was extremely doubtful, for part of the plunder had in all
probability already sufficed to secure a safe retreat for the brigands,
who, furthermore, were officials from some of whom letters have been
found. The natural consequence was that the ambassadors themselves were
attacked. Their caravan with gifts for Napkhuria was robbed twice in
succession, and they themselves were held to ransom. The Egyptian
Government nevertheless remained outrageously slack as ever, as we may see
from the following safe conduct granted on behalf of the Canaanite
miscreants: "To the princes in the land of Canaan, the vassals of my
brother. Akiya, my messenger, I send to the King of Egypt my brother.
Bring him safe and quickly to Egypt. Let no violence befall him."

Prefects of Canaanite ports were naturally in most active communication
with Egypt. On some of the shrewder minds among these men it had dawned
that it pleased and amused the king to have immediate news of messages by
sea and land from far and near communicated in their letters. Abi-milki of
Tyre had carried this practice farthest, and he was also admirably skilful
in lodging complaints by the way. We owe to this worthy one of the
choicest pieces in the whole collection, the elegant paean of a
place-hunter of more than three thousand years ago. It will be noticed
that some of his rhetorical expressions repeatedly recall those of the
Hebrew Psalter in the same way as do phrases in the letter of Tagi already
quoted. In fact, the Bible critic has much to learn from the tablets as a
whole. After the formal beginning, Abi-milki launches out as follows:

"My lord the king is the Sun-God, rising each day over the earth
according to the will of his gracious father, the heavenly Sun-God
(Aten). His words give life and prosperity. To all lands his might
giveth peace. Like the (Phoenician) god Ram-man, so he thunders
down from heaven, and the earth trembles before him. Behold, thy
servant writeth as soon as he has good news to send the king. And
the fear of my lord, the king, fell upon the whole land till the
messenger made known the good news from the king my lord. When I
heard through him the command of the king to me, 'Be at the
disposal of my high officials,' then thy servant answered his
lord, 'It is already done.' On my breast and on my back write I
down for myself the commands of the king. Verily, he who
hearkeneth to the king his