[Footnote 2:  i.e. they were kept prisoners in Syria until their death.]

Then the Governor spake to the officer of his bodyguard, saying, “Lay hands on him, and take him to see the tombs wherein they lie.”  And I said unto him, “Far be it from me to look upon such [ill-omened] things!  As concerning the messengers of Kha-em-Uast, the men whom he sent unto thee as ambassadors were merely [officials] of his, and there was no god with his ambassadors, and so thou sayest, ’Make haste to look upon thy colleagues.’  Behold, wouldst thou not have greater pleasure, and shouldst thou not [instead of saying such things] cause to be made a stele whereon should be said by thee: 

“Amen-Ra, the King of the Gods, sent to me Amen-ta-mat, his divine ambassador, together with Unu-Amen, his human ambassador, in quest of trunks of cedar wood for the Great and Holy Boat of Amen-Ra, the King of the Gods.  And I cut down cedar trees, and I loaded them into ships.  I provided the ships myself, and I manned them with my own sailors, and I made them to arrive in Egypt that they might bespeak [from the god for me] ten thousand years of life, in addition to the span of life which was decreed for me.  And this petition hath been granted.

“[And wouldst thou not rather] that, after the lapse of time, when another ambassador came from the land of Egypt who understood this writing, he should utter thy name which should be on the stele, and pray that thou shouldst receive water in Amentet, even like the gods who subsist?”

And he said unto me, “These words which thou hast spoken unto me are of a certainty a great testimony.”  And I said unto him, “Now, as concerning the multitude of words which thou hast spoken unto me:  As soon as I arrive at the place where the First Prophet (i.e. Her-Heru) of Amen dwelleth, and he knoweth [how thou hast] performed the commands of the God [Amen], he will cause to be conveyed to thee [a gift of] certain things.”  Then I walked down to the beach, to the place where the trunks of cedar had been lying, and I saw eleven ships [ready] to put out to sea; and they belonged to Tchakar-Bal. [And the governor sent out an order] saying, “Stop him, and do not let any ship with him on board [depart] to the land of Egypt.”  Then I sat myself down and wept.  And the scribe of the Governor came out to me, and said unto me, “What aileth thee?” And I said unto him, “Consider the kashu birds that fly to Egypt again and again!  And consider how they flock to the cool water brooks!  Until the coming of whom must I remain cast aside hither?  Assuredly thou seest those who have come to prevent my departure a second time.”

Then [the scribe] went away and told the Governor what I had said; and the Governor shed tears because of the words that had been repeated to him, for they were full of pain.  And he caused the scribe to come out to me again, and he brought with him two skins [full] of wine and a goat.  And he caused to be brought out to me Thentmut, an Egyptian singing woman who lived in his house, and he said to her, “Sing to him, and let not the cares of his business lay hold upon his heart.”  And to me he sent a message, saying, “Eat and drink, and let not business lay hold upon thy heart.  Thou shalt hear everything which I have to say unto thee to-morrow morning.”