USERTSEN III. OCCUPIES THE SUDAN river both to the north and to the south, and it is situated in the very heart of the country in which are found the strata of quartz, whence gold was obtained. For miles and miles along the river banks the traveller finds the remains of the broken basalt strata which Nature alternated with quartz strata, and it is clear that the whole neighbourhood was worked by men seeking for gold for many generations. Of the strength of the garrisons which were maintained here by Usertsen III. we know nothing, but the size of the fortified enclosures at Semna and Kumma suggests that they were sufficient to keep in order the wretched workmen who dug out the gold ore, and to quell any ordinary rebellion which might break out among the natives. The worship of the gods was not neglected, for in each fort was a small temple, strongly built of stone, or of stone and brick, wherein the Egyptian officials might adore the gods whom the}- knew and worshipped in their own land, and also store the gold until it could be sent northwards on the backs of asses. Thus trade and religion went hand in hand, and the weary workmen had the opportunity of admiring the skill of their conquerors in business, and the devotion of their rulers to their gods. As a matter of policy the local gods were duly recognized, and, when sufficiently important, were included among the gods of Egypt.

When Usertsen III. became master of Nubia so far to the south as Semna, he set up a stele to mark the boundary of his kingdom, and that of the land of Heh. This stele is dated in the eighth year of his reign, and was probably inscribed when he was actually at Semna. The text is an interesting one, for it shows that although he had conquered the country to the north of Semna, the natives to the south were able to give him a good deal of trouble. Judging from its contents it appears that the people of Heh were in the habit of passing through the Cataract in their boats, and stirring up discontent and revolt among the vanquished Nubians, and the mischief which they caused seems to have been so great that the king was obliged to prohibit any " Black " from passing Semna, except for purposes of trade or embassy. His decree reads :— ' For the hieroglyphic text see Lepsius, Denkinciler, Bd. ii., Bl. 136. For renderings see Brugscb, £V)/// //-r the Pharaohs, vol. i., p. 182; Chabas, Etudes sur VAntiquiti- Hist., p. 135 : Miiller, Aethiopien, p. 10.

54