Petition to a centurion about fishermen poaching from a private pond TM 22184Oxyrhynchites12. Mai 31

To Quintus Caius Passer, centurion, from Hermon son of Demetrios. I own near the village of Teis in the toparchy of Thmoisepho of the Oxyrhynchite nome an allotment inherited from my grandfather and father, called the allotment of Dryas, in which there is a public dike and a pond in the middle of our property, and I pay the naubion and the other public dues proper for all the taxes. But I am being overpowered and robbed by fishermen, Pausis and Papsiois and his brother and Kaleous and Melas and Attinos and Pasois and their associates, who are not few. Bringing along also Titius, a soldier, with many nets and scrapers (?), they came onto our pond with clubs, fished it and drew out fish worth altogether 1 talent of silver; and when I remonstrated with them they came at me as if intending to […] me. Since they use violence against me in many ways, taking refuge with you I ask, if it seems good, that the accused be brought before you, so that they may pay me the value of the fish, as stated above, and in future keep away from our property, so that I may be benefited. Farewell. Year 17 of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Pachon 17.