Berkley, E.: The pharaohs and their people: scenes of old Egyptian life and history (New York, [1883])

FOREIGN SETTLERS. 77

one of the group is playing on a lyre of antique
form. The children are carried in panniers,
and women walk by their side; asses laden with
baggage bring up the rear.

This occurred in the sixth year of Usertesen
II., and it was a scene that was very likely often-
times repeated. Families of foreigners came to
settle in Egypt, attracted by its luxuriant plenty,
and gradually developed into colonies. In the
Delta more especially, foreigners settled in great
numbers. There were colonists bent on peace-
ful industry, but there were others of a more
restless and warlike type. It is possible that
some may have been established there since the
dark and troubled days that followed the sixth
dynasty, when foreign tribes very probably held
possession of part at least of the Delta for a
time.

Egypt had often maintained a severe conflict
on her southern frontier, where the boundary
line was now marked by grim fortresses; but
if trouble should ever overwhelm the land the
storm would assuredly gather in the north-east.
Fortresses had been erected there also, and
Amenemhat's wall of defence was still standing,