Remarks

This tale is only known in one copy, preserved in the Hermitage

collection at St. Petersburg. The papyrus has not yet been published,

either in facsimile or transcription. But two translations of it have

appeared by M. Golenischeff: from the earlier a modified translation is

given by Maspero in the "Contes Populaires," 2nd edit., pp. 133-146,

and the later translation is in M. Golenischeff's excellent

"Inventaire de la collection Egyptienne (Ermitage Imperial)," p.

177-182.

The tale is that of a returned sailor, speaking to his superior and

telling his adventures, to induce him to send him on with an

introduction to the king. At first his master professes to disbelieve

him, and then the sailor protests that this happened to himself, and

gives his narrative. The idea of an enchanted island, which has risen

from the waves and will sink again, is here found to be one of the

oldest plots for a tale of marvels. But the construction is far more

advanced than that of the tales of the magicians. The family of serpents

and the manner of the great serpent is well conceived, and there are

many fine touches of literary quality: such as noise as of thunder, the

trees shaking and the earth being moved at the appearance of the great

serpent--the speeches of the serpent and his threat--the sailors who had

seen heaven and earth--the contempt of the serpent for his offerings.

"As for me, I am prince of the land of Punt, and I have perfumes"--and

the scene of departure. All of these points show a firm hand and

practised taste, although there is still a style of simplicity clinging

to it which agrees well to its date in the XIIth Dynasty.

The great serpent is not of a type usual in Egyptian designs. The

human-headed uraeus is seldom bearded; and the best example of such a

monster is on an Ethiopian temple, where a great uraeus has human arms

and a lion's head. The colours again repeat the favourite combination

expressive of splendour--gold and lazuli. Though lazuli is very rare in

early times, yet it certainly was known in the XIIth Dynasty, as shown

by the forms of some beads of lazuli.

The slaughter of asses in sacrifice is a very peculiar offering, and no

sign of this is found in any representations or groups of offerings.

The colophon of the copyist at the end shows by the style of the name

that it belongs to the earlier part of the XIIth Dynasty, and if so, the

composition might be referred to the opening of foreign trade under

Sankhkara or Amenemhat I.

XIITH DYNASTY