time. He gave polite greetings from
his wife Yuni to the widow, whose influence was evidently still strong,
sent her presents, and entreated her intercession. This remarkable letter
runs as follows:

"To Teye, Queen of Egypt, Tushratta, King of Mitani. May it be
well with thee, may it be well with thy son, may it be well with
Tadukhipa, my daughter, thy young companion in widowhood. Thou
knowest that I was in friendship with Nimmuria, thy husband, and
that Nimmuria was in friendship with me. What I wrote to him and
negotiated with him, and likewise what Nimmuria thy husband wrote
to me and negotiated with me, thou and Gilia and Mani (Tushratta's
messengers), ye know it. But thou knowest it better than all
others. And none other knows it. Now thou hast said to Gilia: 'Say
to thy lord, Nimmuria my husband was in friendship with thy father
and sent him the military standards, which he kept. The embassies
between them were never interrupted. But now, forget not thou
thine old friendship with thy brother Nimmuria and extend it to
his son Napkhuria. Send joyful embassies; let them not be
omitted.' Lo, I will not forget the friendship with Nimmuria!
More, tenfold more, words of friendship will I exchange with
Napkhuria thy son and keep up right good friendship. But the
promise of Nimmuria, the gift that thy husband ordered to be
brought to me, thou hast not sent. I asked for golden statuettes.
But now Napkhuria thy son has had them made of wood, though gold
is as dust in thy land. Why does this happen just now? Should not
Napkhuria deliver that to me which his father gave me? And he
wishes to increase our friendship tenfold! Wherefore then dost
thou not bring this matter before thy son Napkhuria? Even though
thou do it not he ought nevertheless to deliver unto me statuettes
of gold and in no way to slight me. Thus friendship will reign
between us tenfold. Let thy messengers to Yuni my wife depart with
Napkhuria's ambassador, and Yuni's messenger shall come to thee.
Lo, I send gifts for thee; boxes filled with good oil (perfume),"
&c. &c.

To Napkhuria also Tushratta insists on his rights in detail. The
messengers from Mitani were said to have been present at the casting of
the images, and even to have started on their journey home when Nimmuria
died. It may thus be assumed that Napkhuria at once ordered