Cairo Genizah : Legal document

Cairo Genizah

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Legal document in the hand of Ḥalfon b. Manasseh ha-Levi, dated 1449 (= 1138 CE). A tax-farmer (ḍimān), Abū l-Surūr Peraḥya b. ʿUlla (known as Abū l-Munā the perfumer b. Ḥasan), grants Abū Isḥāq Abraham b. Jacob a license to sell and dye silk for 18 dinars per month in a certain quarter of Old Cairo, for the duration of Abū l-Surūr’s tenure in office. Abū l-Surūr promises not to accept any higher offer or to discontinue the lease (paying a fine of 100 dinars if he does so). Abū Isḥāq may subcontract the labour to others if he wishes and Abū l-Surūr agrees to use his influence with the police if any subcontractors evade payment of their dues. Abū l-Surūr reserves for himself the right to employ female brokers (bayyāʿāt ‘saleswomen’) in the quarter in question. Signed by [...] Kohen, descendant of Joseph Kohen and Nathan b. Samuel, and written under the authority of Maṣliaḥ Gaʾon (1127–1139 CE). On verso are a few lines in Arabic. Joins with T-S 10J5.17.</p>