"Now I shall tell that which has happened to me, to my very self. I was
going to the mines of Pharaoh, and I went down on the Sea[15] on a ship
of 150 cubits long and 40 cubits wide, with 150 sailors of the best of
Egypt, who had seen heaven and earth, and whose hearts were stronger
than lions. They had said that the wind would not be contrary, or that
there would be none. But as we approached the land the wind arose, and
threw up waves eight cubits high. As for me, I sized a piece of wood;
but those who were in the vessel perished, without one remaining. A wave
threw me on an island, after that I had been three days alone, without
a companion beside my own heart. I laid me in a thicket and the shadow
covered me. Then stretched I my limbs to try to find something for my
mouth. I found there figs and grapes, all manner of good herbs, berries
and grain, melons of all kinds, fishes and birds. Nothing was lacking.
And I satisfied myself, and left on the ground that which was over, of
what my arms had been filled withal. I dug a pit, I lighted a fire, and
I made a burnt-offering unto the gods.
"Suddenly I heard a noise as of thunder, which I thought to be that of a
wave of the sea. The trees shook and the earth was moved. I uncovered my
face, and I saw that a serpent drew near. He was thirty cubits long, and
his beard greater than two cubits; his body was overlaid with gold, and
his color as that of true lazuli. He coiled himself before me.
"Then he opened his mouth, while that I lay on my face before him, and
he said to me, 'What has brought thee, what has brought thee, little
one, what has brought thee? If thou sayest not speedily what has brought
thee to this isle, I will make thee know thyself; as a flame thou shalt
vanish, if thou tellest me not something I have not heard, or which I
knew not before thee.'
"Then he took me in his mouth and carried me to his resting-place, and
laid me down without any hurt. I was whole and sound, and nothing was
gone from me. Then he opened his mouth against me, while that I lay on
my face before him, and he said, 'What has brought thee, what has
brought thee, little one, what has brought thee to this isle which is in
the sea, and of which the shores are in the midst of the waves?'
"Then I replied to him, and holding my arms low before him,[16] I said
to him:--'I was embarked for the mines by the order of the Majesty, in a
ship; 150 cubits was its length, and the width of it 40 cubits. It had
150 sailors of the best of Egypt, who had seen heaven and earth, and the
hearts of whom were stronger than lions. They said that the wind would
not be contrary, or that there would be none. Each of them exceeded his
companion in the prudence of his heart and the strength of his arm, and
I was not beneath any of them. A storm came upon us while we were on the
sea. Hardly could we reach to the shore when the wind waxed yet greater,
and the waves rose even eight cubits. As for me, I seized a piece of
wood, while those who were in the boat perished without one being left
with me for three days. Behold me now before thee, for I was brought to
this isle by a wave of the sea!"
"Then said he to me, 'Fear not, fear not, little one, and make not thy
face sad. If thou hast come to me, it is God[17] who has let thee live.
For it is he who has brought thee to this isle of the blest, where
nothing is lacking, and which is filled with all good things. See now
thou shalt pass one month after another, until thou shalt be four months
in this isle. Then a ship shall come from thy land with sailors, and
thou shalt leave with them and go to thy country, and thou shalt die in
thy town. Converse is pleasing, and he who tastes of it passes over his
misery. I will therefore tell thee of that which is in this isle. I am
here with my brethren and my children around me; we are seventy-five
serpents, children, and kindred; without naming a young girl who was
brought unto me by chance, and on whom the fire of heaven fell and burnt
her to ashes. As for thee, if thou art strong, and if thy heart waits
patiently, thou shalt press thy infants to thy bosom and embrace thy
wife. Thou shalt return to thy house which is full of all good things,
thou shalt see thy land, where thou shalt dwell in the midst of thy
kindred!'
"Then I bowed in my obeisance, and I touched the ground before him.
'Behold now that which I have told thee before. I shall tell of thy
presence unto Pharaoh, I shall make him to know of thy greatness, and I
will bring to thee of the sacred oils and perfumes, and of incense of
the temples with which all gods are honored. I shall tell moreover of
that which I do now see (thanks to him), and there shall be rendered to
thee praises before the fullness of all the land. I shall slay asses for
thee in sacrifice, I shall pluck for thee the birds, and I shall bring
for thee ships full of all kinds of the treasures of Egypt, as is comely
to do unto a god, a friend of men in a far country, of which men know
not.'
"Then he smiled at my speech, because of that which was in his heart,
for he said to me, 'Thou art not rich in perfumes, for all that thou
hast is but common incense. As for me, I am prince of the land of
Punt,[18] and I have perfumes. Only the oil which thou saidst thou
wouldst bring is not common in this isle. But when thou shalt depart
from this place, thou shalt never more see this isle; it shall be
changed into waves.'
"And behold, when the ship drew near, attending to all that he had told
me before, I got me up into an high tree, to strive to see those who
were within it. Then I came and told to him this matter; but it was
already known unto him before. Then he said to me, 'Farewell, farewell;
go to thy house, little one, see again thy children, and let thy name be
good in thy town; these are my wishes for thee!'
"Then I bowed myself before him, and held my arms low before him, and
he, he gave me gifts of precious perfumes, of cassia, of sweet woods, of
kohl, of cypress, an abundance of incense, of ivory tusks, of baboons,
of apes, and all kinds of precious things. I embarked all in the ship
which was come, and bowing myself, I prayed God for him.
"Then he said to me, 'Behold, thou shalt come to thy country in two
months, thou shalt press to thy bosom thy children, and thou shalt rest
in thy tomb!' After this I went down to the shore unto the ship, and I
called to the sailors who were there. Then on the shore I rendered
adoration to the master of this isle and to those who dwelt therein.
"When we shall come, in our return, to the house of Pharaoh, in the
second month, according to all that the serpent has said, we shall
approach unto the palace. And I shall go in before Pharaoh, I shall
bring the gifts which I have brought from this isle into the country.
Then he shall thank me before the fullness of all the land. Grant then
unto me a follower, and lead me to the courtiers of the king. Cast thine
eye upon me after that I am come to land again, after that I have both
seen and proved this. Hear my prayer, for it is good to listen to
people. It was said unto me, 'Become a wise man, and thou shalt come to
honor,' and behold I have become such."
_This is finished from its beginning unto its end, even as it
was found in a writing. It is written by the scribe of cunning
fingers, Ameniamenaa; may he live in life, wealth, and health._