Brugsch, Heinrich: Egypt under the pharaohs: a history derived entirely from the monuments (London, 1891)

dyx. xviii. EXPEDITION TO THE LAND OF PUNT 143

I was a distinguished man, who loved him, and who gained for
myself the admiration of the lord of the country. He made me
great in the country ; he named me as the chief steward of his
house, and as the governor of the whole country. So I became the
first of the first, and the master of the works of all masters of the
works.

The buildings of Hatshepsu are some of the most
tasteful, most complete, and brilliant creations that the
hands of Egyptian artists ever wrought. They belong
to the time of the matchless splendour of Egyptian art,
"whether as regards the manipulation of the stone, or
the form and manner of the execution, or the effect of
the rich coloured decoration. Even in their ruin they
exercise a wonderful charm on the spoilt taste of
modern times. Hatshepsu's desire for glory and a cer-
tain adventurous turn of mind caused her to look
towards the remote shores of the Indian Ocean, and a
voyage of discovery must be accomplished to the land
of Punt, the cradle of many marvellous stories told by
sea-faring men.

The front walls of the Stage Temple of Deir-el-
Bahari are covered with coloured sculptures and
inscriptions, of which the representation that has
become so famous, of the expedition by sea to the
balsam-land of Punt, is conspicuous above all the rest.

Incited thereto by the oracle of Amen, the queen
determined to undertake a voyage of discovery to
this unknown land. The Egyptians were acquainted
from hearsay with the wonders of that distant
region on the coasts of the Eed Sea and the Indian
Ocean, the home of the pine incense so much coveted
for the service of the temples, and of many other pre-
cious products of the soil. A number of seagoing
ships were prepared for the voyage. They were
manned by able seamen and warriors, and a pro-
fusion of friendly gifts was not forgotten.