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Show Monetary Pledge of Centuries Ago An archeologlcul expedition sent out by the University of rennsylvanla dug up a clay tablet lu the ruins of the ancient city of Nippur, Babylon, with an Inscription upon It which, translated, trans-lated, reads as follows: "Thirty bushels of dates are due to flcl Nadln Shun, son of Marnshu, by Bel Bullltsu and Slia Nairn Shu, sons of Kirebti, and their tenants. In the month of Tashrl (harvest month) of the thirty-fourth year of King Artax-erxes Artax-erxes I, they shall pay the dates, thirty bushels, according to the measure meas-ure of Bel Nadln Shun, In the town of Bit Balatsu. Their field, cultlvnted and uncultivated, their lief estate. Is held as a pledge for the dates, namely, thirty bushels, by Bel Nadln Shun. Another An-other creditor shall not have power over It." This tablet was dated 430 B. C, or nearly 2,400 years ago. It may not be the oldest record extant of a mortgage, but It Illustrates very clearly that the mortgage was an accepted form of Investment In-vestment some 2,000 years ago. Donald Don-ald Ilea Hanson In Forum. |