istration of the province. The worthy lord commanded all the
officials to assemble and pass before the prince, who sat in the main
court on an elevation.

Before the viceroy moved great and petty treasurers; scribes of grain,
wine, cattle, woolen stuffs; chief masons, ditch-diggers, naval and
land engineers, healers of various diseases, officers over regiments of
laborers, police scribes, judges, inspectors of prisons, even
executioners and dissectors. After them the worthy nomarch presented
the prince's own officials in that province to him. Ramses learned
therefore, with no small astonishment, that in Aa and in the city of
Sochem he had his own personal charioteer, torch-bearer, shield-bearer,
dart-bearer, mace-bearer, some tens of litter-bearers, a number of
cooks, cup-bearers, barbers, and many other servitors distinguished for
attachment and faithfulness, though he had not even heard their names
and did not know them.

Tortured and tired by a barren review of officials, the prince's
courage fell. He was terrified by the thought that he understood
nothing, hence was unfitted to rule; but he feared to confess this even
to himself.

If Ramses could not rule Egypt, and others were able to rule it, what
remained to him? Nothing but death. Without the throne he could have no
happiness. He felt that for him life would be impossible unless he had
power.

But when he had rested a few days, in so far as rest was attainable in
that chaos of court life, he summoned Otoes, and said to him,

"Worthiness, I have begged thee to acquaint me with the secret of
governing Aa. Thou hast done so, Thou hast shown me the country and the
officials, but still I know nothing. On the contrary, I am like a man
in the underground divisions of a temple who sees so many passages
about him that he is unable at last to find his way out into daylight."

The nomarch was confused.

"What am I to do?" asked he. "What dost Thou wish of me, O ruler? Only
say the word and I will yield to thee office, property, even life."

And, seeing that the prince received this assurance with graciousness,
he continued,

"During thy journey Thou hast seen the people of this province. Thou
wilt say that all were not present. Agreed. I will command all to
assemble, and they are, men, women, old men, and children, about two
hundred thousand. From the summit of the pylon Thou wert pleased to
survey our whole province. But if it be thy wish, we can examine from