ivated, moreover, by a poor and sparse population.
It needed a fortuitous combination of circumstances to relieve them from
their poverty-stricken condition--either a war, which would bring into
prominence their strategic positions; or the establishment of
markets, such as those of Syene and Elephantine, where the commerce
of neighbouring regions would naturally centre; or the erection, as at
Ombos or Adfu, of a temple which would periodically attract a crowd
of pilgrims. The principality of the Two Feathers comprised, besides
Nekhabit, at least two such towns--Anit, on its northern boundary, and
Nekhnit almost facing Nekhabit on the left bank of the river.* These
three towns sometimes formed separate estates for as many independent
lords:** even when united they constituted a fiefdom of but restricted
area and of slender revenues, its chiefs ranking below those of the
great feudal princes of Middle Egypt. The rulers of this fiefdom led an
obscure existence during the whole period of the Memphite empire, and
when at length Thebes gained the ascendency, they rallied to the latter
and acknowledged her suzerainty. One of them, Sovkunakhiti, gained the
favour of Sovkhotpu III. Sakhemuaztauiri, who granted him lands which
made the fortune of his house; another of them, Ai, married Khonsu,
one of the daughters of Sovkumsauf I. and his Queen Nubkhas, and it is
possible that the misshapen pyramid of Qulah, the most southern in Egypt
proper, was built for one of these royally connected personages.

* Nekhnit is the Hieraconpolis of Greek and Roman times,
Hait-Bauku, the modern name of which is Kom-el-Ahmar.

** Pihiri was, therefore, prince of Nekhabit and of Anit at
one and the same time, whereas the town of Nekhnit had its
own special rulers, several of whom are known to us from the
tombs at Kom-el-Ahmar.

The descendants of Ai attached themselves faithfully to the Pharaohs
of the XVIIth dynasty, and helped them to the utmost in their struggle
against the invaders. Their capital, Nekhabit, was situated between the
Nile and the Arabian chain, at the entrance to a valley which penetrates
some distance into the desert, and leads to the gold-mines on the Red
Sea. The town profited considerably from the precious metals brought
into it by the caravans, and also from the extraction of natron, which
from prehistoric times was largely employed in embalming. It had been
a fortified place from the outset,