CHAPTER XXXVI

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_Chapter whereby the Āpshait is kept back._

Away from me, thou with parted lips! I am Chnemu, the Lord of Shennu, who am bringing the words of the gods to Rā. And I announce the news to Nebes.

NOTE.

The insect called ⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂ _āpšai_ or ⁂⁂⁂ _āpsȧit_ is difficult of identification. It is certainly not a tortoise as was formerly thought, but looks rather like the voracious _Blatta orientalis_. The form in _Le_ is peculiar, but I have met it in a later papyrus. The last word of the chapter is doubtful. The most recent papyri have ⁂⁂ ‘their Lord,’ which gives a very good sense, but even the Turin copy has ⁂ ‘her Lord’ which agrees with the oldest papyrus. Bekenrenef has ⁂⁂ _Nebes_, a lion-headed goddess.

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