to reimburse the craftsman for his labor.^469 In O. Gardiner 137, two
policemen take an oath that they will repay a grain debt or pay a
penalty (double the amount owed).^470 Disputes concerning debts could
last a long time. In O. Turin 9611, a man claims a debt unpaid
for eleven years.^471
In cases of failure to pay an agreed-upon debt, the complainant
would first go to court. Then the debtor would have to take an oath
to pay the debt by a specific date. Penalties would be sworn upon,
usually one hundred blows and double penalty.^472 In O. Turin 9754,
a man swears to return property within a certain amount of time.
If he fails to do so, he declares that he can be punished as agm-n ̇m
(“one-found-to-have-taken”?), possibly a technical designation for a
person convicted of illegally taking possession of another’s property.^4737.3 Hire
7.3.1 Animals
The hire of animals, especially donkeys, was common.^474 O. Petrie
4 is the record of a rental dispute between a policeman and an
unnamed creditor. The donkey is returned together with a goat, rep-
resenting the payment of the hire. This amount is judged too small,
and a scribe must decide upon a new amount.^475 In O. DeM 62,
the owner of the donkey assures the hirer in an oath that no third
person has a claim on the animal.^476 O. DeM 582 is a complaint
to the court concerning the use, without any hire agreement, of a
donkey.^477(^469) Allam, Hieratische Ostraka.. ., 166–67; Verfahrensrecht.. ., 21.
(^470) See also Allam, Hieratische Ostraka.. ., 179; O. DeM 61 (ibid., 85); Allam,
Verfahrensrecht.. ., 24.
(^471) See also Allam, Hieratische Ostraka.. ., 250–51. The same situation exists in
O. Chicago 12073, where a period of 18 years is mentioned; see Manning et al.
“Chicago Oriental Ostracon 12703...”
(^472) Lorton, “Treatment.. .,” 42–43. O. DeM 433 (Allam, Hieratische Ostraka...,
123).
(^473) Allam, Hieratische Ostraka.. ., 252, and Verfahrensrecht.. ., 33; McDowell,
Jurisdiction.. ., 182.
(^474) Allam, “Zwei Schlussklauseln.. .”; Janssen, “B3k.w...”
(^475) Allam, Hieratische Ostraka.. ., 227–28, and Verfahrensrecht.. ., 28 and 33.
(^476) Allam, “Zwei Schlussklauseln.. .,” 15.
(^477) Allam, Hieratische Ostraka.. ., 138–39, and Verfahrensrecht.. ., 41.
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