'Persian Gulf Gazetteer Part II, Geographical and Descriptive Materials, Section II Western Side of the Gulf' [‎41v] (85/286)

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TTamcrton (18i0) gives the following stages on the route from Sharga fo
Hamaton \ J X 3 llours south .by east to Pellah, where there is a well
®ith y gooa water hut no habitations nor trace of road; from Fellah Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. 10 hours
It „ ,fi, p«t to Bir Mobaflz where there is fine well but no forage what-
ever a gradual ascent over sandhills ; from Bir Mohafi. 3i hours south by
east and" south-south-east to Ghuroef, an old ruined fort in th.ck babool
iurHe with several wells of good water and good forage for camels in cold
sRason ■ from Ghureet 6i hours south by east and south-sonth-east to Jebel
Yifp over hard sandliills with habool jungle, including some considerable trees,
on right; from Jebel Yiii 13 hours south to Bereymi, very heavy road over
and round high sandhills, difficult for camels. Route from Abu Dhabi to
Be rev mi is described as follows : general direction a little south of east; Abu
Dhabi to Maktaa, 4 hours; Maktaa to Narsaila or Hisn Ibhs, 5i hours ; Hisu
Iblis to water -holes 11 hours; waterholes to lloweil wells, 0 hours; Howeil
wells to water -holes, 10 hours; waterholes, to Boreymi oasis, 4.i hours; total
4' 1 hours (Cox). Zweruer makes it 33 hours, but he and Cox agree in making
distance about 100 miles. Cox says there is no grazing on way for camels but
Zweraer says camel-grass and tamarisk shrubs are plentiful after passing Remlali
el Kabira which in his map is about midway between Abu Dhabi and Bereymi.
Water is scarce. Zwemer has a half ruined village, Nachshila, about equidis
tant from Berevmi and Ramlah el Kabira. Route from Ras al Khaima to Rerey-
mi has not been described. (6) Pearls, fish, dates, wool and cheese are among
principal products. Cattle are good but the bullocks seldom exceed 200 lb.
in weight. Sheep and goats a.*e found and fowls are good and plentiful but
small; eggs, cheese and butter are abundant. Pish teem, particularly mullet
which are caught in nets in the back-waters. Red rock-fish, occasional seer-
fish, small sharks and dogfish—the latter numerous and much esteemed by
natives are taken at sea. Fish are used to feed domestic animals and even for
manure (?). (b) {c) According to the Administration Report, 1902-1903, the
chief imports of the "Arab Coast" are date^ (lOM^O cwts.), rics (114,550
cwts.) wheat (23,953 cwts ), provisions (Rs. 93,240), salt (38,200 cwts.), coffee
(9,020 cwts.), building materials, (1,035 tons), coir and coir rope (6,800
cwts.), white, grey, dyed and other shirtings and prints (1,321 packages),
colours and paints (502 cwts. and 200 drums), gold lace and gold thread
(6,200 tolas), hardware and cutlery (Rs. 22,660), tanned leather (Ks. 21,402),
mats and mat bags (54,202 pieces), metals (1,140 cvvts. iron, 3S2 cwts.
copper, 247 cwts. brass, 60 cwts. tin and 1,244 cwts. other metals) kerosine
(4,254 cases) and other oils (4,080 cwts.), perfumes (421 carboys rosewater
and Rs. 37,446 worth of other perfumes), porcelain (16,180 cases), silk
piece-goods (3,600 pieces), spices (1,560 cwts. turmeric, 680 cwts. black pepper,
59 cwts. ginger and 1,046 cwts. other spices), su^ar (Rs. 3,998 loaf, cwts.
10,120 soft), tallow (1,532 cwts.), timber, Rs. 18,999), rafters (14,992 pieces),
broad-cloth and other piece and manufactured woollen goods (498 pieces),
specie (Rs. 8,36,395). In 1902 the Arab ports were entered during the year by
21 steamers (all British) with a tonnage of 21,000 and 872 sailing vessels
(about -I Persian, J Arab and J Maskat) with a tonnage of 19,650). (d) The
exports according to the same authority were pearls (Rs. 59,89,998 but this
suddenly fell in 1902 to Rs. 8,00,000 only), gunnies (1,500 bundles), sharkfins
(Rs. 2,500), shells (cwts, 3,000), woollen goods (2,653 pieces, local manu
facture ?) and tobacco (653 cwts , locally grown ?). There cleared from the
Arab ports in the course of the year 21 steamers (all British) and 772 sailing
vessels (more than J Persian and most of the remainder Maskat) with ton
nages respectively of 21,000 and 17,650. {e) Dabai (?) is now chief commercial
centre. (/) (h) (5) (a) Whitelock in 1835 estimated (adult male ?) population at
11,000 to 12,000. (ft) Principal tribes are Joasmis, Beni Yas and Manasir with
some Shihiyyin, Tannagis and Naim in more northern parts. (' ) Men wear loin
cloths, woollen robes (camolines) and silk Wahabi headdress; shave their heads,
trim their beards and moustaches. Women wear blue shirts or very loose gowns,
with kerchief on head and masks having eyeholes: they are much fairer than
the men. In early life men are slender and in old age attenuated; but between 30
and 40 thickset and of very powerful build. They are lazy but capable of great
and united exertions and inured to privation, fatigue and danger from their youth.