31 Nevertheless, they forbad not the hazard in a race, which profiteth only a few.
32 Yet were they loth to suffer a lottery, that was made to advantage the course of the war.
CHAPTER IX.
1 Concerning food. 4 The people do wait in a line. 11 And seek the truth. 13 An old man lacketh butter. 17 He getteth all else. 18 Concerning the cards. 24 Certain of the people do hoard. 26 They pay the penalty. 27 The prudent man and the woman that had no sugar.
Now there came a time when there was no more food in En save only enough for to feed the people.
2 And the gluttons of the land cried out in their vexation, because they glutted them no more.
3 And it became a custom amongst the people that they should hie them unto the bazaar for to wait without the portal of it.
4 ¶ And they would gather themselves together in a line hoping that, perchance, a little meat would be vouchsafed unto them.
5 And they did complain loudly amongst themselves and did make their faces of a length; and they cursed the rulers shamefully.