The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-01-07
A STRIKE IN ANCIENT DAYS.
How Egyptian workmen were Driven to
..s .s.. E.t Revolt. '' .... 3.

When strikes arc so common in Eu-
rope and America, it will be interest
ing to consider low tho ancient Eovp-
ttans managed such II crisis in tho
labor question. 1t was supposed that
strikes werc an original outcome to
our modern civilizations; but tho de-
ciphering of a papyrus in the Museum
OF Turin shows how the old proverb
that there is nothing now under the
sun applies to strikes as we'll as to
many other things. This papyrus,
which is sort of journal or day-book
OF the superintendent of tho Thebes
metropolis, furnishes curious details of
workmen's riot or disturbance in
Ihobes. in the twenty-ninth year of o
King Ramsos. who is supposed to be
Ramses III. Tho workmen's quarter
sent deputation on tho 28th of De-
cember, to Hatnekin. the keeper of
books, and to several priests of tho
metropolis. The speaker of tho depu-
tation spoke as follows:
'Behold, we are face to faco with
famine. We have neither nourishment,
nor oil. nor vestments. Wo have no
ish; we have no vegetables. We havo
already sent petition to our sover-
elgn lord the Pharaoh, praying him to
give us these things, and we now ad-
dress the governor, in order that he
may give lis wherewithal to live"
these facts took place on the 27th
OF Oecembor Qirst day of the month of
1ybD. Tho general distribution of
wheat was then evidently due to the
workmen, but why it did not take
| place is not known. Perhaps the indi-
al oh h,, i;
| food was absent. Whatever was the
cause of tho delay, tho need was ur-
gent, and Hatnckiu, 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 ra-
tlons. How the workmen 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 tho walls which
surrounded them and tic gates which
! closed them in. "Wo will not return. "
cried u kncftu 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 apiIa-
tion," writes the superintendent in his
day-book; II gave them tho stranrest
answer l could imagine, but thoir
words were truo 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 and let the
governor men 60 and tell him what
we have done" This counsel was fol-
lowed us soon as given. They entered
torclbly into the enclosure, but not into
the fortress where the provisions were
kept. he keepers of the stores. Amen
NcXtu, gavc them something, and con-
trivcd 10 induce them to return to their
quarter.
Eleven days later the movement be-
gan again. Tho commander of Thebes.
passing by, found tho men seated on
the ground behind the temple of Seti,
at the northern end of tho metropolis.
Immediately they began to cry: Fam
inc! Eamine!' The commander then
gave them an order for fifty measures
OF wheat i'll the name Of Pharaoh, "who
has sworn" said he. "an oath that
you will have food again" Most like
Iy Pharaoh never heard of the event
and never received the petition ad-
dressed to him 4 couple of months pre-
Viously.-Ihe Pilot.