Sudan Archive

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IRRIGATION WORK IN THE SUDAN a fort was built at Dakka with the view of strengthening the hold which the Egyptians had on the mines of Wadi 'Ulaki, but further raids were necessary, for the Sudan had not recovered from the ruin and devastation which had been spread through it broadcast by Usertsen III. The reign of Amenemliat IV. was short and unimportant, and the Sudan was not troubled by any raazia on a specially large scale.

The only work of public utility undertaken in Nubia by the kings of the Xllth Dynasty was in connection with the Nile.

Usertsen I, appears to have constructed a series of dykes on the west bank of the river, and to have made some attempt to " train " its waters. Usertsen III. cleared out and enlarged the old canal which ran through a portion of the First Cataract, and Amenemhrit III. caused records of Nile levels to be cut on the rocks at Semna and Kumma, no doubt in connection with a scheme for the regulation of the water supply of Egypt. In all these efforts, however, the advantage which would accrue to the Egyptians was first calculated, and the effect which they might have on the prosperity of Nubia was not specially considered. The main objects were to keep a clear water-way for the passage of boats employed in the business of the Government, and to use the data collected at Semna in connection with the working of the irrigation basins in Egypt.

The kings of the Xlllth Dynasty, who were of Theban origin, succeeded in maintaining their hold upon the Sudan, but few details of the period during which they ruled have come down to us. The first king of the dynasty, according to the King- Lists, was he whose prenomen is Khu-taui-Ra. Nothing is known about him, and no monument of him was known until the discovery at Semna of the small statue of him by Mr. J. W. Crowfoot and myself in January, 1905 (see Vol. I., pp. 485, 486). The fifteenth king of this dynasty, Sebek-hetep I., caused records of the Nile levels during the first four years of his reign to be cut on the rocks at Semna and Kumma ; the record of the fourth year was cut out by Lepsius and taken to Berlin, where it is now e.Khibited in the Royal Museum (No. 1,160). During this king's reign the ' Sec the official Verzetchnis, p. in.

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