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rope at the other extremity。 In Egypt the weight at the short end is
merely a mass of clay tempered with chopped straw beaten together to
represent about 150 lbs。 or whatever may be required； this adheres； and
forms a knob to the end of the lever。
A man holds the long thin stick suspended at the other extremity to
which the bucket is attached； and pulls it down hand over hand until the
utensil is immersed in the water； when full； it is so nearly
counterbalanced by the weight at the end of the lever that a very slight
exertion raises it to the desired level； where it is emptied into a
receiver。 Many years ago； when at Gondokoro； I arranged a double shadoof
of parallel levers and two galvanised iron buckets of four gallons each；
worked by two men。 I timed the labour of this simple machine； and proved
that the two men delivered 3600 gallons within an hour。 The men exerted
themselves to a degree that could not have been continued throughout the
day； and the buckets； of English make； were far more capacious than the
simple leather stretched upon a hoop of sticks that is used in Egypt；
but there is no reason for such inferior adjuncts。 It may be safely
assumed that with proper appliances the double shadoof； worked by two
men； will deliver 2000 gallons an hour for a working day of six active
hours； or a total of 12；000 gallons。 In Cyprus the wages of a labourer
are one shilling a day； therefore the cost of raising 12；000 gallons
would be only two shillings； provided the water is only five feet from
the surface。 There are many portions of the Messaria plain where the
water is even nearer； but the shadoof could work profitably at six； and
even at eight feet； and it possesses the advantage of such extreme
cheapness of original cost that the outlay is insignificant。
Where fuel is expensive； and cattle and human labour cheap； the ancient
Egyptian water…wheel will deliver a supply at a cheaper rate than steam。
It has the merit of being always ready； there is no delay in lighting
fires and getting up the steam； there is no expensive engineer who may
be sick or absent when required； but the wheel is turned either by night
or day by mules or oxen； driven by a child。 Wind vanes might be attached
to this principle； and could be connected on favourable occasions。
The peculiarity throughout the lower levels in Cyprus （specially
exhibited in the plain of Messaria） of a water…supply within a few feet
of the surface； at the same time that the crops may be perishing from
drought； is in favour of the general adoption of the Egyptian wheel。
Although this simple construction is one of the oldest inventions for
raising water； and is generally understood； I may be excused for
describing it when upon the important topic of irrigation。
A large pit is sunk to about three feet below the level of the water；
and should the earth not be sufficiently tenacious for self…support； the
sides are walled with masonry； this pit would usually be about twenty
feet long； four feet wide； and twenty feet deep for a first…class wheel。
When the wooden wheel of about seventeen feet diameter has been fixed
upon its horizontal shaft； it is arranged with a chain of large earthen
jars； those of Egypt contain about three gallons each； but the Cyprian
pots are very inferior； scarcely exceeding the same number of quarts。
These jars are secured upon a double line of stiff ropes formed in
Cyprus of the long twisted wands of myrtle； which are exceedingly tough；
and are substitutes for willows in basket…work。 When completed； the
chain resembles a rope ladder； with the numerous jars sufficiently close
together to represent spokes separated by about sixteen inches。 This is
suspended over the edge of the wheel； and hangs vertically； the lower
portion of this necklace…like arrangement being about three feet below
the water； or as near the bottom as is possible with safety to the jars。
When the wheel turns the necklace of pots must of necessity obey the
movement； and as they dip successively and fill in the deep water； they
in turn rise to the surface with the revolutions of the wheel； upon
passing the centre they invert； and empty their contents into a large
trough connected with a reservoir capable of containing many hundred
hogsheads。 A circular chain or ladder of twenty feet diameter will
contain about twenty jars of three gallons eachequalling a delivery
of about two and a half gallons per jar； as there is generally a loss of
water during the movement； therefore one complete revolution of the
wheel would deliver fifty gallons into the reservoir。
The wheel is turned by a simple contrivance of wooden cogs and drivers；
worked by a long revolving lever； to which； for a powerful machine such
as I have described； a pair of mules or oxen would be necessary。 A child
sits upon the pole or lever and keeps the animals to their work。
There is no specified limit to the depth at which this instrument can
work； as it must depend upon the length of chain and the number of jars；
which of course increase the weight and strain upon the machinery and
animals。 In Cyprus； where the water is generally near the surface； the
advantages are obvious； and I feel convinced that no modern invention is
so well adapted for the Cypriote cultivator。
The cost of erection of such a machine complete； together with the
sinking of the pit； is calculated； at an average of localities； as 12
pounds； a pair of oxen will cost 10 pounds： thus the water…wheel in
working order will amount to 22 pounds。 One wheel will irrigate eighty
donums； or about forty acres of cereals； but the same instrument would
only suffice for about six acres of garden ground； which requires a more
constant supply of water。 It may therefore be understood that in
calculating the power of a water…wheel； various conditions must be
considered； and I shall confine myself to the farm； upon which it will
be necessary to establish one water…wheel or sakyeeah for every forty
acres； this entails a first outlay of eleven shillings per acre； and at
once ensures the crop and renders the farmer independent of the seasons。
But including the cost of constructing the numerous water…channels of
clay to conduct the stream to the desired fields； together with the
expense of erecting the reservoirs of masonry upon a sufficient scale； I
should raise the original outlay for irrigation by cattle…wheels to 20
shillings per acre （1 pound）。 This would include the services of a pair
of oxen for other work when the sakyeeah should not be required。* （*The
wheel I have described is double the power of those in general use in
Cyprus； where a single animal works the sakyeeah； and it would irrigate
a larger acreage。） According to this calculation； which exceeds by a
large margin the figures given to me by several native farmers； the
owner of a hundred acres must only expend 100 pounds to ensure his
annual crops！ To us this appears nothing； but to the Cypriote it is
everything。 Where is he to obtain one hundred pounds？ To him the sum is
enormous and overpowering。
In times of scarcity； which unfortunately are the general conditions of
the country； owing to the deficiency of rai