Letter: T-S 6J7.1 + T-S Ar.13.16

Description

Letter in Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: ca. 13th century. From an unidentified sender in Damīra to a Jewish notable in Fustat (perhaps even the Nagid). Two fragments; missing the beginning. Refers to a group of people traveling (יסירו ויטלעו קאצ[דין); that they had obtained a rescript for/against the Ṣāḥib al-Sayyāra (could refer to the head of a specific caravan, but see T-S K25.32 (PGPID 34397) for the government post Mutawallī al-Sayyāra); that the rescript confirmed their rights to continue as before (מקר בידיהם באן יגרו עלי מא קד גרת בה עאדתהם ולא יגדד עליהם מא לם יעהדוה); and strengthening the hand of the sender of this letter (ואעזאז אלעבד אלממלוך ואלשד עלי ידה). When the nāẓir Abū l-Munā arrived in Damīra, the sender and the group/community went to him and registered a complaint against a certain Ibrāhīm, saying, "there is no good or honor in this, that a Jew should oppose the honoring of our master the noble Rayyis" (וקאל לא כיר לה ולא כראמה [פי] אן יעארץ יהודי אכראם למולי אלריס אלגליל). The nāẓir sent two policemen, and Ibrāhīm was humiliated. The next sentence is somewhat difficult, but the sender seems to be justifying his actions and taking credit for reporting Ibrāhīm to the government. He now asks the addressee (אלחצרה אלעאליה) to write to Abū l-Munā the nāẓir in order to thank him and convey the gratitude of the sender and the community. Join: Alan Elbaum.