Geniza Lab

Bifolio of business accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals, listing several names and itemized expenses or revenues. On two of the four pages, there are anecdotes, jokes, and pieces of wisdom, making this a sort of commonplace book. One of the anecdotes/jokes is about a snake who was lying on a thorny bush and was swept away by a current. Someone saw it and said, "This ship is no good, and neither is the sailor!" The one underneath is about a woman being divorced by her husband. Needs further examination.

Recto: Private account in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals. Verso: At the top, apparently a tongue twister about two roosters with funny names: كان لنا ديكين اسم الواحد الشقحقفي والاخر الشقح قفتقوا(؟) قام الشقحقفي يقف قفح قفا الشقح قفتقوا(؟) شقح قفوا(؟) صاح. Underneath possibly anecdotes or possibly accounts involving birds. Needs further examination.

A narrative poem in Arabic script. Seems to be a humorous dialogue (including phrases such as "fa-qāma yaḍḥak...").

Epistle that is humorous in Judaeo-Arabic that opens with praises to God "who rounded the walnut. . . and put the whales in the sea. . . and who distinguished all his creatures, for some have their nose between their eyes and some have their heads between their ears." Perhaps copied from an Arabic literary work?