T-S AS 203.181

תיאור

מכתב בעברית מפוסטאט. מוחזק בספריית קיימברידג'.

Princeton Geniza Project description: Bifolio containing a very lengthy and detailed Hebrew narrative of business dealings, possibly intended as a draft or copy of a letter, or possibly related to a legal document or legal query. Dating: ca. 16th century based on the mention of the currency sharīfī, al-Khwājā ʿUthmān, and Turkish-influenced terms (e.g. ועשיתי עמו בזאר means "I made a business deal with him," likely a calque from the Turkish "pazar etmek"). The writer is located in Fustat/Cairo (פה מצרים) and also mentions places including Bulaq and Alexandria. The story begins with a purchase of a large batch of galangal (khawlanjān), which turned out to be partly rotten and worm-eaten, from a Muslim man and from a probably Jewish man known as שניי (Shanyī? a variant of Shanjī?). The writer tried to sieve out the rotten parts as best he could and he then struck a deal with a Christian to sell it to him. As they were waiting for the official weigher (qabbānī, shoqel) to arrive, Shanyī arrived and impounded the galangal. The writer tried to find Shanyī to ask why he did this, but he could find only his own brother-in-law (apparently closly associated with Shanyī) who explained that "the galangal you purchased is worthless" and that he had it impounded to prevent the writer from making a bad deal with the Christian over it. Time passed, and the Christian continued to harass the writer for the galangal that he had purchased but which the writer was unable to turn over to him. He considered suing Shanyī but refrained both because he did not want the Christian to hear about this matter, and because "I know his cruel heart with me, and he would simply throw it in the river/sea and not return it to me." The writer acknowledges that he does owe 14 sharīfīs to Shanyī (which may explain Shanyī's behavior toward him). The brokers (סרסורים) intervened and suggested that half of the deal be canceled and half continued. Eventually, the writer intended to travel on a Friday and summoned the Rayyis (ship's captain?) to pack his goods, but Shanyī came and held back the ship due to the oustanding 14 sharīfīs. The writer describes "almost going mad" and his "great fear" over this. He then produced a bag of opium weighing 27.5 raṭls, intending to leave it as collateral, with the aid of his brother-in-law Yosef. He then traveled onward to Bulaq. Months later, Shemuʾel al-ʿAjam arrived in Alexandria requesting his opium. Therefore the writer sent the 14 sharīfīs to Shanyī, intended for the brother-in-law, but he refused to return the opium because he says "he still owes me 6 sharīfīs from another debt, give me 2, and I'll give you the opium." Later it appears that the 6 peraḥim (apparently the same as the 6 sharīfīs) were a debt owed by the late Yaʿaqov [...]. The writer remains extremely upset about the situation. He mentions al-Khwājā ʿUthmān, and the story cuts off around here. Possibly related to ENA NS 43.6 (PGPID 11789).