f the Eastern Desert.]

[Footnote 2: A part of Syria (?).]

"I was the ... of the Palace, and bearer of the [royal] sandals, when
His Majesty the King of the South and North, Merenra, my ever living
Lord, made me Duke and Governor of the South land beyond Abu
(Elephantine) and of the district north of Aphroditopolis, because I was
perfect to the heart of His Majesty, because I was acceptable to the
heart of His Majesty, and because the heart of His Majesty was satisfied
with me. I was ... [of the Palace], and sandal-bearer when His Majesty
praised me for displaying more watchfulness (or attention) at Court in
respect of the appointment of officials for duty than any of his
princes, or nobles, or servants. Never before was this rank bestowed on
any servant. I performed the duties of Governor of the South to the
satisfaction [of every one]. No one complained of (or quarrelled with)
his neighbour; I carried out work of every kind. I counted everything
that was due to the Palace in the South twice, and all the labour that
was due to the Palace in the South I counted twice. I served the office
of Prince, ruling as a Prince ought to rule in the South; the like of
this was never before done in the South. I acted in such a way that His
Majesty praised me for it. His Majesty sent me to the Land of Abhat to
bring back a sarcophagus, "the lord of the living one," with its cover,
and a beautiful and magnificent pyramidion for the Queen's pyramid
[which is called] Khanefer Merenra. His Majesty sent me to Abu to bring
back a granite door and its table for offerings, with slabs of granite
for the stele door and its framework, and to bring back granite doors
and tables for offerings for the upper room in the Queen's pyramid,
Khanefer Merenra. I sailed down the Nile to the pyramid Khanefer Merenra
with six lighters, and three barges, and three floats(?), accompanied by
one war boat. Never before had any [official] visited Abhat and Abu with
[only] one war boat since kings have reigned. Whensoever His Majesty
gave an order for anything to be done I carried it out thoroughly
according to the order which His Majesty gave concerning it.

"His Majesty sent me to Het-nub to bring back a great table for
offerings of _rutt_ stone (quartzite sandstone?) of Het-nub. I made this
table for offerings reach him in seventeen days. It was quarried in
Het-nub, and I caused it to float down the river in a lighter. I cut out
the planks for him in acacia