Chapter I: Preface

The publication of Sir William Garstin’s monumental work on the “Basin of the Upper Nile” is an event of such importance in the history of the Nile that the occasion should not be lost of bringing Lombardini’s work on the Nile to date. The information utilised by me in this book as far as the Upper Nile is concerned is obtained from Sir William’s Report; for the Blue Nile and Atbara I am indebted to M. Dupuis’ interesting appendix at the end of Sir William’s Report; and for the river north of Khartum to my own studies and surveys. As Sir William employed Capt. H.G. Lyons, R.E. to collaborate with him, the references to the works of previous writers and geographical details may be accepted without any misgivings. To M. Chélu Bey, Director of the Government Press, I am indebted for his ever ready aid; to Mr. Hansard of the Survey Department for the plates accompanying this work; and to Mr H.G.F. Beadnell, F.G.S, F.R.G.S, for having kindly written the description of the Egyptian oases and the geology of Egypt which form the fifth chapter of this book.

W. WILLCOCKS.

_Cairo, 12-10, 1904._

THE NILE IN 1904.

SUBJECT MATTER.

CHAPTER I. _The Nile_--(Page 11).

1. Introduction.
2. Nomenclature.
3. Description of the course of the Nile.
4. Slopes and velocities of the Nile in its different reaches.
5. Catchment basins of the Nile and its tributaries.
6. The climate of the Nile valley.
7. The geology of the Nile valley.
8. The discharges of the Nile and its tributaries.

CHAPTER II. _The tributaries of the Nile_--(Page 26).

9. Lake Victoria Nyanza.
10. The Victoria Nile.
11. The Semliki river.
12. Lake Albert Nyanza.
13. The Albert Nile.
14. The Gazelle river.
15. The Zeraf river.
16. The Sobat river.
17. The Sudd region.
18. The White Nile.
19. The Blue Nile.
20. The Atbara.
21. The Nile from Khartoum to Assuân.
22. The Nile from Assuân to the Barrage.
23. The Rosetta and Damietta Branches.

CHAPTER III. _The utilisation of the Nile_--(Page 56).

24. The Nile in flood.
25. The Nile in low supply.
26. Nile water.
27. The soil of the Nile Valley.
28. Basin irrigation.
29. Perennial irrigation.
30. Flood protection.

CHAPTER IV. _Projects_--(Page 73).

31. Projects.
32. The raising of the Assuân dam.
33. The Wady Rayan reservoir and escape.
34. The Albert Lake and Nile project.
35. Flood protection for Egypt.
36. Complete project for water storage and flood control.
37. Sir William Garstin’s projects.
38. The conversion of basin to perennial irrigation.
39. Development of the Sudan.