Dispatching Canaanite maidservants to the Pharaoh

Among the consignments sent by Canaanite rulers to the Pharaoh were maidservants whose names are rendered by variant designations (EA 64, 268, 288, 30I, 309). Two Pharaonic letters sent to Canaanite vassals also mention a request for women (EA 99, 369). The article analyzes the contents of the seven letters that deal with the dispatch of maidservants, establishes the background of each dispatch and draws a general picture of the delivery of Canaanite women to the Pharaoh. The analysis supports the conclusion that the routine payments of tribute were left out of the correspondence. What we have are reports of irregular payments, sent either after a special request from the Pharaoh, or in an effort to gain the favor of the Pharaoh and his officials.