Petition to a praepositus pagi about crops destroyed by grazing animals TM 10409Kom Aushim (Karanis)Jan. 29th, 324 A.D.

To Dioskoros, praepositus of the 5th pagus, from Isidoros son of Ptolemaios, from the village of Karanis in the pagus under you. You yourself know, best of praepositi, that letters have often come from the higher authorities ordering that if animals should appear anywhere damaging the crops, these are to be sold publicly and the price credited to the municipal account, while the owner is to be kept free of loss for what has been destroyed. Since, then, with much toil I sowed only 7 arouras with wheat out of 80 arouras, and these have been completely eaten up by quadrupeds, and since the production of those responsible is the concern of the public officials, I submit this written petition to you so that you may summon them before you and do what accords with the laws, so that I may not be forced to flee because of them. Farewell. Under the consuls to be designated, for the 4th time, Mecheir 4. I, Isidoros, have submitted this. I, Paulos, wrote on his behalf since he is illiterate.