6

HISTORY OF

Egypt. When the water has risen to a certain height, the Khalig, orgrand canal, is opened, by which it is conveyed, by a prodigious numberof smaller canals, into reservoirs and cisterns, to be distributed among thefields and gardens as it is wanted. To determine when it has attainedto this height, a pillar, called a Nilometer, is erected in an island oppositeCairo, and divided into picks, a measure of about two feet. The follow-ing is the account given of it by Baron de Tott:

" The progress of the inundation is observed at the Nilometer, situatedat the southern point of the island of Rhoda, opposite Old Cairo. Publiccriers, distributed in each quarter of the capital, every day make knownto the people the rising of the waters, till they are come to the heightproper for opening the canal, by which they are conveyed to the middleof the city, and the cisterns. But this moment cannot be ascertainedwith precision, because superstition prevents the eye of curiosity fromapproaching the graduated column. Placed in the centre of the basonof the Nilometer, the cry of Oof-Allah , which signifies, God has kepthis promise, proclaims the opening of this canal. Children bearingstreamers of different colours accompany the crier, and diffuse a generaljoy at the certainty of plenty.

" Sultan Selim, after having conquered Egypt, gave it laws, established anew form of government, and decreed that this kingdom, now become aprovince of his vast empire, should be only liable to a tribute, when theincrease of the Nile should be sufficient for opening the canal; as, in fact,it is only then that the waters suffice for the want of agriculture. This iswhat takes place every year. But it is not merely this degree of increasethat yields the greatest plenty; to produce that, the waters must reachthe foot of the mountains; and then it is that the criers proclaim, Minel-Dgebel il-Dgebel y “ from one mountain to another.”

“ The ancient Egyptians had the barbarous custom of sacrificing ayoung girl to the Nile, when the waters rose to a sufficient height for6 opening