FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES. 6 



are carefully given by naming the surrounding properties, and 

 the deed is attested — as were the ancient Egyptian ones — by 

 many witnesses. A penalty and curses were to be visited on 

 the heads of those injuring or removing the landmark of the 

 royal donor, and l)rings to remembrance a similar passage in the 

 Sacred Writ. A series of these documents are by savans pro- 

 nounced those of a firm of land agents (Egibi & Sons), and form 

 a complete sequence from 605 to 486 B.C. Fields are definitely 

 mentioned, the measurement given in cubits, and the area is 

 given by the primitive mode commonly practised among the 

 Jews — the amount of corn required to sow it (Lev. xxvi. 16). 

 The price was in shekels, and the brothers took precedence of 

 the sons — a relic of the Old Turanian law, and practised in 

 Turkey at the present day. 



From the advanced state of conveyancing, and the importance 

 attached to land and its tenure in ancient Babylon, it might 

 almost be inferred — although there is no direct proof — that 

 location, in a very subordinate position to property, existed. 

 Michaelis observes that it was not known among the Hebrews 

 until after the captivity, and in this Hunter concurs. On 

 the other hand, it is contended that the Song of Solomon, 

 viii. 11, 12, shows a letting out of a vineyard; but the dispro- 

 portion of two hundred for labour and management, &c., against 

 a thousand for rent to the landlord is of itself sufficient evidence 

 that the reward of the labour and storage alone are meant ; 

 Isa. vii. 23 is similarly expounded, while much stronger emphasis 

 is by Selden laid on 2 Sam. ix. 10, 11, and xvi. 3, 4. But full 

 property rather than location is meant to be the destination, and 

 in this supposition Michaelis and Hunter unite against Selden. 

 But all eminent jurists, and not a few commentators, agree that 

 location is distinctly meant in the parable of the " wicked 

 husbmdman." WickKffe, in his translation, uses the words, 

 " and set ite to ferine " to crthc tillers ; in the Latin it is rendered 

 "et locavit earn agricolis," while in Spanish and French translations 

 the same import is gleaned. The only dispute among the 

 authorities seems to be whether coloni lihcri or coloni 2)C'rtiarii 

 were meant: — much more probably the latter. The parable of 

 the "unjust steward" raises the dispute whether or not the con- 

 tract was in writing. That there was writing is certain; but 

 that it partook of the nature of a contract of location is very 

 doubtful. It is pretty probable, however, that when the Hebrews 

 were in bondage, and most likely applied to agricultural labour, 

 that they saw improved methods, and having learnt the language, 

 would understand something of the general practice, and in this 

 wav might acquire a knowledge of location, if it existed. Their 

 liberation took place about 530 B.C., and as leases were shortly 

 after well known in Greece, it is more than probable that 



