56 MINES OF 



CHAP. II. 



that " l on the confines of Egypt and the neigh- 

 bouring countries there are parts full of gold 

 mines, from whence, with the cost and pains of 

 many labourers, much gold is dug. The soil is 

 naturally black, but in the body of the earth 

 there are many veins, shining with white marble, 

 and glittering with all sorts of bright metals, 

 out of which those appointed to be overseers 

 cause the gold to be dug by the labour of a vast 

 multitude of people. For the kings of Egypt 

 condemn to these mines not only notorious 

 criminals, captives taken in war, persons falsely 

 accused, and those with whom the king is 

 offended, but also all their kindred and relations. 

 These are sent to this work either as a punish- 

 ment, or that the profit and gain of the king 

 may be increased by their labours. There are 

 thus infinite numbers thrust into these mines, 

 all bound in fetters, kept at work night and day, 

 and so strictly guarded that there is no possi- 

 bility of their effecting an escape. They are 

 guarded by mercenary soldiers of various bar- 

 barous nations, whose language is foreign to 

 them and to each other, so that there are no 

 means either of forming conspiracies or of cor- 

 rupting those who are set to watch them : they 

 are kept to incessant work by the nod of the 



1 Diodorus, bcolt iii. cap. 1 ., from Agatharchidas de Rubro 

 Mari . 



