repeat there (are) no oxen, nor ... for
me; _Aziru_ has taken all. And there is no corn for my eating. And the
chiefs--the _Pakas_--also have been nourished by the cities, exhausting the
corn for their eating. Again: (being faithful), the King shall establish
for me, as men of government, the men of government of their own cities,
the men who at first were with their subjects. But as for me my cities are
Aziru's, and they long for me, to whom destruction is made by him, who is
a dog of the sons of _Abdasherah_, and either you shall do for us as they
wish, or you shall give orders for us to the King's cities in these
matters."

48 B.--This begins with the usual salutation, and then continues: "If
perchance I send a message to the King my Lord, do not thou refuse the
request of my memorial. Lo! thrice has come upon me a year of storms (or
tumults), and again a year of storms begins. My wheat is naught; the wheat
for us to eat: that which was for sowing for my freemen is finished; their
beasts, their herbs, the trees of their gardens, are wretched, in my
unhappy land. Our corn has failed. Once more the King will hear the
message of his faithful servant, and will order wheat in ships, and his
servant shall live; and be thou moved and send us com. The chiefs (will
send?) horses, as commanded, to _Zu_ ... And thou shalt defend the city
(by so doing?) ... behold _Yankhamu_ says (or asks) ... that wheat be
given to _Ribadda_ ... to him ... corn (the bread of men?) ... and now
with _Yapaaddu_ ... their money henceforth ... ask him, he will tell all
in your presence. Mayest thou know when it is spoken in the presence of
the King my Lord. And this year of storms makes the wheat scarce (in) my
unhappy land ... there was scarcity before in the city _Simyra_, and now
behold in the city _Gebal_."

The text is here too broken to be read. It seems, perhaps, to refer to the
enemy having possession of the sea, and to the entreaties of _Yankhamu_,
and to certain waters, and the general wretchedness. A paragraph then
begins:(270)

"The King of the Land _Taratzi_(271) has coveted the city of _Simyra_; and
they desired to march to the city of _Gebal_; and none now has urged him,
and he has stayed in his land. Now as he is strong he will send to the
great ... by my wish ... they have returned to us." The letter is again
much broken; it refers to a ruler, saying: "His heart is with my heart;
but _Abdasherah_ has conquered beyond the land of t