“…A seventh-century Greek papyrus contains a list of mattresses intended for prisoners delivered by villages in the Fayyūm. 122 Transportation to and from the place of confinement could take place by different means. The Arab administration seems to have employed a fleet to transport people and goods up and down the Nile, which also carried prisoners.123 Caulkers from Idfū ordered to work on the wharves, who had run away, were returned on boats.124 A letter dated 102/721 refers to the female writer being "kept prisoner on our boats (sujinnā fī marākibinā)," though the context is admittedly unclear.125 The barīd, the official postal service, which reported on cases of misbehaviour by government officials, as is recorded in an early eighth-century Arabic papyrus,126 was on occasion used to move prisoners, although specific references to Egypt are lacking.127 Soldiers, guards and aides were employed in the service of the administration to capture and guard prisoners.…”