The barge approached the left bank somewhat; the forms of people were outlined more clearly, and the prince saw something which he had not expected. While persons in the first ranks were clapping their hands and singing, in farther ones clubs were visible falling thickly and swiftly on backs that were hidden. The astonished heir turned to the nomarch of Memphis. "But look, worthiness, sticks are at work there." The nomarch shaded his eyes with his hand, his neck became red. "Pardon, most worthy prince, but I see badly." "They are beating--surely they are beating!" "That is possible," answered the nomarch. "Undoubtedly the priests have caught a band of thieves there." Not over-pleased with this conversation, the heir went toward the stern to the engineers, who turned the barge suddenly toward the middle of the river, and from that point he looked back at Memphis. Both banks higher up the Nile were almost deserted, the boats had disappeared, the well-sweeps were moving as if nothing had happened. "Is the solemnity over?" inquired the prince of an engineer, pointing to a higher place on the river. "It is. The people have returned to their work," said the engineer. "Very quickly." "They must recover lost time," said the engineer, incautiously. The heir quivered, and looked at the man sharply. But he calmed himself soon and returned to the tent. For him shouts were of no further interest. He was gloomy and silent. After an outburst of pride, he felt contempt for that throng which passed so promptly from enthusiasm to well-sweeps and baling up muddy water. At that point the Nile begins to separate into branches. The barge of the chief of Aa turned toward the west, sailed an hour, and stopped at the river bank. The crowds were still greater than at Memphis. A multitude of pillars had been set up with banners and triumphal arches entwined with green garlands. Among the people foreign faces and garments were more and more frequent. When the prince landed, the priests approached with a baldachin, and the worthy nomarch Otoes began,-- "Be greeted, viceroy of the divine pharaoh, within the borders of Aa. As a sign of thy favor, which for us is as heavenly dew, be pleased to make an offering to the god Ptah, who is our patron, and take under thy protection and control this province, with its temples, officials, people, cattle, grain, and all that is here existent." Then he presented a group of young exquisites, fragrant, rouged, arrayed in gold-embroidered garments. Those were the remoter and nearer relatives of the nomarch, the local aristocracy. Rameses looked at them with attention. "Aha!" said he. "It seemed to me that these gentlemen lacked something, and now I see what it is,--they have no wigs." "Because thou, most worthy prince, dost not wear wigs, our young men have vowed not to wear them," replied the nomarch.