The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-01-10
A sIRiKEIN ANCIENrDAYs.
How Egyptian workm-n were Driven -
RrNnlt.

When strikes aro 80 common In Eu-
rope aud America, II will be interest
ing Ia consider how the ancient Egyp-
tisns managed such crisis Ia the
labor question. II was supposed that
suikrs were an original outcome TO
our modern civilizations; but tho do
ciphering oi u papyrus 10 the Museum
OF Turin shows how tho old proycrb
that thero is nothing ucw under tho
sun applies to strikes Us well as 10
many other things This papyrus.
which is a sort of journal or day-book
OF the superintendent OF the 1hcbcs
metropolis. furnishes curious details of
workmcn's riot or disturbances In
Thcbcs, in tho twouty-ninth yaar Of
King RamSos, who i supposed TO be
Ramscs Ill Tho work mems quarter
sent doputation on the 2sth uf De-
ccmbor, to Hatnrkn, the keeper of
booNs, aud TO several lricsts OF tho
metropolis. The speaker OF tho dcpu-
tatiou spoke as follows:
Behold, We are face 10 faoo with
famine. Wa have neither nourishmcnL
nor oil. nor vrstments. W. have no
fish; We have no vegetables. We have
already seut u petition to our sovor-
eign lord the Pharaoh, praying him to
give Us thesr things, and We now adj
dress The governor. IN order that he
may give us whurgwithal TO live.
These facts took place on tho 9th
Of December (iirst day of the month Of
IyUO. Tho general distribution Of
wheat was then evidently due to tho
workmcn, but why it did not take
place is not known. Purhaps the indi-
viduM who should have distributed tho
food was absent. Whatever was tho
cause OF tho delay, the need was ur-
gent. and Hatnekn. with the priests
present, either touched with compass
sion. or To prevent the affair from
roncilng the ears OF tho governor of
the metropolis, accorded Que days ra-
tions. How the wOrkmou lived in the
days following is not recorded IN tho
papyrns; but somp weeks afterwards
tnry were IN full revolt. Three times
thoy forgiby emsfged irom lhcig quir-
tiers, notwithstanding the walls which
surrounded them and the gates which
CLOSED them la. eNa will not return,"
eried 4 kneilu 20 the poles aegt " ur-
suit III thotn ..(suicli vaurchlef eAat
W. tell yua, ~ fAmWi wlsgM speaks
fy oIlr IL mthA IuAsp l5 AZ acn
was usol@ss. sSlaters ssAs graslt Naita-
tou," writes the superintendent in his
day book; II gave them the strangcst
answer could imagine. but lhuir
words were true ana cams from their
hearts"
They were quieted by distribution
! OF hail-raIi0ns, Jul ten days later they
weT up again.
Knons. the leader OF the band, press
cd ms eUnpant0ns to provide lor them
selves. ''lGt us iall. said he, upon
the stores OF provisions aud let tho
governors men 20 aud tell hun what
VIZ naye done" This COUNSEL was tpi-
lowed rs Soon rs given. They entered
forcibly into tile enclosure. but not into
the fortress whore the provisions were
kept ] hc keepers OF tho stores. Amen
kcxlu. gave them something. aud con-
triyed 10 Induce them to return To their
quarter.
Eluvcn days later the movement be-
gan again. The commander OF Thebes,
passing by, found thv men seated on
tue ground behind the temple Of Scli,
at ttu northern end uf tie metropolis
Immediately tiiey began TO cry: Fam
incl Fanuul The c numander Then
gave lnom an order ior iiity measures
OF wheat IA the name oi Pharaoh. .who
has sworn" said he. Fan oath that
you viii nave food again" Most ike
y Pharaoh never heard OF tue event
and never n ceiyed tho petition adj
dressed to him 4 couple Of months pre-
vOusiy. - Ihe i1tOt.