SIXTH TO TWELFTH DYNASTIES 17

arms, and the destruction and captivity of thousands

of these negroes. Negroes, many of them, there

undoubtedly were, their representations in the

picture stories of Egypt faithfully demonstrating it.

Just as the Sudanese battalions of to-day fight

for the cause of Egypt in the Sudan, so under the

Sixth Dynasty, say 3230 B.C., did the aboriginals

aid Pepi I., whose pyramid may be seen at Sakkara,

to raid and harry the dwellers in the desert ; and

his general in later years may be judged, by his

building of boats, to have penetrated far into the

upper reaches of the White or Blue Niles, where

suitable timber was, and still is, plentiful.

Ivory, ebony, gold, precious stones, frankincense,

hides, and slaves, were brought by traders or

victorious generals to add to the riches of Egypt, and during the decline of the Kings of Memphis, from the Sixth to the Twelfth Dynasties, until the

ultimate rise of those of Thebes several hundred

years later, while traders no doubt pursued their

calling, the internal troubles of Egypt caused the Sudan to be left to itself. The history of these

days being usually chronicles of exploits and

victories, the silence of this great hiatus points

naturally to the absence of military effort or of

exploration.

Under the Theban Kings Egypt renewed her

strength, and Menthuhetep III., taking his cue from the first of his name (Eleventh Dynasty), is

depicted as the victor over the southern hordes, and the Kings of the Twelfth Dynasty (2466 b.c.

2