The same lender lent to the same three men, two hundred sheep, one hundred and fifty goats, two hundred and thirty yearling lambs, in all five hundred and eighty small cattle. They were to return the animals by a fixed date, or pay. Dated the seventh of Iyyar, b.c. 673. The same lender had lent seventy-two sheep to two other men, in Sivan, b.c. 680. They had to return the sheep in Ab, or pay for them at the market-rate in Nineveh. Bêl-êresh acted as agent for the borrowers.[667]
A loan of wine
Other goods, such as wine, or oil, were advanced. Here we probably have to do with the transactions of the royal chief steward and the king's agents. For example:[668]
L intrusts five homers of wine, according to the royal measure, to D. On the first of Nisan he shall return the wine, otherwise he shall pay for the wine according to the market-rate in Nineveh. Dated fifth of Adar, b.c. 674. Five witnesses.
Again:[669]
Of oil
L advances six homers of pure oil, price ten ḲA of bronze per homer, to D, the major-domo at Carchemish. He shall repay the oil in Sebat; if not, it shall be doubled. Dated twenty-first of Ab, b.c. 681. Six witnesses.
We may deduce the interesting fact that Esarhaddon was at Carchemish in Ab, b.c. 681. The advance was made for the use of the royal household there.
Of corn
Advances of corn were made exactly as in the earlier times. Thus:[670]