Scholarship on Letter: MIAC 23973.69

Recto

1. In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate.

2. I inform the Ikshīl, Master of the Horses and vizier of the king—

3. may God prolong his life and cause his happiness, safety and wellbeing to endure—that

4. my letter has been presented to him (i.e., you) through the agency of my master, Treasure of the Dynasty (Kanz al-Dawla). I inform him (i.e., you) that my slaves

5. are travelling to the king, may God cause him to live. I have informed him (i.e., you)

6. that I have had a letter written by them to the king, indicating I shall carry out

7. the wish of the king in his land. Please ask him to commit

8. to protecting my slaves, to making provision for them and to caring for them,

9. and to ensure that nobody has had the audacity to be hostile to them. These people

10. have friendly relations with the land of the king and request

11. only justice and kindness. My slaves

Recto, right margin

1. Kaylā and ʿĀli have travelled with my fabrics. If somebody

2. cares for the slave boy and does good to him,

3. he does it to his master. This is

4. my instruction to you. May God decree their protection,

5. and the king receive them with kindness and honour.

Verso

1. Praise be to God alone, and His blessings be upon our lord Muḥammad and his family, and His peace.

2. Our sufficiency is God. What a fine keeper is He!

Verso, address, right column

1. To the Ikshīl, Master of the Horses, vizier of the king,

2. Uruwī ibn Khiyākh, the deputy of the king in the citadel of Ibrīm,

3. may God cause his health, his protection and his wellbeing to endure.

Verso, address, left column

1. One who is grateful to him and his friend

2. Lāmiʿ ibn al-Ḥasan al-Kanzī