Petition of three tenants against Demetrios over a lease of military holdings TM 3334Magdola (Arsinoite Nome)Jan. 28, 222 BC

[recto] To King Ptolemy, greetings from Theodotos, Gaddaios and Phanias. We are wronged by a certain Demetrios. For he leased to us the holdings (kleroi) of Nikias and Asklepiades, thirty-aroura holders, which they have near the village of Herakleia in the division of Themistos, for 2 years, on condition that the lease would begin with the sowing in year 25 for year 26, at a rent of 3 artabas of wheat for each aroura, and in the second year 3 1/2 artabas of wheat; and the lease contract stipulating that it is free of risk except for land unflooded or waterlogged, that which can be sown by Choiak 10, and that which cannot be sown by the 10th of Choiak, (we being required) to bring in Demetrios and 3 other impartial men; but when we were bringing in Demetrios so that we might show him the land that could not be sown, he paid no attention to us, wishing to break the contract, and he does not guarantee to us the boundaries which he showed us, on which we made the contract. We beg you, O King, to order Diophanes the strategos to write to Meleagros the epistates of the village of Boubastos to send Demetrios to Diophanes the strategos and, if we prove that what is in the petition is true, to compel him to give us justice. If this is done, we shall have obtained justice. Farewell. [verso] To Meleagros. Preferably reconcile them; otherwise, send (them) to us so that we may examine (the matter). Year 25, Loios 26, Choiak 13. Year 25, Loios 26, Choiak 13. Theodotos, Gaddaios, Phanias against Demetrios concerning the lease of a holding.