The Pharaoh Seneferu, feeling extremely bored and jaded, sought in every apartment of his palace for something with which to amuse himself, but in vain; so he called for Zazamankh, his chief reciter and scribe of the rolls, to whom he told his predicament. Zazamankh advised that the king should command that a boat be made ready, and that he should go upon the lake of the palace and be rowed to and fro upon it glassy surface by the royal ladies. He asked for twenty oars of ebony inlaid with gold, with blades of light wood inlaid with electrum. These were to be rowed by twenty ladies.
The Pharaoh's heart was gladdened by the exercise; but one of the ladies who was steering lost a jewel of malachite from her hair. Immediately she ceased her singing and so did her companions, and they ceased to row. Seneferu inquired the reason, and they replied, "The steerswoman rows not."
hen Pharaoh the turned to the lady who had lost her jewel and asked her why she did not row. "Alas!" she replied, "my jewel of malachite has fallen in the water, and my heart is sad." The Pharaoh bade her be of good cheer and said that he would replace it; but she childishly replied that she wanted her own piece of malachite back in it's setting.Seneferu then called for Zazamankh and acquainted him with the circumstance had befallen. Zazamankh then uttered a powerful spell, and behold! one part of the waters of the lake was piled upon the other, so that far below them the Pharaoh and the rowers could see the jewel lying upon a piece of potsherd.
Zazamankh descended from the boat and secured the jewel and brought it back to it's owner, after which he once more commanded the waters to return to the place whence they came. This act delighted Pharaoh, so that he spent a joyful afternoon rowing with his ladies and Zazamankh was richly rewarded for his magical skill.
