Prince Ramses began his journey in the most beautiful season of the
year, during the month Phamenoth (end of December and beginning of
January). The river had fallen to half its height, laying bare new
strips of land day by day. From Thebes many barges with wheat were
sailing down toward the sea; in Lower Egypt clover and beans had been
harvested. Orange and pomegranate trees were covered with blossoms; in
the fields earth tillers had sown lupines, flax, barley, and had
planted various beans, cucumbers, and other garden products.
Escorted to the landing of Memphis by priests, the highest dignitaries
of the state, the guards of his holiness the pharaoh, the heir entered
a gilded barge about ten in the morning. Under the bridge, on which
were costly tents, twenty soldiers worked the oars, at the mast and at
both ends of the boat the best naval engineers had taken their places.
Some looked after the sails, others commanded the rowers, while still
others steered the vessel.
Ramses had invited to his boat the most worthy high priest Mefres and
the holy father Mentezufis, who were to be with him on the journey and
in governing. The prince had invited also the worthy nomarch of
Memphis, who conducted him to the boundary of his province.
Some hundreds of yards in front of the viceroy sailed the beautiful
boat of the worthy Otoes, nomarch of Aa, a province adjoining the
capital. Behind the prince came countless barges occupied by the court,
by priests, by officials and officers.
Provisions and servants had been dispatched earlier.
The Nile flows to Memphis between two lines of mountains. Farther the
mountains turn eastward and westward, and the river divides into a
number of arms in which the water flows through a broad plain to the
Mediterranean.
When the barge had pushed away from the landing, the prince wished to
converse with Mefres, the high priest. But at that moment such a shout
broke forth that he was forced to leave his tent and show himself to
the people.
The uproar grew greater, however, instead of subsiding. On both shores
stood and increased every moment throngs of half naked laborers, or
people of the city dressed in holiday garments. Very many had garlands
on their heads, almost all held green branches in their hands. Some
groups sang; among others were heard the beating of drums and the sound
of flutes.
Well-sweeps planted thickly along the river with buckets stood idle,
but on the Nile circled a swarm of small boats, the occupants of which
cast flowers at the barge of the viceroy. Some of them sprang into the
water and swam after the vessel.
"They greet me as they would his holiness," thought the viceroy.
And great pride possessed his heart at sight of so many stately barges
which he could detain at one sweep of the hand, and those thousands who
had left their occupations and ran the risk even of death just to see
his divine countenance.
Ramses was delighted, especially by that immense shout which rose from
the people without ceasing for an instant. That shout filled his
breast, rose to his head, exalted him. It seemed to the prince that if
he should spring from the barge he would not touch water, for the
enthusiasm of the multitude would seize him and bear him aloft above
the earth, as a bird is borne in flying.
The barge approached the left bank somewhat; the forms of people were
outlined more clearly, and the prince saw something which he had not
expected. While persons in the first ranks were clapping their hands
and singing, in farther ones clubs were visible falling thickly and
swiftly on backs that were hidden.
The astonished heir turned to the nomarch of Memphis.
"But look, worthiness, sticks are at work there."
The nomarch shaded his eyes with his hand, his neck became red.
"Pardon, most worthy prince, but I see badly."
"They are beating surely they are beating!"
"That is possible," answered the nomarch. "Undoubtedly the priests have
caught a band of thieves there."
Not over-pleased with this conversation, the heir went toward the stern
to the engineers, who turned the barge suddenly toward the middle of
the river, and from that point he looked back at Memphis.
Both banks higher up the Nile were almost deserted, the boats had
disappeared, the well-sweeps were moving as if nothing had happened.
"Is the solemnity over?" inquired the prince of an engineer, pointing
to a higher place on the river.
"It is. The people have returned to their work," said the engineer.
"Very quickly."
"They must recover lost time," said the engineer, incautiously.
The heir quivered, and looked at the man sharply. But he calmed himself
soon and returned to the tent. For him shouts were of no further
interest. He was gloomy and silent. After an outburst of pride, he felt
contempt for that throng which passed so promptly from enthusiasm to
well-sweeps and baling up muddy water.
At that point the Nile begins to separate into branches. The barge of
the chief of Aa turned toward the west, sailed an hour, and stopped at
the river bank. The crowds were still greater than at Memphis. A
multitude of pillars had been set up with banners and triumphal arches
entwined with green garlands. Among the people foreign faces and
garments were more and more frequent.
When the prince landed, the priests approached with a baldachin, and
the worthy nomarch Otoes began,
"Be greeted, viceroy of the divine pharaoh, within the borders of Aa.
As a sign of thy favor, which for us is as heavenly dew, be pleased to
make an offering to the god Ptah, who is our patron, and take under thy
protection and control this province, with its temples, officials,
people, cattle, grain, and all that is here existent."
Then he presented a group of young exquisites, fragrant, rouged,
arrayed in gold-embroidered garments. Those were the remoter and nearer
relatives of the nomarch, the local aristocracy.
Ramses looked at them with attention.
"Aha!" said he. "It seemed to me that these gentlemen lacked something,
and now I see what it is, they have no wigs."
"Because thou, most worthy prince, dost not wear wigs, our young men
have vowed not to wear them," replied the nomarch.
After this explanation one of the young men stood behind the prince
with a fan, another with a shield, a third with a dart, and the
procession began. The heir walked under the baldachin, before him a
priest with a tube in which incense was burning; there were maidens
also who scattered roses on the path over which the prince was to
travel.
The people in holiday garments, with branches in their hands, formed a
line and shouted; they sang songs, or prostrated themselves before the
lieutenant of the pharaoh. But the prince saw that in spite of the loud
sounds of joy their faces were unenlivened and anxious. He saw also
that the crowd was divided into groups which people of some sort were
directing, and that the rejoicing took place by command. And again he
felt in his heart a chill of contempt for that throng which knew not
how to rejoice even.
Gradually the retinue approached the walled column which indicated the
boundary between Aa and Memphis. On three sides of the column were
inscriptions describing the extent of the province, its population, and
the number of its cities; on the fourth side was a statue of Ptah,
surrounded from foot to breast with an envelope; he had the usual cap
on his head and a staff in his hand.
One of the priests gave the prince a golden spoon with burning incense.
The heir uttered prescribed prayers, whirled the censer to the height
of the divinity's head, and bowed low a number of times in succession.
The shouts of the people and of the priests rose ever higher, though
among youthful exquisites smiles and jests were observable. Since his
reconciliation with Herhor the prince had shown great respect for gods
and priests; so he frowned somewhat. In one moment the young men
changed their bearing. All became serious, while some fell on their
faces before the column.
"Indeed," thought the prince, "people of noble birth are better than
that rabble. Whatever nobles do they do it with spirit, not like those
who make an uproar in my honor but are glad to hurry back to their
workshops and stables."
Now he measured better than ever the distance between him and the
lowest people, and he understood that the aristocracy was the only
class to which he was bound by a community of feeling. If suddenly they
should vanish, those stately young men and beautiful women whose
flashing glances followed every one of his movements, so as to serve
him straightway and carry out his orders, if they should vanish, the
prince would feel more alone among the countless throngs of people than
in a desert.
Eight negroes brought a litter adorned above the baldachin with ostrich
feathers; the prince took his place in it, and advanced to the capital
of Sochem, where he dwelt in a government palace.
The prince's stay in that province, which was only a few miles from
Memphis, lasted a month. All this time he passed in receiving
petitions, in accepting homage, in official receptions, and at feasts.
The feasts were of two kinds, one in the palace, at which the
aristocracy were present; the other in the outer court, where whole
oxen were roasted, loaves of bread were eaten by the hundred, and
hundreds of pitchers of beer drunk. At these appeared servants of the
prince and the lower officials of the province.
Ramses admired the munificence of the nomarch, and the affection of the
great lords around him, alert to every beck of his and ready to carry
out his orders.
Wearied at last by amusements, Ramses declared to the worthy Otoes that
he wished to become more nearly acquainted with the management of the
province, for he had received a command from his holiness the pharaoh
to study it.
His desire was satisfied. The nomarch requested the prince to sit in a
litter borne by only two men, and with a great retinue escorted him to
the temple of Hator. There the retinue remained in the antechamber, but
the nomarch commanded the bearers to carry the prince to the summit of
a pylon, which he himself ascended.
From the summit of a tower, ninety feet high, whence priests observed
the sky and communicated through colored flags with the neighboring
temples in Memphis, Atribis, and Ann, the eye surveyed in the radius of
some miles almost a whole province.
From that place, too, the worthy Otoes showed Ramses the fields and
vineyards of the pharaoh; he showed what canal they were clearing, what
sluice they were repairing; he showed furnaces for smelting copper; he
showed where the royal granaries' stood, where the lotus and papyrus
swamps were, what fields were covered with sand, and so on till he had
finished.
Ramses was charmed with the beautiful view, and thanked Otoes warmly
for the pleasure which he experienced. But when he returned to the
palace, and, according to the advice of the pharaoh, noted impressions,
he convinced himself that his knowledge of the economic conditions of
Aa had not widened.
After some days he asked explanations again of Otoes touching the
administration of the province. The worthy lord commanded all the
officials to assemble and pass before the prince, who sat in the main
court on an elevation.
Before the viceroy moved great and petty treasurers; scribes of grain,
wine, cattle, woolen stuffs; chief masons, ditch-diggers, naval and
land engineers, healers of various diseases, officers over regiments of
laborers, police scribes, judges, inspectors of prisons, even
executioners and dissectors. After them the worthy nomarch presented
the prince's own officials in that province to him. Ramses learned
therefore, with no small astonishment, that in Aa and in the city of
Sochem he had his own personal charioteer, torch-bearer, shield-bearer,
dart-bearer, mace-bearer, some tens of litter-bearers, a number of
cooks, cup-bearers, barbers, and many other servitors distinguished for
attachment and faithfulness, though he had not even heard their names
and did not know them.
Tortured and tired by a barren review of officials, the prince's
courage fell. He was terrified by the thought that he understood
nothing, hence was unfitted to rule; but he feared to confess this even
to himself.
If Ramses could not rule Egypt, and others were able to rule it, what
remained to him? Nothing but death. Without the throne he could have no
happiness. He felt that for him life would be impossible unless he had
power.
But when he had rested a few days, in so far as rest was attainable in
that chaos of court life, he summoned Otoes, and said to him,
"Worthiness, I have begged thee to acquaint me with the secret of
governing Aa. Thou hast done so, Thou hast shown me the country and the
officials, but still I know nothing. On the contrary, I am like a man
in the underground divisions of a temple who sees so many passages
about him that he is unable at last to find his way out into daylight."
The nomarch was confused.
"What am I to do?" asked he. "What dost Thou wish of me, O ruler? Only
say the word and I will yield to thee office, property, even life."
And, seeing that the prince received this assurance with graciousness,
he continued,
"During thy journey Thou hast seen the people of this province. Thou
wilt say that all were not present. Agreed. I will command all to
assemble, and they are, men, women, old men, and children, about two
hundred thousand. From the summit of the pylon Thou wert pleased to
survey our whole province. But if it be thy wish, we can examine from
near by every field, every village, and every street of the city of
Sochem. Finally I have shown thee the officials; it is true, the very
lowest were absent. But command and all will stand before thee to-
morrow and fall on their faces. What am I to do more? Tell me, most
worthy lord."
"I believe that Thou art most faithful," answered Ramses. "Therefore
explain to me two things: first, why has the income of his holiness
diminished? second, what art Thou doing thyself in the province?"
Otoes was confused, and the prince added quickly,
"I wish to know what Thou art doing here, and by what methods, since I
am young and only commencing to govern."
"Thou hast the wisdom of a century," whispered the nomarch.
"Therefore it is proper," continued the prince, "that I should ask men
of experience and that Thou shouldst give me knowledge."
"I will show thee all, and give every explanation," said Otoes. "But we
should go to a place where there is no uproar."
In fact, in the palace which the prince occupied as many people
thronged in the inner and outer court as at a fair. They ate, drank,
sang, raced or rested, and all this to enhance the glory of the viceroy
whom they were serving.
About three in the afternoon, the nomarch gave command to bring two
horses, and with the prince he rode forth from the city westward. The
court remained in the palace and amused itself with still greater
gladness.
The day was beautiful, cool; the earth was covered with plants and
flowers. Over the beads of the horsemen were heard the songs of birds,
the air was full of fragrance.
"How pleasant it is here!" exclaimed Ramses. "Now I am able to collect
ray thoughts for the first time in a month. I had begun to think that a
whole regiment of chariots had assembled in my head, and that from
morning till evening reviews were held there."
"Such is the fate of a ruler in this world," said the nomarch.
They halted on an eminence. At their feet lay an immense meadow, cut
through by a blue stream. On the north and on the south were white
walls of towns; beyond the meadow on the rim of the horizon extended
the reddish sands of the western desert, from which came an occasional
breath of heated air, as if from a furnace.
On the meadow were countless herds of animals, horned and hornless
oxen, sheep, goats, asses, antelopes, even rhinoceroses.
Here and there were visible swampy places covered with water plants and
reeds in which were teeming wild geese, ducks, doves, storks, pelicans,
and ibises.
"Behold, lord," said Otoes, "a picture of our country, Quench, Egypt.
Osiris fell in love with this strip of laud in the midst of deserts; he
covered it with plants and living creatures, so as to have from them
profit. Then the kindly god took a human form and became the first
pharaoh. When he felt that his body was withering, he left it and
entered into his son, and later on into his son's son.
"Thus Osiris lives among us, since the beginning of ages, as pharaoh,
and he gains profit from Egypt and its wealth which he himself created.
The lord has extended like a mighty tree. All the pharaohs are his
roots, the nomarchs and priests his larger branches, the nobles the
smaller branches. The visible god sits on the throne of the earth and
receives the income which belongs to him from Egypt; the invisible god
receives offerings in the temples, and declares his will through the
lips of the priesthood."
"Thou utterest truth," said the viceroy. "Thus is it written."
"Since Osiris the pharaoh," continued the nomarch, "cannot himself be
occupied in the management of the country, he has appointed us
nomarchs, who come of his blood, to watch over his property."
"That is true," said Ramses. "Sometimes even the sun god becomes
incarnate in a nomarch and begins a new dynasty. Thus rose the
dynasties of Memphis, Elephantina, Thebes, and Ksoi."
"Thou hast said it," continued Otoes. "But now I will answer that which
Thou hast asked of me.
"Thou hast asked what I do in this province? I guard the property of
Osiris, the pharaoh, and my own part in it. Look at those flocks; Thou
seest various animals. Some give milk, others flesh, others wool and
skins. The people of Egypt give wheat, wine, woolen stuffs, vessels,
houses. My affair is to take from each what he should give, and lay it
down at the feet of the pharaoh."
"In watching over the numerous herds I could not succeed alone; so I
have chosen watchful dogs and wise shepherds. Some of my servants milk
animals, shear them, remove their skins; others watch them so that
thieves may not steal or the plunderer injure. So with the province. I
could not collect all the taxes and guard men from evil; hence I have
officials who do what is proper, and render account of their action."
"All this is true," interrupted the prince. "I know and understand what
Thou sayest. But I cannot comprehend why the income of his holiness
decreases, though guarded well, as Thou hast told me."
"Be pleased to remember," continued the nomarch, "that Set, though a
full brother of the radiant Osiris, hates that god, wars with him, and
deforms all his labors. He sends deadly diseases on beasts and on men;
he causes the overflow of the Nile to be scant or over-violent, and he
hurls clouds of sand in time of heat upon Egypt.
"When a year is good, the Nile reaches the desert; when it is bad, the
desert comes down to the Nile, and then the royal income decreases.
"Look!" continued he, pointing at the meadow. "The flocks there are
numerous, but in my youth they were greater in number. But who is the
cause of this? No other than Set, whom human power cannot vanquish.
This meadow, great today, was once greater, and from this spot they
could not see the desert, which now is a terror.
"When the gods are battling, men can do nothing; where Set conquers
Osiris, who can bar the way to him?"
The worthy Otoes finished; the prince hung his head. In school he had
heard not a little about the love of Osiris and the malice of Set, and
while still a child he was angry that no one had forced Set to a final
reckoning.
"When I grow up," thought he at that time, "and carry a javelin, I will
seek out Set and we will make a trial."
And he was looking now at that measureless sand space, that kingdom of
the ominous godhead which was decreasing the income of Egypt; but he
had no thought to do battle with Set. For how can man fight with the
desert? Man can only avoid it or perish.