48 VOYAGE UP THE NILE, 
CHAP. ^E ^^' MANY WATERS." In the directions given 
, ^^- for charity by the son of David, it is Avritten', 
"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for 
thou shalt find it after many days." 
When the rice-plants are about two feet high. 
Method of they are transplanted. Besides the method of 
tciftShe raising water into the high grounds near the 
^iie. river, by means of buckets fastened to a wheel, 
where the land is not much elevated above the 
surface of the Nile, they use a simple, and pro- 
bably a very antient contrivance", of lifting it in 
*a basket lined perhaps with close matting or 
with leather^ Two men, holding the basket 
between them, by a cord in each hand fastened 
to the edge of it, lower it into the Nile, and then 
swing it between them until it acquires a velo- 
city sufficient to enable them to throw the 
(l) Ecclesiastes xi. 1. 
(3) See the Vignette to this Chapter. They wlio are interested in 
tracing resemhlances between the customs of the Chinese and Egyp. 
tians, may be informed that this manner of irrigating land, which 
certainly possesses something of singularity, is practised upon the 
rivers in China, without the smallest difference. An engraved repre- 
sentation of it is given in the account of Lord Macartney's Embassy. 
See vol. II. p. 359. Lond. 1797. 
(3) Those baskets are made capable of containing water without 
lining. " The Mahrea Arabs have the art of making wicker baskets 
of so close a texture, that they carry in them, milk, water, and 
bouza." See Note to p. 189 of Browne's Travels, Lond. 1799. 
