s slave what they did to
us." The letter then becomes broken, but refers to Milcilu, who was the
King of Gezer. Takanu (or Tagi) is mentioned again in connection with
_Givti_ (B. 199).

61 B. M.--"To the King (my master?) by letter thus (says) _Labaya_ thy
servant. I bow at the feet of the King my Lord. Lo! a message as to me.
Strong were the chiefs who have taken the city. As when a snake coils
round one, the chiefs, by fighting, have taken the city. They hurt the
innocent, and outrage the orphan. The chief man is with me. They have
taken the city (and he receives sustenance?). My destroyers exult in the
face of the King my Lord. He is left like the ant whose home is destroyed.
You (will be displeased?), but I have extended to the hand of her chief
that which is asked of him: like me he is ruined and unfortunate; and this
same taking of my city had been stopped if you had spoken against it. This
wickedness (or foolishness) you caused, and thou hast destroyed thy city.
They have desired to throttle (or persecute) us--the chiefs who have taken
the city from him. It is the city of my fathers also (that) they
persecute."

154 B.--"To the King my Lord by letter thus (says) _Addurbilu_ thy servant,
at the feet of the King my Lord seven times and seven times I bow. The
King my Lord will know the hate which is desired by the son of the sinful
chief who hated me--the second son of _Labaya_. His face is estranged. I
foresee estrangement of the land of the King my Lord. He has plotted as
plotted (against me?) the chief who was his father; and the King my Lord
shall know it. Lo! he has built a fort ... against me. The second son of
_Labaya_ (says) 'Why has a vain papyrus(312) taken from us the lowlands of
the _Gitties?_ ... thy Lord, O city of those who besieged the chief our
father.' As I am saying speaks to us the second son of _Labaya_. He has
made war for me with the chiefs of the Land of _Gina_ (causing a chief our
friend to be slain?). And when (there was) a battle he has not been
confounded, and the fight was great, but he has made it his dwelling,
bereaving me in the sight of the King my Lord: for he has made war in ...
of _Gina_ (with?) the servants of the King my Lord. And truly alone of the
chiefs exceeding strong (is) _Biruyapiza_.(313) (And thou shalt hear?)
what is said as to him." The text becomes broken, but still refers to the
doings of the second son of _Labaya_, and continues with an important
passage on the ba