Jan.9] PROCEEDINGS. [1894.of it in the Xllth dynasty. We hear of it, however, underAtrten-
hotepIII, Rameses III, and Osorkon II, as has been latelypointed
out by Monsieur Naville(EgyptExplorationFundMemoir,X, p. 6,
pi. VI). Theabove bringsus to the end of the inscriptions dated
in kings' reigns. Such inscriptionsare as a rule less common than
merenames,and hence it is not surprising to find that the greater
numberof graffiti bearno such date,but in this particular case we
havenearlyall the remaining inscriptionsdatedin the reign of the
nfimarch,and this appears to me to be an important exception,as it
tendsto emphasize the feudal natureof the government at the time,
and also throwsfurther lighton the long warswhichwe read were
waged by Amenemhat the 1st against the nobles and petty princes
beforehe was acknowledged kingof the entire two lands.
Hereit may make mattersclearerto give a list of inscriptions in
this group arrangedby dates.
No.
Vlthyearof Nehera ...
Vllth it Nehera,bornof Kema ... 9
VHIth J! Nehera „ Kema... 14
Vth ,) Kai ... ... • 7
Vlth », Kai 8
(?) M Kai ...^12
IVth )» Aha-next 13
XXth '1 Aha-next 2A
Theremaininggraffitiin this group are not dated in any way,
theyare —
No. 1. Tehuti-next, bornof Tehuti-hotep.
- Short inscription mentioning Thoth, lord of Chmenu
(Ashmouneen).
5A. Short inscriptionmentioningHat-nub; name uncertain.
1 3 a. Tehuti-next and his son ; merely names.
It would occupytoo much spaceto enter largelyinto particulars
of the above, but a few remarks may be useful.
Generally speakingthe style of the inscriptions seemsto be a
kindof self-glorification, suchas we see in the long doorwayinscrip
tion in the tomb of Ameni at Beni Hasan. The writer says he "was
sentto Hak-nub to get alabaster for the house of the king;" he
mentionsthat he was "beloved of his town," andthat he was "its
defence in the day of battle;" that he "protected the widow," and
did " not oppress the miserable (poor)."
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