whole population had come out on the streets, or had
collected around the temples, mainly around the temple of Ptah, which
was the best defended, and where the spiritual dignitaries had come
together, also those lay officials who were under the direction of
Herhor and Mefres.

Near the temples troops were posted in loose rank, so that the warriors
might come to an understanding with the populace.

Among the common people and the army circulated many hucksters, 'with
baskets of bread and with pitchers and skin bags in which there was
wine. They entertained free of charge. When any one asked them why they
took no pay, some answered that his holiness was entertaining his
subjects, while others said,

"Eat and drink, right-believing Egyptians, for it is unknown whether we
shall see to-morrow!"

These were hucksters in the service of the priesthood.

A multitude of agents were circling about. Some proved to listeners
that the priests were rebelling against their lord, and even wanted to
poison him, because he had promised the seventh day for rest. Others
whispered that the pharaoh had gone mad, and had conspired with
foreigners to destroy the temples and Egypt. The first encouraged the
people to attack the temples where the priests and nomarchs were
arranging to oppress laborers and artisans; the others expressed fear
that if the people attacked the temples some great misfortune might
fall on them.

Under the walls of Ptah were a number of strong beams, and piles of
stones brought, it was unknown from what quarter.

The serious merchants of Memphis, passing among the crowds, had no
doubt that the popular disturbance was called forth artificially.
Inferior scribes, policemen, overseers of laborers, and disguised
decurions denied neither their official positions, nor this, that they
were urging the people to occupy the temples. On the other side
dissectors, beggars, temple servants and inferior priests, though they
wished to conceal their identity, were unable to do so, and each one
who was endowed with perception saw that they were urging the people to
violence. The thinking citizens of Memphis were astonished at this
action of partisans of the priesthood, and the people began to fall
away from their zeal of yesterday. Genuine Egyptians could not
understand what the question was, or who was really calling forth
disturbance. The chaos was increased by half-frenzied zealots, who,
running about the streets naked, wound