Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎59v] (118/176)

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weather message, to be transmitted by wireless for use in connection with the Cairo-
Bagdad air route.
345. At Helwan Observatory the large telescope was used on eighty nights
and 103 photographs were taken with it, most of them of nebulae. Observations
for time were made on sixty-two nights. General failures of the time signal
occurred twice during the year, but were not the fault of the Astronomical Service.
From the 15th June, the noon gun at the citadel ceased to be fired electrically from
the observatory and automatic firing has not yet been resumed. Observations of
wireless time signals from Lyons were made on nineteen nights in April and May
to redetermine the fundamental longitude of Egypt. The usual meteorological,
magnetic and seismological observations were made, as also those of solar radiation.
A new and highly sensitive Milne-Shaw seismograph was installed in November.
346. Important research work has been carried out in connection with the study
of the flow of water, principally with the object of improving the accuracy of measure
ments of the discharge of the Nile and its tributaries. Accounts of some of this
work have been published in departmental papers. The department collaborated
with the resident engineer of the Assouan dam in some important work on the use
of models as a means of predicting the dischargeof the full scale dam, and found that,
with some limitations, the discharge of the prototype could be predicted
from that of its model. In continuation of previous work they were able to extend
the measurement of the discharge of the Nile by means of the sluices of the dam to
flood conditions. This marks an advance in the study of the hvdrology of the Nile,
but final results are not yet available.
57. Zoological Department.
347. Visitors to the gardens numbered 370.034 compared with 423,590 in 1920
and 396,992 in 1918, the two years with the highest numbers. The decrease in 1921,
as compared with the previous year, was no doubt largely due to suspension of the
tramway service by slrikes, especially as these happened to coincide with holiday
times. The present extent of the collection is indicated by the figures for the annual
stocktaking, when 368 mammals, 855 birds, 223 reptiles. 27 batrachians and (in the
aquarium) 190 fishes were registered, making a total of 1,663 individuals. The total
number of forms represented is 354. An expedition to the Soudan, the first since
the war, brought back a number of valuable additions to the gardens. It is reported
that the Dorcas gazelle continues to hold its own both east and west of the Nile, but
it should be protected from the 15th February to the 1st August, and, in certain
districts, at all seasons of the year. On the other hand, the ibex and the few wild
sheep that linger in Upper Egypt are in danger of extermination, and it is difficult
to see how they can be preserved. The egrets (cattle egrets (Ardea ibis) and little
egrets {Ardea garzetta)) are firmly re-established. The resident Egyptian hoopoe
continues to increase, thanks to the protection given it by law and public opinion.
Nowadays the appearance of a crocodile in Egypt is an event. In 1920 it was reported
that three had been seen to pass the Assouan dam, two of which got through alive.
In the same year a living specimen was caught in Upper Egypt. It is possible that
this was one of the two creatures that were seen to have passed through the Assouan
sluices in safety, and in 1921 the adventures of its companion may also have come
to an end. For another, nearly seven feet in length, was captured by two fishermen
“ by means of hooks.” They took it to market at Esna where it was purchased by
the authorities and put on a'train for Cairo in charge of a policeman.
Chapter V.— Education.
58. General.
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348. The following tables show the attendance in January 1922 at the educa
tional establishments of all grades, (a) under the direct management of, and (b) under
inspection by, the Ministry of Education. The School of Law and the School for Cadis
(which are under the Ministry of Justice), the Schools of Agriculture and the
Veterinary School (which are under the Ministry of Agriculture), the Military School
(under the Ministry of War) and the Police School (under the Ministry of the
Interior) are not included in these statistics.