This short inscription is dated in the eighth year of the reign of Usertsen III.  “The southern frontier in the eighth year under the Majesty of the King of the South and North, Khakaura (Usertsen III), endowed with life for ever.  No Black whatsoever shall be permitted to pass [this stone] going down stream, whether travelling by land or sailing in a boat, with cattle, asses, goats, &c., belonging to the Blacks, with the exception of such as cometh to do business in the country of Aqen[1] or on an embassy.  Such, however, shall be well entreated in every way.  No boats belonging to the Blacks shall in future be permitted to pass down the river by the region of Heh."[2]

[Footnote 1:  This district has not been identified.]

[Footnote 2:  The district of Semnah and Kummah, about 40 miles south of Wadi Halfah.]

The methods of Usertsen III and his opinions of the Sudani folk are illustrated by the following inscription which he set up at Semnah, a fort built by him at the foot of the Second Cataract.

“In the third month[1] of the season Pert His Majesty fixed the boundary of Egypt on the south at Heh (Semnah).  I made my boundary and went further up the river than my fathers.  I added greatly to it.  I give commands [therein].  I am the king, and what is said by me is done.  What my heart conceiveth my hand bringeth to pass.  I am [like] the crocodile which seizeth, carrieth off, and destroyeth without mercy.  Words (or matters) do not remain dormant in my heart.  To the coward soft talk suggesteth longsuffering; this I give not to my enemies.  Him who attacketh me I attack.  I am silent in the matter that is for silence; I answer as the matter demandeth.  Silence after an attack maketh the heart of the enemy bold.  The attack must be sudden like that of a crocodile.  The man who hesitateth is a coward, and a wretched creature is he who is defeated on his own territory and turned into a slave.  The Black understandeth talk only.  Speak to him and he falleth prostrate.  He fleeth before a pursuer, and he pursueth only him that fleeth.  The Blacks are not bold men; on the contrary, they are timid and weak, and their hearts are cowed.  My Majesty hath seen them, and [what I say] is no lie.

[Footnote 1:  = January-February.]

“I seized their women, I carried off their workers in the fields, I came to their wells, I slew their bulls, I cut their corn and I burnt it.  This I swear by the life of my father.  I speak the truth; there is no doubt about the matter, and that which cometh forth from my mouth cannot be gainsaid.  Furthermore, every son of mine who shall keep intact this boundary which My Majesty hath made, is indeed my son; he is the son who protecteth his father, if he keep intact the boundary of him that begot him.  He who shall allow this boundary to be removed, and shall not fight for it, is not my son, and he hath not been begotten by me.  Moreover, My Majesty hath caused to be made a statue of My Majesty on this my boundary, not only with the desire that ye should prosper thereby, but that ye should do battle for it.”