This short inscription is dated in the eighth year of the reign of
Senusret III.
"The southern frontier in the eighth year under the
Majesty of the Pharaoh of the South and North, Khakaura (Senusret 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, belonging to the
Blacks, with the exception of such as cometh to do business in the
country of Aqen 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.( The district of Semnah and Kummah, about 40 miles south of
Wadi Halfah.)"
The methods of Senusret 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 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 Pharaoh, 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.
"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."
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