It is clear that Lalu was one of those privileged officials who held lands by royal charter, and who could not be dispossessed of their land. The Code directs(824) that a governor shall not lend on mortgage to a reeve or runner or tributary, under pain of death. Although a _kadurru_ is not there named, this letter makes it probable he was similarly protected. It is interesting to notice where the record was to be found. The palace, or “great house,” was the residence of the governor. The tablet probably recorded the appointment of Lalu to his benefice; it therefore was his title-deed. An interesting question may be raised here. Did Ḥammurabi mean in his own palace? It may be so, for he writes in another letter:(825) (M767) To Sin-iddinam say, thus saith Ḥammurabi: One _GAN_ of water-meadow, a field in the district of Dûr-gurgurri is an old possession of Ea-lubanî. In a tablet it is inscribed as his. Give the field to Ea-lubanî. Now how could Ḥammurabi know this unless the tablet had been shown to him? Perhaps the claimant brought his tablet with him when he came to lay his plea before the king. That is quite possible, but it may well be that the king insisted that all title-deeds be deposited in the capital. (M768) An order for the restoration of stolen corn appears in another letter:(826) To Sin-iddinam say, thus saith Ḥammurabi: Ṭummumu of Nippur hath informed me thus, saith he, “I deposited seventy _GUR_ of corn in a granary in Unabu and Amêl-ili has opened the granary and taken the corn.” Thus he hath informed me. Now I will send Ṭummumu himself to thee. Send and let them bring Amêlili to thee. See what they have to say. The corn belonging to Ṭummumu which Amêl-ili took let him return to Ṭummumu. Another letter reads thus:(827) To Sin-iddinam say, thus saith Ḥammurabi: Ilushu-iḳîsh, the merchant, over five, has informed me thus, saith he, “Thirty _GUR_ of corn I gave to Sin-mâgir, the _Šakkanak_, and I took his receipt. I have asked for it for three years and he has not given back the corn.” Thus hath he informed me. I have seen his receipt. Cause Sin-mâgir to give up the corn and its interest and give it to Ilu-shu-iḳîsh. The title “over five” seems to be meant literally. He was a superior merchant. Like many another hint, this speaks for the strict organization of each class of the community. The _Šakkanak_ was usually the superior official, “governor,” of a city, or of a ward of a city. We are not told what was Sin-mâgir’s district. But it was under Sin-iddinam’s rule. In other letters we read of a Sin-mâgir being sent to Babylon.(828) Perhaps he refused to give up the corn. Another letter illustrates the incidence of taxes and the relations of landlord and tenant:(829) (M769)