(M497) It was paid for a group of persons by one of their company, or perhaps we might say that certain persons collected tithe from their district and paid it in. Thus we have a document recording the payment by one man of the tithe due from a number of shepherds, cultivators, and gardeners, in the city of Maḫâz-Shamshi.(536) In the time of Artaxerxes I., Hilprecht has shown that in some cases “the bow” of land also paid tithe.(537) (M498) Tithe was usually paid in kind, on all natural products, corn, oil, sesame, dates, flour or meal, oxen, sheep, asses, and the like, but also was liquidated by a money payment. The tablets relating to it are very numerous, but in nearly every case amount to no more than a receipt for its payment. Tithe became property apparently and was negotiable. So at least appears from Nebuchadrezzar 270. We thus have property in income from land. (M499) The various dues, _miksu_, seem to have been a sort of octroi duty. They were levied at the quay, _miksu kâri_, at the ferry, _miksu nibiri_. They are only mentioned in the charters, granting exemptions from them, to certain estates or their owners. Closely related to these were the _mikkasu_, which seem to be some sort of due or tax levied upon all _naturalia_, and even upon the dues which were paid into the temples. We have frequent mention of them in later times, in the temple accounts. XX. The Functions And Organization Of The Temple (M500) The temple exerted an overwhelming financial influence in smaller towns. Only in certain large cities was it rivalled by a few great firms. Its financial status was that of the chief, if not the only, great capitalist. Its political influence was also great. This was largely enlisted on the side of peace at home and stability in business.