for him. Likewise, whatever is found beneath him belongs to him. For example, if this foundling were lying down and we found beneath him a purse of coins, it would belong to him.

The author says: whether it is “plainly visible,” meaning not buried, “or freshly buried,” meaning that it was buried recently. If something is found buried beneath him but it is old, then it does not belong to him, because the circumstances indicate that it is not his. But if the ground has been freshly turned over, and we find coins beneath this disturbed soil while the child is lying on top of it, then the coins found belong to the child.

If someone asks: How can they belong to him when they are buried? We say: perhaps the person who abandoned him buried this provision in order to preserve it, since the child may move about and the coins could become exposed.

His statement, “or connected to him,” means whatever is found attached to him. For example, if we find a young abandoned child with a small female lamb (1) tied to him, that lamb belongs to him, because tying it to him indicates that its owner assigned it to him.

His statement, “such as an animal or otherwise,” means such as a pitcher, a vessel, a bag of food, or anything else.

His statement, “or near to him,” requires further detail. If something is found near him, it belongs to him. This is accepted where there is an indication that it belongs to him; otherwise, what is near him is lost property, because the basic presumption is that there is no ownership. But if there is an indication—for example, the child is wrapped in a piece of cloth and what is around him is wrapped in a similar cloth—then this indicates that it belongs with him,