ich Sinuhit makes excuses for his flight, the fact of
his asking pardon before returning to Egypt, the very terms
of the letter in which the king recalls him and assures him
of impunity, show us that the laws against emigration were
in full force under the XIIth dynasty.

** The expressions which bear witness to this fact are very
numerous: Miri nibuf = "He who loves his master;" Aqu haiti
ni nibuf = "He who enters into the heart of his master," etc.
They recur so frequently in the texts in the case of persons
of all ranks, that it was thought no importance ought to be
attached to them. But the constant repetition of the word
NIB, "master," shows that we must alter this view, and give
these phrases their full meaning.

From the top to the bottom of the social scale every free man
acknowledged a master, who secured to him justice and protection in
exchange for his obedience and fealty. The moment an Egyptian tried to
withdraw himself from this subjection, the peace of his life was at
an end; he became a man without a master, and therefore without a
recognized protector.*

* The expression, "a man without a master," occurs several
times in the _Berlin Papyrus_, No. ii. For instance, the
peasant who is the hero of the story, says of the lord
Miruitensi, that he is "the rudder of heaven, the guide of
the earth, the balance which carries the offerings, the
buttress of tottering walls, the support of that which
falls, _the great master who takes whoever is without a
master_ to lavish on him the goods of his house, a jug of
beer and three loaves" each day.

Any one might stop him on the way, steal his cattle, merchandise, or
property on the most trivial pretext, and if he attempted to protest,
might beat him with almost certain impunity.

[Illustration: 095.jpg WAR-DANCE PERFORMED BY EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS BEFORE A
BATTLE]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from the tomb of Khiti at Beni-
Hasan. These are soldiers of the nome of Gazelle.

The only resource of the victim was to sit at the gate of the palace,
waiting to appeal for justice till the lord or the king should appear.
If by chance, after many rebuffs, his humble petition were granted, it
was only the beginning of fresh troubles. Even if the justice of the
cause were indisputable, the fact that he was a man without home or
master inspired his judges with an obs