Letter: T-S Ar.41.108

Description

Letter from Ibrāhīm b. Hillel, Alexandria, to ʿArūs b. Yūsuf on the conclusion of the latter’s second or third voyage to the south. The writer expresses joy on ʿArūs b. Yūsuf’s safe return. He acknowledges that ʿArūs b. Yūsuf had instructed him to sell some ivory, but although he repeatedly told al-Ḥakīm to sell it for him, he didn’t manage to. The writer had sent ʿArūs b. Yūsuf fūṭas, wraps, copper and gold coins, and asked him to exchange the proceeds for brazilwood, pepper or whatever else he could, and asks what he’s managed to buy, since he himself is about to sail. He also asks ʿArūs b. Yūsuf to send the cardamom that Khalaf b. ʿAzrūn of Alexandria had sent from a previous journey so that his family could benefit from the proceeds (Khalaf b. ʿAzrūn in the meantime had perished at sea). He extends greetings to Abū Zikrī, among others. This letter seems to be an instance of Egypt serving as a commodity hinge between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean spheres, if Ibrahīm b. Hillel is planning to depart from Alexandria westward selling some of what ʿArūs b. Yūsuf has acquired in the south. (MR)