June 1, 1885.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



NOTES ON EGYPTIAN AGRICULTURE. 503 



as well as rice, space will not permit to treat, but should the present 

 price for cotton abate, the European capital in the country may be then 

 attracted by these important staples. 



Weeds growing on a fallow field perish completely in the summer 

 from the heat. Hasheesh, " the weed," is well known ; when dry it 

 loots like a bunch of thyme. The natives smoke a few of the leaves 

 on their pipes, and after a few whiffs become affected and start for plea- 

 sant dreamland. The weed when green is pressed, and its inspissated 

 juice made up into little sticks and sweetmeats. It is taken after meals 

 to produce its full effect, but it is best never to touch it. Flowers are? 

 little grown and cared for, the practical fellah seeing no utility in what 

 cannot be eaten or sold. 



3. Animals. — The chief animal of modern as of ancient Egypt is 

 the camel ; far from being the affectionate creature represented, it is 

 exceedingly morose and dangerous, biting viciously, and kicking when 

 provoked in every possible direction, which, from its peculiar confor- 

 mation, it is enabled to do. An enraged camel tearing about is by no 

 means rare in the streets of Cairo. In their excesses of passion they 

 frequently dangerously wound and sometimes kill people. As a carry- 

 ing animal in the desert its utility is unbounded, but its merits in towns 

 are not so shining ; it often slips on the wet roads when loaded, breaking 

 its back. Transport, moreover, by camels in towns is not so cheap as 

 cartage, though the loads they will carry are tremendous ; four bales of 

 cotton, weighing 300 lbs. to 380 lbs. each, being frequently seen. The 

 camel is a very shy animal, only fully understood by the Bedouins ; it 

 does not breed in to^ns. The price of a camel averages from 10Z. to 12Z. ; 

 their food is principally chopped straw with a little burseem hay. The 

 dromedary bears the same relation to the camel as the race horse to the 

 cart-horse ; they have a very easy eight to ten miles an hour pace, and 

 cost about 20Z. 



The oxen and buffaloes are fine, large-sized, strong, draught animals, 

 and make good beef, though producing little milk. They have the 

 swaying neck, drooping sidelong gait of the camel, and are very docile. 

 They do not draw from the head but from the neck, the yoke passing 

 in front of a bony hump peculiar to them. Buffalo butter is white and 

 hard, with little flavour. Milk is chiefly obtained from a hardy little 

 race of goats, whose unnaturally distended udders are kept in bags by 

 the careful natives, so that no stray kids should milk them. 



The horses as companions and steeds are admirable, but of little use 

 comparatively for draught, being small and fiery. The Arabs spoil the 

 stride by training them to stop suddenly when at full gallop, pulling 

 them on their haunches and checking them with a very cruel curb. To 

 show their skill they will dash at full speed against a dead wall, reining 

 up and turning suddenly when a few inches from it. The Arab horse's 

 paces are the walk, amble, canter, and gallop — trot they have none ; 

 many are trained to walk in the camel fashion, by having each fore and 



\oh. v. 3 G 



