Letter: ENA NS 48.25

Description

Letters in Judaeo-Arabic. On a narrow sliver of paper. Dating: probably 13th century. Recto: Letter addressed to Elʿazar, complaining about the addressee's delay in copying the quires (karārīs). The writer had sent him an ounce of ink as well as Abu l-Faraj with a riding animal, and Elʿazar should send the quires and the parchment with them. The writer has paid Sulaymān's capitation tax for him. As for the quires that were sent with al-Bilbaysī, and likewise the two quires that were sent with Abū ʿAlī, the writer did not receive them. If the bearers of the goods find a boat to take, they should take it. Verso: Letter from Elʿazar to 'Sayyidnā'. He reports that the ink never arrived, and therefore he has been sitting unemployed, so the addressee should send more ink, two ounces in fact. A woman ('sitt') was sick. It is also possible that Elʿazar's letter came first and the other one is the response.