"دليل الجزيرة العربية المجلد II" [‎١‎١‎٩‎٣] (٦٨٨/٢٤٢)

masqat
1193
(2) Bazaar weights are . rTi , 1 '
1 Kiyas .. .. •• = o.71 dol. or 5.67 ozs.
24 KiVas or 137 dol. or 6 lbs. 8 ozs. .. = 1 maund of Masqat.
With the exception of rice, which is sold in bags, all cereals are sold by palli and far ah
(wooden bowls):—
40 pallis .. .. •» .. = 1 farah.
20 farahs .. .. .. .. = 1 khandi.
When measuring in palli the measure is heaped np.
The Indian rupee is taken as 1 tola and is used for weighing perfumeries. The weight
of a Maria Theresa dollar is called whoogiah, and is chiefly used in weighing amber
6 mithqal
8 „
1 shlbr
2 shibrs
Measures^
dhara'
dhara's
dhara's
l^a a
1 rupee weight.
I dol. weight.
1 palm or 41 inches,
i dhara' or 9 inchs.
1 foot 6 inchesv
1 yard.
1 ba'a.
1 fathom.
Notes —In all tsansactions the measure dhara' is used.
Dates are sold by these weights ; so also are liquids. Saffron, musk and ottar of rosea
however, are sold by a Mithqal of 62-6 grains English. Gold is sold by Rattis and
Ibramis, one Ibramis being equal to 28 Rattis : the Ibramls is equal to 54-46 grains
English and the Ratti consequently to a little less than 2 grains. Civet is sold by a
Waqiyah of 14-5 grains English. For transactions in grain measures of capacity are
employed, namely, the Sidis and Farah ; a Farah consists of 40 Sidis, and 2.| Farahs of
ordinary wheat are equal in weight to 2 Karachi maunds. The measure of length is the
actual cubit, viz., the distance from a man's elbow to the point of his middle finger.
Other measures of length are the long span or Shibar and the short span or Fatar, from
the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little and the first finger, respectively, when
distended as widely as possible.
Administration.—Ta.Q tow.i of Masqat is personally governed by the Sultan without tho
intermediacy of a Wali. Of the gross produce of the few gardens which belong to the
town T l - is taken as a tax. There is also a municipal police tax called Hirasah which is
collectecl monthly from the occupiers of shops and places of business. The main
source of revenue is of course the sea-customs, which are noticed in the article on the
Sultanate of 'Oman.
MASQAT DISTRCT—
This name is not current locally ; but it is the most suitable that can be given to that
tract in the 'Oman Sultanate which surrounds Masqat town and is enclosed between
Wadi Samail on* the west, Wadi Tayin on the south, and the sea upon the east and
north.f With these limits tho district has a length of about 50 miles from W.-N.-W.
to E.-S.-E. and a maximum breadth of about 25 miles.
Configuration. —Masqat District consists of a complexus of small valleys which diverge
in different directions from the slopes of Eastern Hajar to the sea. The principal of these
valleys in order from west to east are Wadi Risail, Wadi 'Adai, Wadi Bait-al-Falaj,Wadi
Maih and its tributaries, Wadi-al-Hilu and Wadi Mijlas with its affluents, including
Wadi Sarain, all of which are described under their own names. The surface of the
district rugged and barren in its general aspect, is chiefly occupied by this net work of
valleys with their intervening ridges, but in places the country opens out into small
expanses of more or less level plain which possess specific mimes, such are Wadi Boshar
and Saih Hatat, to which special articles are devoted, and Saih-al-Harmal of the " Plain
of Rue," a widening of Wadi Bait-al-Falaj, between Bait-al-Falaj and Ruwi. The
coast of the Masqat District is bold, the hills everywhere east of Wadi 'Adai coming right
' * for authorities maps and charts sec foot-iiote to article 'Oman Sultanate. A view of part of the coast of this
^^"Thus'deflncd the district slightly overlaps that of Eastern Hajar, the seaward slopcs of najar being common
to both The places common to both have been included for statistical purposes in the Mabqat district.
C52(w)GSB /0