Letter: T-S NS 305.105

Description

Recto: Letter in Arabic script. Relatively large and well preserved, probably missing only the top few lines. Seems to be from a family member. The sender explains that they did not come in (probably to Fustat) on account of their leg and their pain/illness. May mention a female slave (jāriya) in l. 3 but the rest of the sentence is difficult to read. Refers to a teacher (muʿallim) twice, who is to pay the sender 26 (dirhams?) so that he or she can pay the rest of the capitation tax (al-jāliya). Refers to a two-cubit piece of cloth (khirqa dhirāʿayn fa-armūhā maʿa al-[...]...). The sender mentions that someone came and informed them about the sickness of 'the little one' (al-ṣaghīra). In the margin there is an instruction to ask after someone's daughters (banāthā) and about Abū Saʿd and the receipt for the capitation tax (barāʾat al-jāliya). The handwriting is reminiscent of T-S AS 153.113v, but this is tentative. Verso: Draft of a petition or letter in Arabic script, in a different hand from recto.