DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4995#0082
52 LECTURE ON EGYPT.
Crops. day. At this time a vast crowd of camels and donkeys,
with their drivers, accumulate by the roadside, and
the camels lie or rather sit down with their enormous
load of a fourth of a ton. The bridge opens, and the
crowding, rushing, shouting, and jostling of animals,
men, boys, and carriages are as amusing as a Lord
Mayor's Show.
By-the-bye, I must mention a peculiarity about the
tolls of this bridge. No charge is made to those who
use the roadway over the bridge, but a heavy charge
is made on boats which pass underneath it. I cannot
tell you why, and have never found anyone who could.
The crops on the farm I have described to you
receive waterings varying from two to eight in number,
each watering being equivalent to five inches in depth.
To provide for this supply, a large centrifugal pump,
capable of raising 2,000 gallons per minute from the
canal, is kept. Altogether the quantity of water
pumped and distributed on this estate is equal to the
average rainfall on a like area at Tewkesbury.
Lentils are a winter crop ; I hope I shall not be
prosecuted by Du Barry, if there be such a person, for
telling you that the famous ' Bevalenta Arabica' is
made entirely from the excellent lentils grown in
Egypt.
Cotton is grown on ' misgowey' or artificially watered
lands in the following manner :—After the ground is
ploughed, it is ridged, and dibbled, and the cotton sown.
When the young plant appears above the ground it
receives the first watering, and whenever it droops it
Crops. day. At this time a vast crowd of camels and donkeys,
with their drivers, accumulate by the roadside, and
the camels lie or rather sit down with their enormous
load of a fourth of a ton. The bridge opens, and the
crowding, rushing, shouting, and jostling of animals,
men, boys, and carriages are as amusing as a Lord
Mayor's Show.
By-the-bye, I must mention a peculiarity about the
tolls of this bridge. No charge is made to those who
use the roadway over the bridge, but a heavy charge
is made on boats which pass underneath it. I cannot
tell you why, and have never found anyone who could.
The crops on the farm I have described to you
receive waterings varying from two to eight in number,
each watering being equivalent to five inches in depth.
To provide for this supply, a large centrifugal pump,
capable of raising 2,000 gallons per minute from the
canal, is kept. Altogether the quantity of water
pumped and distributed on this estate is equal to the
average rainfall on a like area at Tewkesbury.
Lentils are a winter crop ; I hope I shall not be
prosecuted by Du Barry, if there be such a person, for
telling you that the famous ' Bevalenta Arabica' is
made entirely from the excellent lentils grown in
Egypt.
Cotton is grown on ' misgowey' or artificially watered
lands in the following manner :—After the ground is
ploughed, it is ridged, and dibbled, and the cotton sown.
When the young plant appears above the ground it
receives the first watering, and whenever it droops it