2o8  History  of  Ancient  Peoples.       [Part  lit

9.  Apepi,  the  last  of  the  Hyksos  pharaohs,  became
jealous  of  the  Theban  nomarch.  The  latter  is  sup-
posed to  have  been  descended  from  the  old  Theban
pharaohs ;  though  it  is  more  probable  that  many  of
the  mysterious  changes  in  Egyptian  dynasties  were
due  to  tribal  elections.  In  the  time  of  Apepi,  the
ruler  of  Thebes  was  one  Soqnun-ri,  who  had  ren-
dered nearly  all  of  Upper  Egypt  subject  to  his
nome.  Apepi  determined  to  force  a  quarrel  upon
the  Thebans,  even  though  they  did  pay  tribute
promptly.  He  therefore  sent  messages  couched  in
such  mysterious  language  that  the  Theban  did  not
know  how  to  answer  them:  first,  '*  Let  the  hippo-
potamuses which  are  in  the  canals  of  the  country  be
chased  on  the  pool,  in  order  that  they  may  allow
sleep  to  visit  me  night  and  day'*;  then,  **  If  the
chief  cannot  answer  my  message,  let  him  serve  no
other  god  than  Sutekh."  The  chief  of  the  South
thereupon  prepared  for  war.  The  strug-
thc  Second  g^^  was  long  and  fierce.  The  Hyksos,
Hamito-  however,  hated  by  the  Egyptians,  soon
*  found  themselves  in  the  midst  of  enemies.
The  people  flocked  to  the  aid  of  the  Thebans.  But
just  as  victory  seemed  probable,  Soqnun-ri,  the  chief
of  the  South,  was  slain  in  battle.  The  features  of
his  mummy  still  show  the  blow  of  the  axe,  cleaving
one  cheek  from  the  jaw,  that  of  another  crashing
through  the  skull,  and  the  wound  of  a  dagger  on  the
forehead.'  It  remained  for  his  successor  to  expel
the  foreigner,  and  fully  to  restore  the  Theban
dynasty.
"^  Records  of  the  Past/\\,y  yj^i^.
