THE EGYPTIAN SUDAN Aalimes, or Amasis I., continued the war of independence which Tauaaqen had begun, and having besieged and captured the city of Avaris, the Hyksos stronghold, he pursued the Hyksos themselves to the city of Sharuhen, whither they had fled for refuge. This took place in the fifth year of his reign. When Amasis had subdued the tribes and peoples in the desert to the north-east of Egypt, he realized that it was time to reduce the Nubians to submission. For two or three centuries the grasp of the iron hand of the Egyptians on their country had been relaxed, and the people had well-nigh forgotten how to pay tribute. The account of the campaigns of Amasis in Nubia written by one of his generals, who also bore the name of Amasis,' gives us a few interesting facts, for he says, " When His Majesty had chastised sorely the Mentiu of Asia, he sailed up the Nile to Khent-hen-nefer." " The exact position of this region is unknown, but it seems tolerably certain that it included all the Nile Valley so far south as the Fourth Cataract, and probably all the cultivated lands between Khartum and Dar Fur. " Khent " is a very old Egyptian name for the Sudan, and it is probable that the portion of it which is indicated by the words " Hennefer " may describe the *' park-like country " on both sides of the White Nile, which is fertile, and contains trees and vegetation of all kinds in abundance, and is full of wild and domesticated animals. To this country Amasis went, " in order to punish the " Anti'* among the people of Kenset (i.e., the Nubian Troglodytes), " and His Majesty made a great slaughter among them. I rose " up, and I brought in two prisoners alive, and three hands, and " the king again gave me a gift of gold, and also two female slaves. " Then His Majesty sailed down the river with joy, his heart being "elated with conquest and strength, because he had conquered and " obtained possession of the lands of the South and those of the " North." The narrative is simple, and its meaning clear : Amasis made a military demonstration in Nubia, killed a great many people who resisted his progress, or declined to pay tribute, and ' For the text see Lepsius, Denkmdler, Bd. iii., Bl. 12.

These must not be confused with the Anti of Syria and the Peninsula of Sinai.

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