The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

128 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.should say, like stags.He gains nothing by catchingthem, but it amuses him to see them run.Then to his simple mind comes back the thought ofthe trophies which he has captured from the Wawat andthe Mazoi, and he tells us how he decked his palace withthe gold, and, incidentally, how it had a ceiling of lapislazuli blue, probably sprinkled with stars.Then he bethinks himself of the copper of his country,from which the doors are made, and of its manufactureinto bronze for the bolts. The working of copper isalready far advanced. He is proud of it, the staplewealth of the country apart from agriculture ;his implementsof war and peace are made of it."made for everlastingness, at which eternity fears."There isIt is his securitya feeling of reverence displayed towards theheavy and strong material,his land, the supply on which he relied.the undoubted mainstay ofHis peace wasprobably assured because " copper was plentiful withoutend, bronze without limit," 18 as it was in the days ofhis successor Usertsen (Sesostris) I.Hence we have his wealth classified simply, (1) Theagricultural riches given by nature ; (2) The bronze andcopper wherewith to cultivate and protect those riches ;(3) The gold, accidentally and opportunely obtained,with which to decorate the whole.He has sufficient, and needs not a wherewithal toobtain more.But whether it be from contact with the merchantsor from the pleasing effect of the trophies obtained byhunting the Nubians, the desire for goldis born. Theold man, in the last year of his reign, desires fresh18Breasted, i. 534.