398 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Photograph from Kodak (Egypt), Ltd. 



AN ORIENTAL VERSION OF THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET 



The shaduf is a familiar sight along the banks of the Nile and the canals. The water basket 

 of woven reeds is balanced by a counterweight of mud. 



Water-buffalo, oxen, and camels are the 

 chief work animals on the farms ; most of 

 the horses and donkeys in Egypt are 

 owned by the townspeople. 



While the milk of goats, cows, and 

 camels is used, the fellah depends mostly 

 on the water-buffalo for his milk supply. 

 This ugly, awkward beast requires less 

 food and gives more milk than the cow 

 and is less susceptible to diseases. 



Few animals are raised for slaughter, 

 probably because of the unfavorable cli- 

 matic conditions. Turkeys and chickens 



are numerous, but domestic ducks and 

 geese are rare. Around the margins of 

 the lagoons, however, and in the Nile 

 Delta waterfowl, snipe, and other shore- 

 birds are abundant ; snipe are trapped in 

 great numbers — in so wasteful a manner 

 that police regulations now seek to protect 

 these birds. And you who know the Suez 

 trip will remember the amazing number 

 of flamingoes that rise and fly about as 

 your steamer passes through the Bitter 

 Lakes. 



Nile fish are fat and unsavory ; along 



