s
if the world were nearing its end! The elements are in confusion, men's
minds are vexed, and if thou, lord, wilt not rescue us, our days are
numbered."

"My treasury is empty, the army not numerous, the police have seen no
salary this long time," replied the pharaoh. "If ye wish enduring peace
and safety ye must find funds for me. But since my heart is troubled by
your fear I will do what I can, and I hope to restore order."

In fact his holiness gave command to concentrate troops and dispose
them at the most important points in the kingdom. At the same time he
ordered Nitager to leave the eastern boundary to his assistant, and
come himself with five chosen regiments to Memphis. This he did not so
much to protect aristocrats from common people as to have at hand
strong forces in case the high priests incited to rebellion Upper Egypt
and the troops attached to temples.

On Paofi 10 there was a great movement in the palace and about it. The
delegates who were to recognize the pharaoh's right to the treasures in
the labyrinth had assembled, also a multitude of men who wished at
least to look at the place of a solemnity rare in Egypt.

The procession of delegates began in the morning. In front went naked
earth-tillers wearing white caps and girdles; each held in his hand a
piece of coarse cloth to cover his back in presence of the pharaoh.
Next advanced artisans dressed like the earth-tillers, from whom they
differed in wearing finer cloth and narrow aprons covered with parti-
colored embroidery. Third came merchants, some in wigs, all in long
tunics and pelerines. Among them were some who had rich bracelets on
their arms and legs, and rings on their fingers.

Next appeared officers in caps and wearing coats with girdles which
were black and yellow, blue and white, blue and red. Two instead of
coats had bronze breastplates. After a long interval appeared thirteen
nobles, wearing immense wigs and white robes which reached the
pavement. After them advanced nomarchs in robes bordered with a purple
stripe, and on their heads were coronets. The procession was closed by
priests with shaven heads, and wearing panther skins over their
shoulders.

The delegates entered the great hall of the pharaoh's palace where
there were seven benches, one behind another, the highest for priests,
the lowest for earth-tillers.

Soon appeared in a litter his holiness, Ramses XIII, before whom the
delegates fell on their faces. When the l