Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][merged small]

spoke of could give us the ability to see ourselves as others see us (all except our sweethearts, mothers, and wives) we would be the stalest, flattest, deadest, most good-for-nothing creatures that ever tried to put one foot before the other. The power would be as disastrous to worthy endeavor as the reflection in the bottom of a new tin pan is to beauty. Boasting about one's physical feats, however, is another thing.

We got home in time for the dinner that Hyasi had ready; and that night we dreamed of a terrific encounter between the gods of ancient and modern history, and thought that Hanapepe Valley was the scene of the conflict. But we are still willing to say of this place what Emerson said of Yosemite, "It is one thing that comes up to the brag."

(To be continued.)

THE

AGRICULTURE IN EGYPT

BY GEORGE DONALDSON, PH. D.

HE questions and problems which present themselves to the farmers of America are usually not known to the Egyptian agriculturist, for he has no stony or shallow soil, no fertilization, no frosts, no drought, nor even any rain, to hinder the regular performance of his duties or the regular growth of his crops. To be sure, he has some difficulties to contend with, but, though laborious, they are of a simple nature and always the same. The chief one of these is the labor of raising water from the level of the Nile, or some canal which leads from it, to a trench of sufficient height to carry it to all parts of his fields. In the Delta, which forms a large part of Lower Egypt, this is a comparatively easy task, as the water must be raised only three or four feet, and is done either by cattle or by hand.

Perhaps the most primitive method of accomplishing this, which is still in use and may be frequently seen along the route from Alexandria to Cairo, is the katweh. Two men stand on opposite sides of a recess cut in the bank of the stream and hold a shallow, basket-work vessel, lined with leather, or some similar arrangement, swung between them by means of ropes. This is lowered into the water by means of a forward motion of the body and lowering the hands, and is raised by a reversed motion and swung to one side over a trough made in the mud to receive the water, which is there emptied by the stopping and slight tipping of the shallow bucket. From this trough a ditch runs through the field, which is always separated into small

squares or oblong divisions by ridges of earth that leave an opening at only one corner, where the water enters into a little ditch which is connected with the main ditch. Some system in the arrangement of these channels and enclosures brings water to every part of the field.

Another and more common method of raising the water in cases where the distance is small is by means of a vertical wheel six or eight feet in diameter and made with very large hollow felloes, which, being opened at one end, become filled in passing through the water at the bottom and do not empty the water until they begin to assume the horizontal position going over the top. A trough is so arranged as to catch this water and carry it out into the trenches. This wheel is turned by having its axle pass through another vertical wheel whose projecting spokes serve as cogs and work into similar ones in a large horizontal wheel which is turned by a sweep. This is sometimes kept in motion by a camel, but more frequently by a water buffalo or a cow. These animals are always blindfolded, and this prevents their seeing whether the driver is in reach of them, for the one who acts in this capacity usually sits on the ground at one side, but sometimes sits upon the wheel just back of the animal, so as to be always in reach of it in case it stops. This arrangement is called the târbût.

Where water must be raised to greater height, there are modifications of both these plans in use. One is called the shaduf, and consists of two posts set about three feet apart with a bar across the top, over which is placed a pole with a weight at one end and a bucket, similar to the one already described, attached to the other end by means of a rope, like our old-fashioned well-sweep. It is worked in the same way; the rope is pulled down, so as to slip the bucket into the water, and the weight of the other end lifts it to the surface. It is not usual to raise water more than about eight feet by this method. Sometimes, however, there are several shadufs, one above another, where the water must be raised.

to a greater height, as is often the case, when the Nile is low, as in Upper Egypt. The other is a sakiyeh, and differs from the târbût only in having, instead of the hollow felloes in the wheel, a band composed of two ropes with crosssticks, to which are bound, by ropes about either end, little earthen pots. These may be lowered to an indefinite distance by lengthening the ropes, and come up full of water, which in passing over the wheel they pour out into a trough in the same manner as the hollow felloes of the târbût. As grease is never used upon this machinery the creaking and groaning may often be heard a long distance.

Round about Cairo almost every garden has its well, 'which being dug to the level of the Nile always contains water, and the sakiyeh is the universal means of lifting the water to the surface. It is always shaded by a sycamore or some other spreading tree, and is the favorite resort of the laborers when they seek to escape from the scorching sun, which is seldom dimmed by a cloud.

The other implements of agriculture are very simple. The rich, sandy, alluvial soil is easily stirred, and this process is accomplished by a very rude and simple plow, which is composed of a shaft, or long pole, reaching from the yoke of the oxen back to the ground, where a sharpened piece is affixed to its lower side and serves as the point, or plowshare, to dig into the soil. A perpendicular stick, or post, with a peg in the top for a handle, completes the instrument, except where an iron cap is slipped on over the wooden point to make it more durable and useful. With this plow the soil is stirred up, being crossed and recrossed until the whole piece is gone over about three times, when it is deemed ready for the seed; and that is covered in by dragging a beam crosswise over the ground.

The grass or grain is cut close to the ground with a sickle, or else is pulled up, as is done with barley and some other crops. The Egyptians never make hay, although the sun always shines, for they have green feed the year round.

« AnteriorContinuar »