ns of the
West, which eventually found their way into the various markets of Asia
and Africa. These energetic merchants were not the first to ply this
profitable trade of maritime carriers, for from the time of the Memphite
empire the products of northern regions had found their way, through the
intermediation of the Hauinibu, as far south as the cities of the
Delta and the Thebaid. But this commerce could not be said to be
either regular or continuous; the transmission was carried on from one
neighbouring tribe to another, and the Syrian sailors were merely the
last in a long chain of intermediaries--a tribal war, a migration, the
caprice of some chief, being sufficient to break the communication,
and even cause the suspension of transit for a considerable period.
The Phoenicians desired to provide against such risks by undertaking
themselves to fetch the much-coveted objects from their respective
sources, or, where this was not possible, from the ports nearest the
place of their manufacture. Reappearing with each returning year in
the localities where they had established emporia, they accustomed the
natives to collect against their arrival such products as they could
profitably use in bartering with one or other of their many customers.
They thus established, on a fixed line of route, a kind of maritime
trading service, which placed all the shores of the Mediterranean in
direct communication with each other, and promoted the blending of the
youthful West with the ancient East.

[Illustration: 302.jpg TAILPIECE]

CHAPTER III--THE EIGHTEENTH THEBAN DYNASTY

THUTMOSIS I. AND HIS ARMY--HATSHOPSITU AND THUTMOSIS III.

_Thutmosis I.'s campaign in Syria--The organisation of the Egyptian
army: the infantry of the line, the archers, the horses, and the
charioteers--The classification of the troops according to their
arms--Marching and encampment in the enemy's country: battle
array--Chariot-charges--The enumeration and distribution of the
spoil--The vice-royalty of Rush and the adoption of Egyptian customs by
the Ethiopian tribes._

_The first successors of Thutmosis I.: Ahmasi and Hatshopsitit,
Thutmosis II--The temple of Deir el-Bahari and the buildings
of Karnah--The Ladders of Incense--The expedition to Puanit: bartering
with the natives, the return of the fleet._

_Thutmosis III.: his departure for Asia, the battle of Megiddo and
the subjection of Southern Syria--The year 23 to the year 28 of his
reig