Page:03.BCOT.KD.HistoricalBooks.B.vol.3.LaterProphets.djvu/1855

the work. Perhaps Job 15:28 has reference to Job's settlement.^[1]
With reference to the relation of the lord of a village (ustâd beled, or sâhib dê‛a) to his work-people, there are among the dependents two classes. The one is called zurrâ‛, “sowers,” also fellâhin kism, “participating husbandmen,” because they share the produce of the harvest with the ustâd thus: he receives a fourth while they retain three-fourths, from which they live, take the seed for the following season, give their quota towards the demands of the Arabs, the village shepherds, the field watchmen, and the scribe of the community (chatı̂b); they have also to provide the farming implements and the yoke-oxen. On the other hand, the ustâd has to provide for the dwellings of the people, to pay the land-tax to the government, and, in the event of a failure of the crops, murrain, etc., to make the necessary advances, either in money or in kind at the market price, and without

1. Verbally, Job 3:14, which we, however, have interpreted differently, accords with this. - Del.