The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-11-19
How Egyptian Workmcn were Driven to
Revolt.

When strikes are so common in En-
rope and America, it will be interest
ing to consider how the ancient Egyp-
tians managed such crisis in the
labor question. 1t was supposed that
strikes were an original outcome to
our modern civilization; but the de-
ciphering of \ papyrus i'll the Museum
of Turin shows how the old proverb
that there is nothing new under the
sun applies to strikes as well as to
many other things. This papyrus,
which is 4 sort of journal OF day-book
OF the superintendent of the Thcbes
metropolis, furnishes curious details Of
q workmen's riot or disturbance in
Thebes, in the twenty-ninth year of a
King Ramscs, who is supposed to be
Ramses III. The workmen's quarter
sent deputation on the 2Sth Of, De-
cember, to Hatnekin, the keeper of
books, and to several priests of the
metropolis. The speaker of the depu-
tation spoke as follows:
Behold, we are face to face with
famine. We have neither nourishment,
nor oil, nor vestmcnts. We have no
fish; we have no vegetables. We have
already sent a petition to our sover-
eign lord the Pharaoh, praying him to
give us these things, and VIC now adj
dress the governor, in order that he
may give us wherewithal to live"
These facts took place on the 9th
of December (irst day of the month of
TybD. The general distribution of
wheat was then evidently due to the
workmen, but why it did not take
place is not known. Perhaps the indi-
vidual who should have distributed the
food was absent Whatever was the
cause of the delay, the need was ur-
gent, and Hatnekin, with tho priests
present, either touched with compass
sion, or to prevent the affair from
reaching the ears of the governor of
the metropolis, accorded one days IA
tons. How the worEmen lived in the
days following is not recorded in the
papyrus; but some weeks afterwards
they were in full revolt. Three times
they forcibly emerged from their quar-
tors, Notwithstanding the walls which
surrounded them and the gates which
closed them in. 1--WE will not return, ;"
cried kneftu TO the police sent in pur-
suit of them. GO tell your chief what
we tell you; it is famine which speaks
by our mouths" 10 argue with them
was useless. There was great agita-
tom writes the superintendent in his
day-book; Il gave them the strangest
answer | could imagine, but their
words were true and came from their
hearts"
They were quoted by distribution
of half-rations, but ten days later they
were up again.
Khons, the leader of the band, press
cd his companions to provide for them
selves. Let us fall" said he. upon
the stores of provisions aud let the
governors men 90 and tell him what
We have done" This counsel was fol-
lowed as soon as given. They entered
forcibly Into the enclosure, but not into
the fortress where the provisions were
kept. The keepers of the stores, Amen
Nextu, gave them something, and con-
triyed 10 induce them to return to their
quarter.
Eleven days later the movement be-
gan again. The commander of Thebes,
passing by. fopud the men seated on
the ground behind the temple of Seti,
at the northern cud of the metropolis.
Immediately they began 10 cry: Fam
| incl Faminei The smmander then
gave them an order Tor fifty measures
OF wheat in the name If Pharaoh, "whc
| has sworn, said he, ...tn oath that
you will have food again. Most like.
| ly Pharaoh never heard of the eyent
and never received the petition nd.
dressed to him a couple of months pre-.
violsly. The Pilot.