The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-12-12
AN ANCIENT STRIKE.
How Egyptian Workmen Were Driven to
Bitter Revolt.

Bitter Revolt.
When strikes are so comaoon in En-
rope and America. it will be interesting
to consider hcw the ancient Egyptians
managed such a crisis in the labor ques-
ton. 1t was supposed that Strikes were
an original outcome to our modern
civilizations b&t the dcciphcring OF u
papyrus in the museum Of Turin shows
how the old proYerb that there is moth
ing new under the sun applies to strikes
as well us to many other things. This
papyrus, which is Il sort Of journal or
day-book of the superintendent of the
Thcbes Metropolis, furnishes curious
details Of WOrkmen's riot or disturb
anGe in Thebes, in the twenty-ninth
year of a King RamscE, who is su, --.
posed to be Ramses III. The work
mems quarter sent deputation on the
28th of December to Hatnekin, the
keeper Of books, and to several priests
of the metropolis. The speaker of the
deputation spoke as follows:
Behold, we are face to face with
famine. We have neither nourish-
ment, nor oil, nor vestments. We
have no fish, we have no vegetables
We have already sent a petition to our
Sovereign Lord the Pharaoh, praying
him to give us these things, and we
now address the Governor, in order
that he may give us wherewithal to
live"
These facts took place on the 9th Of
December Qirst day of the month of
Tybi9. The general distribution OF
wheat was then evidently due to the
workmen, but why it did not take place
is not known. Perhaps the individual
who should have distributed the food
was absent Whatever was the
cause of delay. the need was
urgent, and Hanekin, with the
priests present, either touched
with compassion or to prevent the affair
from reaching the ears of the Governor
of the metropolis, accorded one day,
rations. How the workmen lived in
the days following is not recorded in
the papyrus; but some weeks atterward
they were in full revolt Three times
they forcibly emerged from their quar-
surrounded them and the gates which
closed them in. 1--WE will not return, -
cried llncftu to the police sent in pur-
suit of them. $50 tell your chief what
we tell you; it is famine which speaks
by our mouths" To argue with them
was useless. There was great agita-
ton, y writes the superintendent in his
! day-book. Il gave them the strongest
answer | could imagine, but their
words were true and came from their
hearts"
They were quoted by a distribution
of half-rations, but ten days later they
were up again.
Khons, the leader of the band, pressed
his companions to provide for them
selves. ''Let us fall said he, upon
| the stores of provisions and let the Gov
ernor's men 90 and tell him what we
have DONE This counsel was followed
as soon as given. They entered forcibly
into the inclosure, but not into the fort
ress where the provisions We're kept.
The keeper of the stores, Amen-NeNtu,
gave them something. and contriyed to
| induce them to return TO their quarters.
| Eleven days laterthe movement began
again. Tho commander of Ehobcs,
| passing by, found the men seated on
| the gToaud behind the temple Of SaG.
at the northern end Of the metropolis.
Immediately they began to cry: Gam
incl Famine!" The commander then
gave them an order for fifty measures
of wheat in the name Of Pharoah, 'who
has sworn" said he, IAN oath that YOU
will have food again" Most likely
Pharoah never heard of the event and
never received the petition addressed to
him q couple of months previously
| The Pilot.