The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-03-31
Just Translated From Ar
Ancient Papyrus Manuscript
Marvellous Adventures.
From the st. Louis Post Dispatch.

From the st. Louis Post Dispatch.
-Four thousand years ago the follow
Ing story was first published. How
old 1t was then no one can tell. 1t
Is found in a papyrus now in the Her
mitage at st. Petersburg, q papyrus
OF which the date IL about 1000 B. c.,
certainly not later. and 1t IL true that
no earlier story is known. Battiscombe
Gum has just translated 1t literally
for the London Spectator.
1t Is travellers tale" typical of
those that had credence at a much
later date; also. 1t might be the found
alton Of the story of the sea serpent
which has been so frequently recount
ed during the intervening years.
The returned traveller tells a tale.
Argument-A certain Prince has re-
turned safely to Egypt from q perilous
voyage to the parts beyond Nubia,
but cannot share the Joy of his crew
because upon him rests the dread duty
Of making a report before the Majesty
OF Pharaoh. An old officer, who has ac-
companicd the Prince as bodyguard,
essays In vain to hearten him by an
account Of a similar expedition which
ended In a very different manner The
Prince. not comforted. replies in a
dark saying:
BE Glad. o Prince: See, we have
reached the Capital; they have taken
the mallet. and driven In the mooring-
stake. and the ships cable has been
laid on land. They praise and thank
God, and every man embraces another.
Our soldiers have returned in safety:
not one of our warriors is lost. for all
that we reached the uttermost parts
Of Nubia, and have (now) passed the
Island Of Semmet. See now. we have
come home In peace; we have reached
our own land!
"Hearken to me. o Prince, am not
overbold. Wash thyself, pouring water
over thy fingers. Answer when thou
art addressed; speak to the King with
thy heart, answer without faltering.
1t Is mans mouth that saves him;
Is his speech that covers his face.
Act after the wish Of thy heart; (but)
chou talkest of doing naught.
Il Will recount to thee, therefore. q
like thing which happened to myself
when Journeyed to mine OF the King
and went down to the sea in q ship
Of $50 cubits in length, and 40 cubits
m width. Therein were $50 sailors, Of
the best in Egypt. They looked on
the sky, they looked on the land, and
their hearts were stouter than those
OF lions.
They foretold storm before 1t had
come; and foul weather when as yet
1t was not. The storm broke while
we were upon the sea, before we could
reach land. The wind arose. making a
q wave Of eight cubits. There was
a piece Of wood against which struck;
but the ship persisted. AS to those
that were therein. not one Of them
was remaining. I was cast upon an
island by wave of the sea. Three
days I passed alone with my heart as
my companion, and lay In the midst
ne nj he che
me. Then I stretched both my legs
to know what I should put in my
mouth.
found figs and grapes there and all
goodly roots; berries were there, to-
gether with grain and cucumbers Of
e. kinds. Fishes were there. and fowl:
there Is nothing that was not there.
the ground the abundance that had
over. I prepared flresticks and made
fire.
II heard q noise Of thunder I
thought: 1T Is a wave OF the sea-"
The trees cracked, the earth shook.
Then I uncovered my face; I found
that 1t was a serpent which was ap-
preaching. He was 80 cubits long, and
his tail was more than two cubits. His
body was covered with gold. and the
rings around his eyes were as real
lapis lazun. And the side was more
splendid than the front.
HE opened his mouth to me while
was upon my stomach before him and
said to me: who has brought thee.
little one, who has brought thee? II
thou hasten not to say who has
brought thee to this island, give thee
10 know that thou shalt be in ashes,
Becoming somewhat that cannot be
seen. Speakest thou to me? l hear It
not. I am before thee, and thou
knowest 1t not"
He took me in his mouth and bore
me off to his resting place. and laid me
down without his harming me. re-
manned whole and nothing was taken
from me.
HE opened his mouth to me while
was upon my stomach before him.
He said to me: Who has brought
ehee, who has brought thee, little one,
Who has brought thee to this island Of
the sea, Of which half Is in the waves? ?"
II answered him, my arms being bent
before him, and said to him: I am
he that went down to a mine on a
mission of the King in a ship Of $50
cubits in length and 40 cubits In width.