King Seneferu and the Magician

One day King Seneferu was feeling fed up (all that unsuccessful pyramid building, maybe?). He didn't know what to do with himself till he hit on the idea of sending for his Court Magician.
The Magician listened to the King and suggested that he take a boat ride. Seneferu said the ancient Egyptian equivalent of "Been there, done that, worn the T-shirt.".
The Magician smiled and said "Maybe not. Listen. Order one of your Royal Barges. The send for 20 of the prettiest young ladies in your House of Women (think hareem, but less restrictive and very, very luxurious). Have them wear net dresses and set them to rowing your Barge. You might find you enjoy the ride."
The King thought about 20 lithe young ladies rowing a boat wearing nothing but fishing nets and he smiled. "Make it so!" he ordered.
So, there they all were, rowing along the Nile, laughing and joking and having a very good time in the bright sunlight. 9 of the young ladies were rowing on one side and 9 on the other, whilst the last 2 were standing in the stern of the boat, working the great steering oars, one on each side. The King and the Magician were sitting back, enjoying the view. The ancient Egyptians put it this way: 'The sight of the young maidens gladdened the heart of His Majesty.'
Everything was going fine when there was a sudden scream from the stern. The King and the Magician hurried to the end of the boat, where one of the young ladies steering was standing there, in tears.
"What happened?" the king demanded.
"Somehow my hair got caught in the steering oar," the girl sobbed. "I got it free, but as I did so, a golden ornament I wore in my hair was pulled free and fell overboard!"
"Don't worry," said the king, "I'll get you another one!"
"But I want that one!" the young lady went into another flood of tears.
Seneferu looked helplessly at his Magician. "I think I can fix things" the Magician whispered and went to the side of the boat. He chanted some magic words and the waters of the river Nile parted (heard that one before, somewhere). Suddenly, the boat was resting on the bed of the river.
"Hop down and get your hair ornament" the Magician told the young lady and she did so, joyfully. (The King enjoyed that sight, too). She climbed back into the boat holding her pretty hair ornament tightly and smiling.
The Magician chanted some more magic words and quite smoothly, the waters of the Nile came back together and the Royal Barge rose until it was back, floating on top of the water, just as a respectable Royal boat ought to do.
"Well," said Seneferu, "Let's get on with the boat ride!". So they did.
Think I just made that story up? Well, I didn't. I read it in the Westcar papyrus, when I was learning hieroglyphics, many years ago.