his attention.  The increasing importance of the Syrian provinces in the eyes of Egypt, the growth of the Hittite monarchy, and the migrations of the peoples of the Mediterranean, had obliged the last princes of the preceding dynasty to reside more frequently at Memphis than Amenothes I. or Thutmosis III. had done.  Amenothes III. had set to work to restore certain cities which had been abandoned since the days of the Shepherds, and Bubastis, Athribis, and perhaps Tanis, had, thanks to his efforts, revived from their decayed condition.  The Pharaohs, indeed, felt that at Thebes they were too far removed from the battle-fields of Asia; distance made it difficult for them to counteract the intrigues in which their vassals in Kharu and the lords of Naharaim were perpetually implicated, and a revolt which might have been easily anticipated or crushed had they been advised of it within a few days, gained time to increase and extend during the interval occupied by the couriers in travelling to and from the capital.  Ramses felt the importance of possessing a town close to the Isthmus where he could reside in security, and he therefore built close to Zalu, in a fertile and healthy locality, a stronghold to which he gave his own name,* and of which the poets of the time have left us an enthusiastic description.  “It extends,” they say, “between Zahi and Egypt—­and is filled with provisions and victuals.—­It resembles Hermonthis,—­it is strong like Memphis,—­and the sun rises—­and sets in it—­so that men quit their villages and establish themselves in its territory.”—­“The dwellers on the coasts bring conger eels and fish in homage,—­they pay it the tribute of their marshes.—­The inhabitants don their festal garments every day,—­perfumed oil is on their heads and new wigs;—­they stand at their doors, their hands full of bunches of flowers,—­green branches from the village of Pihathor,—­garlands of Pahuru,—­on the day when Pharaoh makes his entry.—­Joy then reigns and spreads, and nothing can stay it,—­O Usirmari-sotpuniri, thou who art Montu in the two lands,—­Ramses-Miamun, the god.”  The town acted as an advance post, from whence the king could keep watch against all intriguing adversaries,—­whether on the banks of the Orontes or the coast of the Mediterranean.

     * An allusion to the foundation of this residence occurs in
     an inscription at Abu Simbel, dated in his XXVth year.

Nothing appeared for the moment to threaten the peace of the empire.  The Asiatic vassals had raised no disturbance on hearing of the king’s accession, and Mautallu continued to observe the conditions of the treaty which he had signed with Seti.  Two military expeditions undertaken beyond the isthmus in the IInd and IVth years of the new sovereign were accomplished almost without fighting.  He repressed by the way the marauding Shausu, and on reaching the Nahr el-Kelb, which then formed the northern frontier of his empire, he inscribed at the turn of the road,