The campaign of the XIth year brought to an end the great military expeditions of Ramses III.  Henceforward he never took the lead in any more serious military enterprise than that of repressing the Bedawin of Seir for acts of brigandage,* or the Ethiopians for some similar reason.  He confined his attention to the maintenance of commercial and industrial relations with manufacturing countries, and with the markets of Asia and Africa.  He strengthened the garrisons of Sinai, and encouraged the working of the ancient mines in that region.  He sent a colony of quarry-men and of smelters to the land of Atika, in order to work the veins of silver which were alleged to exist there.**

     The Sairu of the Egyptian texts have been identified with
     the Bedawin of Seir.

** This is the Gebel-Ataka of our day.  All this district is imperfectly explored, but we know that it contains mines and quarries some of which were worked as late as in the time of the Mameluk Sultans.

He launched a fleet on the Red Sea, and sent it to the countries of fragrant spices.  “The captains of the sailors were there, together with the chiefs of the corvee and accountants, to provide provision” for the people of the Divine Lands “from the innumerable products of Egypt; and these products were counted by myriads.  Sailing through the great sea of Qodi, they arrived at Puantt without mishap, and there collected cargoes for their galleys and ships, consisting of all the unknown marvels of Tonutir, as well as considerable quantities of the perfumes of Puatin, which they stowed on board by tens of thousands without number.  The sons of the princes of Tonutir came themselves into Qimit with their tributes.  They reached the region of Coptos safe and sound, and disembarked there in peace with their riches.”  It was somewhere about Sau and Tuau that the merchants and royal officers landed, following the example of the expeditions of the XIIth and XVIIIth dynasties.  Here they organised caravans of asses and slaves, which taking the shortest route across the mountain—­that of the valley of Rahanu—­carried the precious commodities to Coptos, whence they were transferred to boats and distributed along the river.  The erection of public buildings, which had been interrupted since the time of Minephtah, began again with renewed activity.  The captives in the recent victories furnished the requisite labour, while the mines, the voyages to the Somali coast, and the tributes of vassals provided the necessary money.  Syria was not lost sight of in this resumption of peaceful occupations.  The overthrow of the Khati secured Egyptian rule in this region, and promised a long tranquillity within its borders.  One temple at least was erected in the country—­that of Pa-kanana—­where the princes of Kharu were to assemble to offer worship to the Pharaoh, and to pay each one his quota of the general tribute.  The Pulasati were employed to