The whole journey from Memphis to Thebes was conducted in a similar manner and the enthusiasm of people rose instead of decreasing. Earth- tillers left the fields and artisans the shops to delight themselves with looking at the new sovereign of whose intentions legends were already created. They expected great changes, though no one knew what these changes might be. This alone was undoubted, that the severity of officials had decreased, that Phoenicians collected rent in a less absolute manner, and the Egyptian people, always so submissive, had begun to raise their heads when priests met them.
"Only let the pharaoh permit," said people in inns, fields and markets, "and we will introduce order among the holy fathers. Because of them we pay immense taxes, and the wounds on our backs are always open."
Among the Libyan hills, about thirty-five miles south of
Memphis, lay the country of Piom or Fayum, wonderful through this, that human hands had made it.
There was formerly in this province a sunken desert surrounded by naked hills. The pharaoh Amenhemat first conceived the daring plan of changing this place into a fruitful region, three thousand five hundred years before the Christian era.
With this object he divided the eastern part of the depression from the rest and put a mighty dam around it. This dam was about eight meters high, one hundred yards thick at the base, and its length more than four hundred kilometers.
In this way was created a reservoir which held three milliards of cubic meters of water, the surface of which occupied about three hundred square kilometers. This reservoir served to irrigate two hundred thousand hectares of land, and besides, in time of overflow, it took in the excess of water and guaranteed a considerable part of Egypt from sudden inundation.
This immense collection of water was called Lake Moeris, and was considered one of the wonders of the world. Thanks to it a desert valley was changed into the fertile land of Piom, where about two hundred thousand people lived in comfort. In this province, besides palms and wheat, were produced the most beautiful roses; oil made from these went to all Egypt, and beyond its boundaries.
The existence of Lake Moeris was connected with another wonder among works of Egyptian engineers, Joseph's canal. This canal, two hundred yards wide, extended about three hundred and fifty kilometers along the western side of the Nile. It was situated fifteen kilometers from the river, served to irrigate lands near the Libyan mountains, and conveyed water to Lake Moeris.
Around the country of Piom rose a number of ancient pyramids and a multitude of smaller tombs. On its eastern boundary was the celebrated Labyrinth (Lope-rohunt). This was built also by Amenhemat and had the form of an immense horseshoe. It occupied an area one thousand yards long and six hundred wide.