men of blood. So now thou
shalt say for us--the Chiefs of the Government; so now they are doing to
us, and thou shalt announce to him (that) all the lands are for men of
blood, and speak thou this message in the presence of the King my Lord.
Lo! a father and a lord this thou art to me; and as for thee my face I
bend, you know, to my master: behold what is done in the city of _Simyra_,
lo! I am ... with thee. But complain to the King thy Lord, and you will
send ... to me as I trust."

20 B. M.--"_Ribadda_ sends to his Lord the Great King, the King of many
lands to the prosperous King. Baalath of Gebal has confirmed the power of
the King my Lord. At the feet of my Lord the Sun seven times seven times
he bows him. A petition has been made long ago, made for the city of
_Gebal_, to despatch _Bikuru_ (to the) chiefs of the Land of _Egada_(268)
... served me, which ... I ... three of the chiefs ... they strove ... the
Land of Egypt ... and ... then the King my Lord ... a sin against....

"If the King my Lord supports his faithful servant; and despatch thou ...
this her chief (speedily?); and we two watch the city for the King. The
King shall send the choicest of thy great men, from among those who guard
him. The three chiefs whom _Bikhuru_ strove to despatch, but who have
fled, (are) _Abdirama_, _Iddinaddu_, _Abdmelec_, these are sons of
_Abdasherah_;(269) and they have taken the King's land for themselves. He
shall send the _bitati_..."

21 B. M.--"To _Amanabba_ ... (by letter) thus (says) this _Ribadda_ thy
servant. I bow (at my Lord's feet). The god _Amen_ ... of thy Lord, builds
up thy favor (with) the King thy Lord. Hear ... (they have fought)
mightily, and over the Egyptian soldiers are victorious, and ... to the
Land of the _Amorites_." The letter becomes too broken to read
consecutively, but refers to the Land of _Mitana_, and apparently to a
defeat of _Yankhamu_. He asks for corn, and speaks of having nothing to
eat, in connection with the city of _Gebal_; and refers to three years of
(dearth?), and to the corn failing.

19 B. M.--After the usual salutation to the King, this letter reads: "The
King my Lord will say that the choicest of thy great men, and the choicest
of thy city that thou hast are among those who guard us. My great men and
(those of?) the city, were formerly men of garrison with me; and the King
asked of us corn for them to eat, from my poor country. But now behold
_Aziru_ is destroying me, and I