منحة في رسالة: DK 311 (alt: 3, 6)

Recto

I am writing to you, my lord and master—may God prolong your life and grant you permanent well-being and happiness—to inform you that I arrived on Friday, after an eight days' journey, and unloaded my cargo on Sunday, the day I am writing this. Everything which I carried with me arrived completely intact.

Now, what you wish to know: Business here is slow and practically at a standstill. For there is much confusion in the rate of exchange and, at the present time, 50 dirhems are to be had for 1 dinar, more [or less]. An epidemic is raging in the environs of the town, and because of this, the flow of good dirhems has been cut off so that everyone is having difficulties with his business.

As to the textiles: The reddish material, first class, is worth 4½ (dinars) at most; other qualities, less than 4. Unbleached saris (fūṭa) 7½, but the red ones are selling poorly; Abu ’l-Surūr informed me that he sold for you ten red saris for 7 (dinars) and 10 qīrāṭs, on one month's credit. The cloaks (malāḥif) are selling very poorly. As to the small pieces of reddish material and the fine saris, I do not know the situation, for I did not sit on the market.

Oil is being sold 25 pounds for a dinar; so I am holding my oil back, in the hope that the situation will improve a little.

I met with the elder Abū Saʿd ("Fortunate") with regard to Salmān and learned that Salmān had gone to Palestine. He, Abū Saʿd, will write you a letter to be sent simultaneously with my letter, for I told him that you were very much upset about this matter and took a very serious view of it.

I talked to him about the textiles which I had brought with me from the West; he said that he had sent a letter with instructions to bring them here, but the letter had crossed me on my way. Therefore, my lord, if someone can be found to transport them, please do so; for he has no way of explaining to you what happened, as he does not write with his own hand, and there is someone staying in his house, in whose presence things cannot be discussed.

Al-Shayyāl ("Porter") received what was sent for you and will inquire as to what was lost and what remained. He requested me to ask you whether this involved the partnership. As to his own merchandise—whether (textiles) from Sicily or Majorca, or oil—whatever has been sold of this, he will receive the price agreed upon. As for everything else, after it is sold, each partner will get his share in accordance with his investment. Please take notice of this, my lord.

The silk (khazz) robes do not fetch a thing, one robe being worth less than 4 (dinars). Please inform Abu ’l-Ḥasan accordingly. Likewise, Joseph al-Fāsī (of Fez) asked me about this. Please also tell Abu ’l-Ḥasan Ibn al-Shāmī (Syro-Palestinian) not to move with his oil; he will only regret it.

Verso

My master, the elder Abū Saʿd, informed me that the elder Abu ’l-Bishr ("Good tidings") sold his silk (ḥarīr) to the government and received its price. However, I was in no mood today to ask him how he sold it. I shall sell what I have with me, for I do not see that there is much hope (for a better price).

My lord, the elder Abū Saʿd talked to me about the textiles, namely, which of them had not been sent and had been left with him. I understood that he wanted to get rid of them; so I said perhaps he could find someone to send them with and get them out of his sight.

My lord, I left my cotton robe, which I used to wear above my iridescent robe; in its pocket there is the tax certificate together with a paper bag in which there are some dirhems and a letter given to me by Salāma, the agent of our master, the Nagid—(may his) R(ock) p(reserve him). Please send me the tax certificate as soon as you have read this letter, for I have given a bail bond on it until it arrives.

Whatever needs you have, please write me about them. Please write me in detail about the price of oil at your place and how things are, for I am very much worried. May God let me receive good tidings, as is his bountiful custom.

Accept my best greetings, and likewise, my best greetings to the elder Abu ’l-Ḥasan; if he needs anything, let him write me about it. Greetings to Rachel and her mother and to everyone in the house. Greetings also to Abu ’l-Ḥasan, to the son of my paternal aunt, and his sons. And Peace. And may your life be prolonged!

And look for the storax for me, for I did not find it in the package.

Verso, address

(To) my lord, the elder Abu ’l-Faraj Nissīm, son of Solomon, (may he) r(est in) E(den)—may God grant him permanent well-being and happiness—Ruqqī.

(From) his "son" and protégé Solomon, son of Abraham, ... Ruqqī.