Fragmentary half sheet of papyrus with hieratic letter, in black, in medium-sized thick, cursive signs, with one vertical and 26 horizontal lines on recto, two vertical lines and endorsement on verso. Breaks along fold lines, with most of lower half lost. Petrie lot No. LVI.1. A letter from Nehyeni, concerning the arrangements for grain distribution while the boss is away. There appears to have been some sort of trouble with the previous grain that was allotted; not all of it was usable. There may have been some sort of pestilence as the possible occurrence of “blight”, the mention of “the enemy in the field” and “affliction” may suggest.
The letter has been translated as:
'The servant of the personal estate Nehyeni says to the overseer of the temple Hori:
This is a message for the lord, may he live long prosper and thrive, to the effect that all the responsibilities of the lord are safe and sound and everything is as it should be thanks to Sheddite Sobek, Horus in the middle of Shedet, the king of upper and lower Egypt Kheperkare-true-of-voice and all the gods just as yours-truly would wish.
This is a message for the lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive, about getting somebody to write to yours-truly about how the lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive, is doing because the mind of yours-truly is happy when he has heard how the lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive, is doing.
The message is regarding the fact that the lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive, will also move on to Sh[edet]: it is about the message regarding it that yours-truly is writing so that 20 hekats of southern barley might be given to me. [……………………………………………………….] the lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive […………………………………………………………………….] can […………………………………………….. ……………] with regard to it […………………………………………………………………….] about letting authority be given [………………………………you………to……..] blight(?). 1 hekat was soft as soon as it came from the 2 hekats which were […….] one quarter which will be okay when some water is added. [……] your(?) is doing well [……………………] is mashed up and I am measuring out from it.
This is a message to the effect that [………………………………………..]
the total which [……….] made [………………………………………………..]
your enemy in the field […………………………………………….…………..]
from the affliction [………………………………………………………………..]
also greet […………………………………………………………………………….]
This is a message [about it].'
