(* Wawat-the stretch of the Nile between modern Aswan and Khartoum.
** Beasts of Seth — okapi, an animal from the same group as the giraffe. They are now found only in the dense jungles of the Congo but were formerly widespread throughout Africa, being very numerous in the Nile Delta. The figure of the dread Seth, god of darkness, is modelled after this animal.
*** Ramses II (1229–1225 B.C.), the great conqueror. Tame lions fought on the side of the Egyptians against the Hittites.)
“From time immemorial the Princes of the South have provided the Black Land with everything needed from the lands of the black people; nothing has ever been impossible for them to perform. I wish to continue this glorious tradition: Tha-Quem must see a live rhinoceros. I have summoned you that we may take counsel on the easiest way to bring at least one of these terrible monsters to Tha-Quem. What do you say, Nehzi, who have seen so many glorious hunts?” he asked, turning to. the Lord of the Hunt, a morose, obese individual whose wavy hair, dark skin and humped nose betrayed in him a descendant of the Hyksos.
“The beast of the southern plains is indescribably fierce; his skin is impervious to our spears, his strength is that of the elephant,” began Nehzi importantly. “He attacks first, smashing and crushing everything that stands in his way. He is not to be caught in a pit: the heavy animal would most certainly be injured. If we arrange a big hunt and seek a female with her young we might kill the mother, capture the babe and take it to Quemt…” Kabuefta struck angrily on the arm of his chair. “Seven times seven will I fall to the feet of the Great House, my ruler. Fie on you,” the finger of the Prince of the South prodded the dumbfounded Lord of the Hunt, “who dares to sin against His Majesty. Not a hall-dead babe must we bring him, but a great beast, nefer-neferu, the best of the best, an animal in the prime of life, capable of inspiring fear in full measure. Nor can we wait until a cub grows to maturity in captivity… The royal command must be fulfilled with all haste especially as the animal lives far from the Gates of the South.”
Peheni, the Caravan Leader, suggested sending some three hundred of the bravest soldiers without arms but with ropes and nets to capture the monster.
The Commander of the Host, Senofri, scowled at this and Kabuefta frowned at him.
Then the Caravan Leader hastened to add that it would not be necessary to send soldiers but that it would be better to force the Nubians themselves to capture the beast.
Kabuefta shook his head, twisting his mouth into a derisive smile.
“The days of Tuthmosis and Ramses are long past — the. despised inhabitants of the Land of Nub are no longer bowed in submission. Senofri knows with what efforts and cunning we are able to curb the lust of their hungry mouths… No, that will not do, we must capture the animal ourselves…”
“And if, instead of soldiers, we were to sacrifice slaves,” suggested Senofri with caution.
The worried Kabuefta was suddenly aroused.
“I swear by Ma’at, the all-seeing goddess of truth, that you’re right, O wise commander! I’ll take rebels and runaways from the prisons, these are the boldest of the slaves. They shall capture the monster.”
The Lord of the Hunt smiled an unbelieving smile.
“You are wise, O Prince of the South, but, might I make bold to ask, how are you going to compel the slaves to face certain, death from this fierce monster? Threats will not help, you can only threaten them with death instead of death. What difference will it make to them?”
“You understand animals better than you do men, Nehzi, so leave the men to me. I shall promise them liberty. Those who have already faced death for the sake of liberty will be willing to do go again. That’s exactly why I shall take only rebellious slaves.”
“And will you fulfil your promise?” asked Nehzi again.
Kabuefta stuck out his lower lip haughtily.
“The majesty of the Prince of the South does not permit him to sink so low as to lie to slaves, but they will not return. Leave that to me. You would do better to tell me how many men you’ll need to capture the animal and how far it is to the places where it is to be found.”
“We’ll need no less than two hundred men. The animal will crush a half of them and the remainder will overcome him by their numbers and tie him up. Two months from now begins the season of floods and the grass of the plains will spring up. At that time the animals will come north for the grass and we shall then be able to seek them close to the river near the Sixth Cataract. The most important thing is to capture the animal in the vicinity of the river, since the men will not be able to carry a live animal that weighs as much as seven bulls. Once on the river, we can take it by water in a big cage as far as the City…”
The Prince of the South was thinking deeply, making calculations, and his lips quivered.
“Het!” he said at last. “So let it be. A hundred and fifty slaves will be enough if they fight well. A hundred soldiers, twenty hunters and guides… You will take command of the whole party, Nehzi! Get busy making your arrangements at once. Senofri will select reliable soldiers and peaceful Negroes.”(* Peaceful Negroes — the name given by the Egyptians to Negroes who served in the army and police.)
The Lord of the Hunt bowed.
The officials left the chamber, making merry over Nehzi’s new appointment.
Kabuefta seated the Scribe and began to dictate a letter to the governors of the prisons of the two towns at the Gates of the South, Neb and Swan.
V. THE GOLDEN PLAIN
At the foot of a staircase, leading down from a hill at the southern end of the Island of Neb, stood a crowd of slaves chained to huge bronze rings hanging from the granite pillars that rose above the lower terrace. All the hundred and fourteen survivors of the flight were there and another forty Negroes and Nubians with savage faces and bodies criss-crossed with the scars of old wounds. The crowd languished long in the blazing sun waiting to learn their fate.
At last a man in white raiment, with the glitter of gold on his forehead, breast and on his black staff, appeared on the upper landing of the staircase. He walked slowly in the shade of two fans, carried by Nubian soldiers. Several other men, important officials, judging by their clothes, surrounded the Prince. This was Kabuefta, the Prince of the South.
The soldiers quickly drew a cordon around the slaves; a prison scribe, who accompanied the captives, stepped forward and prostrated himself before the Prince.
Kabuefta, calmly, never changing the expression on his immobile face, came down the stairs and advanced right up to the slaves. He cast a rapid, contemptuous glance over all those present. Turning to one of the officials he said something in careless tones, although there was a slight note of approval in his voice. The Prince of the South struck the ground with his staff, its bronze ferrule rang sharply on the stone pavement.
“All of you look at me and listen! Let those who do not understand the language of Quemt be led aside; they will get an explanation later.”
The soldiers hurriedly obeyed the order, taking away fifteen Negroes who did not understand the language.
Kabuefta spoke loudly and slowly, in the language of the people, carefully selecting his words. It was obvious that the Prince of the South frequently had occasion to speak to foreigners.
The Prince explained to the slaves-the matter in hand; he did not try to hide the fact that it meant death for many of them, but he promised liberty to the survivors. The majority of the captives expressed their agreement in exclamations of approval, the remainder kept a sullen silence, but nobody refused.