Letter: ENA 2935.24 + ENA 3038.1

Description

Letter likely from a woman, perhaps in Palestine or Syria (based on the mention of earthquakes), to her brother, evidently a government official in New Cairo. In Judaeo-Arabic written in large, calligraphic, square characters, with the address in Arabic script on verso, "to be delivered to the tax bureau (dīwān al-kharāj) in Cairo." Dating: 11th or 12th century; likely 11th. Opens with allusions to various disputes or rumors thereof. Someone told the sender that the addressee was mad at her and would not send her letters, so she wept and argued that this can't be the case. She swears by Abū l-Ḥasan (likely their father). She tells the addressee he has saddened her heart and urges him to write, because she has no one but God and him. She says that "my tears are on my cheek" night and day and she has taken an oath not to eat fatty foods (zafar) until she sees a letter from him, in his own hand. She was happy to hear of the successful childbirth (khalāṣ) of Umm Abū l-Ḥasan (likely the addressee's wife) and sends blessings. She alludes to suffering at the hands of Ibn Ḥātim. There follow more allusions to arguments and rumors of arguments. She refers to the talk of a wife (zawja) or wedding (zīja) and blames the servant (ghulām) of the elder Yaʿaqov, who writes to him (probably Ibn Ḥātim) claiming that the addressee insults him and calls him 'al-fāʿil al-ṣāniʿ' (cf. ENA 4010.7 + ENA NS 19.14 (PGPID 6784) and T-S AS 169.292 + T-S AS 169.291 + T-S AS 169.294 + T-S NS 220.29 (PGPID 36211)). She says she is in good health and that he (=Ibn Ḥātim again? her husband?) has cut for her a damask silk robe (jūba = jubba ṣiqlāṭūn) and treats her well and [promises?] her that he will bring her back to Fustat or Egypt (Miṣr). The addressee should send a letter thanking him for his good treatment. Marwān is always with her and serves her well. He went to retrieve the oil, because it is in danger from the earthquakes. It is not impossible that the sender is a man, but all of the tropes here are more typical of women's letters (e.g., "I have no one but God and you," weeping and fasting until a letter from the addressee arrives, being treated well by a man who will decide where they will live). Join: Alan Elbaum.