p.

3.
& a community. And since the comparatively modern irrigation
scheme - began & largely carried out by Kitchener - the development
must have been very rapid. The scheme consists of numerous
narrow canals, which run outwards on both sides - & then
from the canals run, in all directions, inumerable little
channels or ditches. And the entire system depends on the annual
flooding of the Nile. If this did not happen, the land would
be barren & just desert & there would be no cultivation.
And if it were not for the canals, the flooding would just
devastate the land. As it is, the canals contain the entire
flow, when it happens - & that is the water supply for
the land, for the year. Machinery, practically speaking, does not
exist - the flooding is natural, & then the water is transferred
from the channels to the land, by means of primitive
pumps, worked by hand. And the ploughing is done by oxen.
And at the point where the irrigation ceases, the soils cuts
off in a sharp defind line, & immediately becomes desert
& as far as the eye can see & for hundreds of miles beyond.
It seems amazing that the very existence of an entire country
& population should depend on one river, & the fact
that from several thousands of miles away, this river is
caused to flood along its entire length, reliably, [inelligible]
& at the same time each year - & never more than
once in the year. But, I think an annual rainfall is a
much better arrangement.
The next thing was that we arrived at Memphis. I suppose darling,
I must attempt to describe what I saw here & at Sahara. I suppose
you will have read about Egyptian sculpture & carving & even
about those few parts of it which I saw - but I have no
idea whether you approve of it or are interested in it.
You must be interested, I imagine - I most certainly