ثيقة شرعيّة: PER H 21 + Moss. VII,39

الوصف

Legal document. Location: Fustat. In the hand of Ḥalfon b. Menashshe ha-Levi (active 1100–38 CE). Dating: 1120–38 CE, based on the involvement of Yakhin b. Netanʾel Rosh ha-Qehilot (apparently active ca. 1120–50 CE). The document is a release for a certain India merchant [...] b. Rajā ha-Zaqen from any potential claim against him from the orphans of his deceased traveling companion Tamīm b. Yaʿaqov ha-Kohen, and from having to give any further testimony or make any vow. The document explains that the merchant acted with great valor hiding his companion's merchandise from the rulers of Dahlak who would have confiscated it—and would have killed the merchant himself if they had found out what he had done. This merchant also made haste to go to the court and declare all the goods belonging to his companion (and therefore his orphans) as soon as he returned to Fustat (l. 10), and even mentioned "several things that were not in the account ledger (daftar al-ḥisāb)." Toward the end there is a list of luxury goods (e.g. ambergris and pearl bracelets), which is part of a legal formula as all of them are negated, and mentions a certain Moshe (so perhaps the trader is Moshe b. Rajā?). See also T-S AS 149.84 (PGPID 18611). (Information in part from Goitein's attached discussion, transcription, and translation.) Join: Alan Elbaum.