رسالة: MIAC 23973.23

الوصف

Letter from the Nubian eparch Uruwī in Ibrīm to an unnamed recipient. The address is missing. The unnamed recipient is in possession of some garments. The Master of the Shipmasts is taking three of these garments on Uruwī's behalf and two more on the recipient's behalf. (PG: Perhaps these garments are trade consignments to be conveyed by the Master of the Shipmasts) Uruwī also reports that he has delivered 5 2/3 irdabbs of good-quality wheat and some garments to the recipient's slave boy, who will convey them to the recipient. The letter also mentions the lieutenant (khalīfa), who does not receive anything in these consignments but is perhaps otherwise involved in business relationships with Uruwī and the addressee. Uruwī writes that the people of Nubia are facing economic hardship. He mentions that the Qūsa clan of Darmus have resumed a certain right to al-Qirṭimī that was first given to al-Qirṭimī's father. Upon the granting of that right, Uruwī's father had "reinstated the payment of two waybas of weight and many garments." Like many others in the corpus, this letter reflects the importance of specific message bearers in conducting diplomatic business. Uruwī tells the addressee that he trusts the bearer of this letter but rejected another man who came to him. However (?) he says he accepts anyone who comes in the addressee's name out of respect for the addressee. PG Khan, Qasr Ibrīm, doc. 18.