

 with stones by another set, and a free fight ensued, from which resulted not a few 

 broken heads. Peace Was restored by the help of the mounted policeman and a few 

 of the more orderly fishermen, and everyone set to work with a will. Nets were 

 dragged from one end of the pond to the other, and by 8 o'clock in the evening twenty 

 camel-loads of fish had been taken out, mostly small "Labiss " {Ldbeo niloticus), generally 

 called " Bisera " by the Arabs, As the supply of camels ran short, the last haul of fish 

 was left fastened up in the net, and some men remained behind to guard it, but during 

 the night, as I afterwards heard, the net was raided by the fellaheen and quantities offish 

 stolen. At nine o'clock I had had about enough of it and made my w 7 ay to the river, 



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