him as “my brother,” and told him that
he had been wandering about in his palace seeking
for amusement, and had failed to find it. The
magician promptly suggested to the king that he should
have a boat got ready, decorated with pretty things
that would give pleasure, and should go for a row
on the lake. The motions of the rowers as they
rowed the boat about would interest him, and the sight
of the depths of the waters, and the pretty fields
and gardens round about the lake, would give him great
pleasure. “Let me,” said the magician,
“arrange the matter. Give me twenty ebony
paddles inlaid with gold and silver, and twenty pretty
maidens with flowing hair, and twenty network garments
wherein to dress them.” The king gave orders
for all these things to be provided, and when the
boat was ready, and the maidens who were to row had
taken their places, he entered the boat and sat in
his little pavilion and was rowed about on the lake.
The magician’s views proved to be correct, for
the king enjoyed himself, and was greatly amused in
watching the maidens row. Presently the handle
of the paddle of one of the maidens caught in her
long hair, and in trying to free it a malachite ornament
which she was wearing in her hair fell into the water
and disappeared. The maiden was much troubled
over her loss, and stopped rowing, and as her stopping
threw out of order the strokes of the maidens who
were sitting on the same seat as she was, they also
stopped rowing. Thereupon the king asked why the
rowing had ceased, and one of the maidens told him
what had happened; and when he promised that the ornament
should be recovered, the maiden said words which seem
to mean that she had no doubt that she should recover
it. On this Seneferu caused Tchatchamankh to
be summoned into the presence, and when he came the
king told him all that had happened. Then the
magician began to recite certain spells, the effect
of which was to cause the water of the lake first
to divide into two parts, and then the water on one
side to rise up and place itself on the water on the
other side. The boat, presumably, sank down gently
on the ground of the lake, for the malachite ornament
was seen lying there, and the magician fetched it,
and returned it to its owner. The depth of the
water in the middle of the lake where the ornament
dropped was 12 cubits (between 18 and 19 feet), and
when the water from one side was piled up on that on
the other, the total depth of the two sections taken
together was, we are told, 24 cubits. As soon
as the ornament was restored to the maiden, the magician
recited further spells, and the water lowered itself,
and spread over the ground of the lake, and so regained
its normal level. His Majesty, King Seneferu,
assembled his nobles, and having discussed the matter
with them, made a handsome gift to his clever magician.
When King Khufu had heard the story he ordered a large
supply of funerary offerings to be sent to the tomb
of Seneferu, and bread, beer, flesh, and incense to
the tomb of Tchatchamankh.