The Egyptian Western Desert: Water, Agriculture ...
19
and salination of agricultural lands. Thereby, it affects the production of agricultural
crops and new business opportunities for all the young people.
5.3 Pottery
The population there are also excellent in the use of the environmental elements,
such as the mud soil in the houseware industry (pottery industry). Clay pot is used in
cooking and storage of ghee after milking sheeps or cows. It is also used in decorative
objects inside and outside the house. Also, it is common to drawings on the walls
of houses are popular among the oasis population. It reflects the various events in
family life, namely, as the ancient Egyptian did on the walls of temples.
The importance of pottery is also observed in the drinking water conservation.
The water is placed in Mazira (meaning water jar) where the pores found in pottery
works on water purification from impurities and helps to protect the health of the
rural community. The abandonance of such environmental industry exposes the oasis
population to health and physical risks. These pots are still used in everyday life.
For example, we find Mahlaba (milking bowl) in which milk is placed. Manfaha
(meaning rennet) is used in the fermentation of milk, and Baklaya or Bulas (big jar
with small opening from the top while it is wider at the bottom) is used in preserving
the old cheese, which is one of the most important elements of food saved for rural
people in general in the Egyptian countryside. The matter is different for the usage of
ovens called Tabuna inside the houses, which was recently replaced to electric oven.
This has led to an increase in the agricultural residues that were used by women
to warm-up the oven. These residues are rice straw, animal and bird residues that
contribute to thermal energy. This also led to the spread of predatory animals that
threaten the environment, in addition to the environmental pollution resulting from
these wastes.
One of the natural materials extracted from local environmental sources in the
ground is called Gleez. It is a color material of high-quality to paint pottery tools
instead of importing them from abroad, which costs the government a lot of hard
currency. This is reflected in the price of the product. The material used in the
manufacturing of roofs is called Armid. It is strong and durable material, adaptive
to desert climatic conditions.
6 Women’s Life and Activities
In the oases, elder women are still keen to keep the uniforms of the oases called Kitany.
In some rural villages, they make them by their own hands. The basic uniform is
black and decorated with strings colored in red, yellow and blue at the front of the
chest till the bottom. The uniforms are generally wide from the bottom, to conceal
the bottom parts of woman’s body.
19
and salination of agricultural lands. Thereby, it affects the production of agricultural
crops and new business opportunities for all the young people.
5.3 Pottery
The population there are also excellent in the use of the environmental elements,
such as the mud soil in the houseware industry (pottery industry). Clay pot is used in
cooking and storage of ghee after milking sheeps or cows. It is also used in decorative
objects inside and outside the house. Also, it is common to drawings on the walls
of houses are popular among the oasis population. It reflects the various events in
family life, namely, as the ancient Egyptian did on the walls of temples.
The importance of pottery is also observed in the drinking water conservation.
The water is placed in Mazira (meaning water jar) where the pores found in pottery
works on water purification from impurities and helps to protect the health of the
rural community. The abandonance of such environmental industry exposes the oasis
population to health and physical risks. These pots are still used in everyday life.
For example, we find Mahlaba (milking bowl) in which milk is placed. Manfaha
(meaning rennet) is used in the fermentation of milk, and Baklaya or Bulas (big jar
with small opening from the top while it is wider at the bottom) is used in preserving
the old cheese, which is one of the most important elements of food saved for rural
people in general in the Egyptian countryside. The matter is different for the usage of
ovens called Tabuna inside the houses, which was recently replaced to electric oven.
This has led to an increase in the agricultural residues that were used by women
to warm-up the oven. These residues are rice straw, animal and bird residues that
contribute to thermal energy. This also led to the spread of predatory animals that
threaten the environment, in addition to the environmental pollution resulting from
these wastes.
One of the natural materials extracted from local environmental sources in the
ground is called Gleez. It is a color material of high-quality to paint pottery tools
instead of importing them from abroad, which costs the government a lot of hard
currency. This is reflected in the price of the product. The material used in the
manufacturing of roofs is called Armid. It is strong and durable material, adaptive
to desert climatic conditions.
6 Women’s Life and Activities
In the oases, elder women are still keen to keep the uniforms of the oases called Kitany.
In some rural villages, they make them by their own hands. The basic uniform is
black and decorated with strings colored in red, yellow and blue at the front of the
chest till the bottom. The uniforms are generally wide from the bottom, to conceal
the bottom parts of woman’s body.