Nechembes, a tax farmer, petitions to Asklepiades (Nomarches), complaining that owing to damage caused by locusts owners of vineyards had refused to pay their dues to him, which had led to his arrest.
Translation: To Asklepiades, nomarches, from Nechembes. After I had contracted for the tax of the sixth for (Arsinoe) Philadelphos in the division of Herakleides for the 10th year, there was an incursion of locusts which destroyed everything, what was saved being carried off by the owners without payment of the sixth. I have consequently been wrongfully arrested for this. You will therefore do well, if it please you, to join in session Asklepiades and the antigrapheus and the strategos so that my case against the owners of the vineyards may heard pending the arrival of Theodoros, for the sum of money is no small one, in order that nothing of this may be lost and that you may also instruct your agent Theokles to impound the crops of the vineyard of Dion which is held by Teisikrates at Tanis. For I have previously taken this man before the strategos, and written instructions were issued by him: he wrote that all the produce of this vineyard was to be impounded, and it has been impounded up to now. I beg you, therefore, if it please you, to send written orders to impound the … in order that the king may incur no loss. Good-bye. The 10th year, Payni 5. (Addressed on the verso) To Asklepiades.