מכתב: ENA 2727.4b

תיאור

Business letter from Avraham Naḥum, perhaps in Manzala, to a certain Shemuel, in Cairo. In Hebrew. Dating: First half of the 16th century. The sender informs the addressee that he has sent a sum of money (23 gold coins, peraḥim) with the messenger Khalīfa (ll. 9–10, 14) in order to pay various debts in Cairo (specified in ll. 6–7, 9, and 12–13). He has also sent פייסאס לולואיש (=piezas lulues), apparently a Ladino-Arabic term for pearls, which are also to be sold and the proceeds used to defray some of the sender's debts (ll. 10–14). Names mentioned include Shemuel Rashīdī, Avraham Maymūn (the sender's brother-in-law), Shemuel Bahlūl (the addressee's relative, also mentioned in T-S AS 153.214 together Avraham Naḥum, the sender of the present letter). The currency medin/muʾayyadi is also cited. There is also another commodity with a Spanish name: ha-escribanía (a writing-desk?). (Information in part from A. David via FGP.)