DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4995#0075
LECTURE ON EGYPT. 47
I may observe that this same principle of conserving
flood waters, so as to avoid mischief by drought or
inundations, is peculiarly applicable to the valley of the
Severn. No part of England would profit so much by
the establishment of several Lake Harrises in the Welsh
mountains to retain a portion of the winter floods, and
provide a summer flow.
Near to Lake Mseris was the famous building of the Labyrinth,
Labyrinth, which Strabo and Herodotus describe as
having 8,000 halls and chambers, with courts and
entrances in proportion. Very feAv remains exist of
either the Lake or the Labyrinth.
I will now describe the mode of raising water for irrigation,
irrigating the land of Egypt, which is by one of the
four following methods.
1st. The Natala, the least used, and only for raising
water to a small height, is worked by two men, swinging
a basket by ropes.
2nd. The Shadoof is formed of two posts, about
six feet high, and four feet apart, with a palm-tree
pole placed horizontally across the toj); to this a lever
is secured by ropes, having at one end a balance
weight, and at the other a leathern bucket, attached
by a long palm stick. The bucket is pulled down to
the water and filled, and the balance weight then lifts
it to the required height. If the river bank is high,
two or more of these are used, one above the other, to
raise the water to the level of the land. The usual
height of each lift is from eight to nine feet, and each
I may observe that this same principle of conserving
flood waters, so as to avoid mischief by drought or
inundations, is peculiarly applicable to the valley of the
Severn. No part of England would profit so much by
the establishment of several Lake Harrises in the Welsh
mountains to retain a portion of the winter floods, and
provide a summer flow.
Near to Lake Mseris was the famous building of the Labyrinth,
Labyrinth, which Strabo and Herodotus describe as
having 8,000 halls and chambers, with courts and
entrances in proportion. Very feAv remains exist of
either the Lake or the Labyrinth.
I will now describe the mode of raising water for irrigation,
irrigating the land of Egypt, which is by one of the
four following methods.
1st. The Natala, the least used, and only for raising
water to a small height, is worked by two men, swinging
a basket by ropes.
2nd. The Shadoof is formed of two posts, about
six feet high, and four feet apart, with a palm-tree
pole placed horizontally across the toj); to this a lever
is secured by ropes, having at one end a balance
weight, and at the other a leathern bucket, attached
by a long palm stick. The bucket is pulled down to
the water and filled, and the balance weight then lifts
it to the required height. If the river bank is high,
two or more of these are used, one above the other, to
raise the water to the level of the land. The usual
height of each lift is from eight to nine feet, and each