id people in inns, fields and markets,
"and we will introduce order among the holy fathers. Because of them we
pay immense taxes, and the wounds on our backs are always open."

Among the Libyan hills, about thirty-five miles south of

Memphis, lay the country of Piom or Fayum, wonderful through this, that
human hands had made it.

There was formerly in this province a sunken desert surrounded by naked
hills. The pharaoh Amenhemat first conceived the daring plan of
changing this place into a fruitful region, three thousand five hundred
years before the Christian era.

With this object he divided the eastern part of the depression from the
rest and put a mighty dam around it. This dam was about eight meters
high, one hundred yards thick at the base, and its length more than
four hundred kilometers.

In this way was created a reservoir which held three milliards of cubic
meters of water, the surface of which occupied about three hundred
square kilometers. This reservoir served to irrigate two hundred
thousand hectares of land, and besides, in time of overflow, it took in
the excess of water and guaranteed a considerable part of Egypt from
sudden inundation.

This immense collection of water was called Lake Moeris, and was
considered one of the wonders of the world. Thanks to it a desert
valley was changed into the fertile land of Piom, where about two
hundred thousand people lived in comfort. In this province, besides
palms and wheat, were produced the most beautiful roses; oil made from
these went to all Egypt, and beyond its boundaries.

The existence of Lake Moeris was connected with another wonder among
works of Egyptian engineers, Joseph's canal. This canal, two hundred
yards wide, extended about three hundred and fifty kilometers along the
western side of the Nile. It was situated fifteen kilometers from the
river, served to irrigate lands near the Libyan mountains, and conveyed
water to Lake Moeris.

Around the country of Piom rose a number of ancient pyramids and a
multitude of smaller tombs. On its eastern boundary was the celebrated
Labyrinth (Lope-rohunt). This was built also by Amenhemat and had the
form of an immense horseshoe. It occupied an area one thousand yards
long and six hundred wide.

This edifice was the great treasure-house of Egypt. In it reposed the
mummies of several famous pharaohs, renowned priests, generals, and
architects. Here lay the remains of revered animals, above all, those