MacNamara diary, 19 August 1916-29 May 1919 / John Patrick MacNamara - Page 44
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[Page 44]
of ploughing are very crude being the same as used thousands of years ago. It is drawn by 2 oxen, an ox & a camel or even by a single camel. The plough itself is of wood but some have an iron ploughshare. The handle is a single piece of wood about 3 feet long. [Sketch]
The mainbar & the ploughshare are generally in one piece. As the soil in the Delta area is so very easy to work their ploughs are effective enough. They don't turn the soil over but simply tear through it.
Considering the primitiveness of their implements they achieve some good results. When ploughing is finished the natives go over the field with hoes breaking the clods.
About 30 miles from Moascar is Tel-el-Kebar which used to be the main Australian Camp prior to the infantry going to France. There were some thing like 100,000 men in March.