is) his;
and he is saying to the chiefs of the city of _Ammia_ (_Amyun_), 'They
have slain your chief and you have done like us, and you have rebelled,
and you obeyed his order, and they will punish you as men of blood.' And I
am ill at ease. Lo! now _Abdasherah_ sends for soldiers. I have remained
alone--they will be rejoiced at it, and there is ruin before the city of
_Gebal_, if there is no great man to gain me safety from his hands. And
the chiefs of the government are expelled from the midst of the lands; and
you relinquish all the lands to the men of blood, squandering the wealth
of all the lands; and they have torn away sons and daughters nobly born;
and (this) while the King is pondering about it, and all the lands have
fought for him. And from what they have done to us, behold now thou wilt
become naked to their destructions. And so now I am exceedingly afraid.
Behold now there is no great man who wins me salvation from their hands.
As birds that are in the midst of the snares this place has remained. I
myself am in the city of _Gebal_. Why is there this overthrow of thy land?
Now I send (complaint?) to the palace (or great city) and you will not
hear us. Now this (is) my message. _Amanabba_ is with thee, ask him: he
has fled,(277) and he will show the evils that are against me. Let the
King hear his servant's message; and he shall establish his servant's
life, and his servant shall live, and shall defend the ... with him."

The remainder of the letter is broken. It asks for advice and information,
and for consideration of the memorial. Ribadda's letters increase in
pathetic eloquence as the great catastrophe approaches.

56 B., a much-broken letter. They are advancing to take _Gebal_. Money has
been given to a certain chief who has turned against _Ribadda_.

62 B., a mere fragment. The enemy are advancing on _Gebal_ with the
intention of taking it.

63 B.--This also is much broken. It refers to _Yapaaddu_, to the King's
_Paka_ receiving orders, and to the rulers, and contains the statement,
"They have cut off two of my ships, with my sons (or men) and all that was
mine."

80 B. begins with the usual salutation, and continues: "Does the King my
Lord know? Behold the city of _Gebal_ has gathered, she has gathered those
faithful to the King, and very mighty was the battle of the men of blood
against me, and there is no rest through the city of _Simyra_. (Defeat has
not befallen?) the men of blood, through the