Page:The Pharaohs and their people; scenes of old Egyptian life and history (IA pharaohstheirpeo00berkiala).pdf/108

 of its handiwork. King Apepi took unto him Sutech for lord, refusing to serve any other god in the whole land, and he built for him a temple of enduring workmanship. King Apepi appointed festival days for making sacrifice to Sutech, as in the temple of Ra-harmakhu.' Here there is a break, after which the manuscript goes on to tell how King Apepi, by the advice of his learned councillors, sent an embassy to the ruler of the south (the tributary native prince, Sekenen-Ra). 'The ruler of the south said to the messenger, "Who sent thee hither? Why art thou come? Is it to spy out the land?"' So far as we can gather from the text (which is here again interrupted) the messenger's reply related merely to the construction of a certain well for cattle, although he adds that 'sleep had not come to him by day or by night until he had delivered his message.' 'The ruler of the south was amazed, and knew not how to reply to the messenger of King Apepi.' Here another vexatious break occurs in the story.

It is more than likely that a spirit of independence was awakening in the south, under the brave Sekenen-Ra, and even that certain secret