Letter: T-S NS 264.8 + T-S 13J21.12

Description

Letter from Maʿālī b. Abū l-Khayr al-Dimashqī, in Fez, to his father Abū l-Khayr b. Maʿālī al-Dimashqī, in Almeria. In Judaeo-Arabic, with the address in both Judaeo-Arabic and Arabic. Dating: end of December 1141 CE. The sender reports that he received the letter his father sent with Barukh and rejoiced at his health. He mentions business dealings with Ibrahīm and Surūr and Dāʾūd involving alum (shabb) and indigo (nīl). There is high demand for the former among the people of Almeria. He goes on to ask the addressee to send a message to Rabbi Yiṣḥaq b. Barukh, who was based in Almeria, and to take an oath from him. Also mentions Harūn b. al-Barjalūnī, Abu Zikri, Avraham and Avraham (who may be the same person), Dāʾūd, and Barukh. Some of these people are probably from Fez, but it is impossible to identify them from other sources. The main concern of the letter is news about various goods sent to Spain and elsewhere, including alum, indigo, gold, copper, lac, scales and weights, ruby wood and paper. The writer has also ordered a silk robe for Avraham, who wanted to wear it at his wedding. (Information mainly from Goitein and Friedman, India Book IV, and Goitein, Mediterranean Society, I, pp. 210, 486.) Indirect join first identified by Amir Ashur.