er them across the canals
and arms of the river in a vigorous condition and ready for the battle.*

* It may be pointed out that Ahmosi, son of Abina, was a
sailor and a leader of sailors; that he passed from one
vessel to another, until he was at length appointed to the
command of one of the most important ships in the royal
fleet. Transport by water always played considerable part in
the wars which were carried on in Egyptian territory; I have
elsewhere drawn attention to campaigns conducted in this
manner under the Horacleopolitan dynasties, and we shall see
that the Ethiopian conquerors adopted the same mode of
transit in the course of their invasion of Egypt.

As soon as this fleet arrived at the scene of hostilities, the
engagement began. Ahmosi-si-Abina conducted the manouvres under the
king's eye, and soon gave such evidence of his capacity, that he was
transferred by royal favour to the _Rising in Memphis_--a vessel with
a high freeboard. He was shortly afterwards appointed to a post in a
division told off for duty on the river Zadiku, which ran under the
walls of the enemy's fortress.* Two successive and vigorous attacks
made in this quarter were barren of important results. Ahmosi-si-Abina
succeeded in each of the attacks in killing an enemy, bringing back as
trophies a hand of each of his victims, and his prowess, made known to
the king by one of the heralds, twice procured for him, "the gold of
valour," probably in the form of collars, chains, or bracelets.**

* The name of this canal was first recognised by Brugsch,
then misunderstood and translated "the water bearing the
name of the water of Avaris." It is now road "Zadiku," and,
with the Egyptian article, Pa-zadiku, or Pzadiku. The name
is of Semitic origin, and is derived from the root meaning
"to be just;" we do not know to which of the watercourses
traversing the east of the Delta it ought to be applied.

** The fact that the attacks from this side were not
successful is proved by the sequel. If they had succeeded,
as is usually supposed, the Egyptians would not have fallen
back on another point further south in order to renew the
struggle.

[Illustration: 122.jpg THE TOMBS OF THE PRINCES OF NEKHABIT, IN THE
HILLSIDE ABOVE EL-KAB]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a photograph by Emil Brugsch-Bey.

The assault having been repulsed in