Publication Date
700-800 (undated)
Type
Document
Language
Arabic
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
Yes
Physical Dimensions
174 mm x 312 mm (height x width)
Library
Chester Beatty
Record ID
Is Pp3
Library Location
Islamic Collection
Date
700-800 (undated)
Notes
Papyrus memo about tax evaders under arrest. This memo was issued from the administrative offices of the Arab authorities in Egypt, and deals with the topic of agricultural workers and land-owners who have left their place of fiscal residence and moved to another administrative district. Such "fugitives" (in Arabic s. jālī; pl jāliya) are mentioned in surviving papyrus documentation throughout Egypt’s history, but in the Islamic period they are especially prominent in the record from the end of the seventh and throughout the eighth century. The fugitives were treated variously depending on the circumstances: sometimes they had to pay taxes in their new place of residence, sometimes they had to pay taxes (as well) in their original place of residence while living and working elsewhere, and sometimes they were forced to return to their original place of residence to work the agricultural land and pay taxes there. In other cases tax-payers who had temporarily left their lands could make arrangements to return after striking a deal with the authorities about payments (in taxes) they were eligible for. Folio fragment, ink on fine light brown papyrus, mounted on paper and framed under glass, original cutting lines preserved on all sides, Arabic text in a clearly-executed hand with a fine pen, written perpendicular to the fibres, beginning of a memorandum addressed to Abū `Imrān, explaining that the local supervisor in Nalawā village has arrested 42 tax evaders (jāliya, fugitive agricultural workers or land-owners), whom the (unnamed) sender now sends on to him (Abū `Imrān) under guard, unsigned, Egypt, undated, c. 700-800
Materyal
Papyrus (material), Ink (material)
Nesne Adı
Folio / Bi-Folio (Codex)
Müstensih ve Üretim Yeri
Unknown, Egypt
Yazı Tipi
Cursive script
