one plaque, and in silver two axe-heads.

[Footnote 1: The nomads of the Syrian desert.]

[Footnote 2: The titles, King of the North, King of the South, and the
words, "whose word is truth" occur with each name; they are omitted in
the translation.]

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF TEHUTI, THE ERPA

The autobiographies given hitherto are those of soldiers, sailors, and
officials who in the performance of their duties travelled in Nubia, the
Egyptian Sudan, the Eastern Sudan, the Red Sea Littoral, Sinai, and
Western Asia. The following autobiography is that of one of the great
nobles, who in the eighteenth dynasty assisted in carrying out the great
building schemes of Queen Hatshepset and Thothmes III. Tehuti was an
hereditary chief (_erpa_), and a Duke, and the Director of the
Department of the Government in which all the gold and silver that were
brought to Thebes as tribute were kept, and he controlled the
distribution of the same in connection with the Public Works Department.
The text begins with the words of praise to Amen-Ra for the life of
Hatshepset and of Thothmes III, thus: "Thanks be to Amen-[Ra, the King
of the Gods], and praise be to His Majesty when he riseth in the eastern
sky for the life, strength, and health of the King of the South, the
King of the North, Maatkara (Hatshepset), and of the King of the South,
the King of the North, Menkheperra (Thothmes III), who are endowed with
life, stability, serenity, and health like Ra for ever. I performed the
office of chief mouth (_i.e._ director), giving orders. I directed the
artificers who were engaged on the work of the great boat of the head of
the river [called] Userhatamen. It was inlaid (or overlaid) with the
very best gold of the mountains, the splendour of which illumined all
Egypt, and it was made by the King of the South, the King of the North,
Maatkara,[1] in connection with the monuments which he made for his
father Amen-Ra, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands, who is endowed
with life like Ra for ever. I performed the office of chief mouth,
giving orders. I directed the artificers who were engaged on the work of
the God-house, the horizon of the god, and on the work of the great
throne, which was [made] of the very best silver-gold[2] of the
mountains, and of perfect work to last for ever, which was made by
Maatkara in connection with the monuments which he made for his father
Amen-Ra, &c. I performed the office of chief mouth, givin