48 B.—This begins with the usual salutation, and then continues: “If perchance I send a message to the King my Lord, do not thou refuse the request of my memorial. Lo! thrice has come upon me a year of storms (or tumults), and again a year of storms begins. My wheat is naught; the wheat for us to eat: that which was for sowing for my freemen is finished; their beasts, their herbs, the trees of their gardens, are wretched, in my unhappy land. Our corn has failed. Once more the King will hear the message of his faithful servant, and will order wheat in ships, and his servant shall live; and be thou moved and send us com. The chiefs (will send?) horses, as commanded, to _Zu_ ... And thou shalt defend the city (by so doing?) ... behold _Yankhamu_ says (or asks) ... that wheat be given to _Ribadda_ ... to him ... corn (the bread of men?) ... and now with _Yapaaddu_ ... their money henceforth ... ask him, he will tell all in your presence. Mayest thou know when it is spoken in the presence of the King my Lord. And this year of storms makes the wheat scarce (in) my unhappy land ... there was scarcity before in the city _Simyra_, and now behold in the city _Gebal_.”
The text is here too broken to be read. It seems, perhaps, to refer to the enemy having possession of the sea, and to the entreaties of _Yankhamu_, and to certain waters, and the general wretchedness. A paragraph then begins:(270)
“The King of the Land _Taratzi_(271) has coveted the city of _Simyra_; and they desired to march to the city of _Gebal_; and none now has urged him, and he has stayed in his land. Now as he is strong he will send to the great ... by my wish ... they have returned to us.” The letter is again much broken; it refers to a ruler, saying: “His heart is with my heart; but _Abdasherah_ has conquered beyond the land of the _Amorites_, also since the time of your father the city of _Sidon_ has submitted to the occupation by his allies: the lands are for the men of blood, so now there is none who is a friend (or kin) to me. Let the King regard the message of his servant. Let him give men to guard his city. Is not she insulted by all the men of blood?”
The latter part, referring to allies, is much broken.