'Persian Gulf Gazetteer Part II, Geographical and Descriptive Materials, Section II Western Side of the Gulf' [‎93v] (189/286)

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from the Bedouins. Horses vary from the pure-bred Arab, at an enormously
high price, to the common kadish or baggage horse. Large numbers of
good serviceable animals, showing some breeding and able to carry a rider 100
miles in 3 days, can be bought for 20 to 40 liras. Bedouins own mnny very
^ood riding camels and a well-bred camel costs 20 liras on average but often
much more : they are only inferior to those of Oman. There are a few buffaloes
on the marshy lands about ilofhuf. feheep are fewer and meat dearer than
in Nejd. Fine cloaks {ahbas are made of silk and wool mixed, embroidered
with gold and silver thread. There are workers in copper and brass and the
coffee-pots made here are good. (5) (<?) Kice is imported from India through
Bahrein, and wheat from Persia, partly direct and partly through Bahrein.
Cloth, cutlery, ironwork, swords, spears, crockery, silk, gold thread and silver
thread are (or used to bo) imported, (d) Tlie principal exports are dates, pearls
(?) and abbas, Some thousands of camels were exported to Syria annually in
Niebuhr's day and valuible donkeys were sent abroad, {e) {f) Coins are tawila
or long-bit; Indian, Maskat, Zanzibar, German and British East African pice;
rial or Maria Theresa dollar, always dated 1780; and the Lira or Turkish
pound. Values are :
Rs. a. p.
1 tawila = i anna.
1 rial = 60 tawilas ... ... 1 14 0
1 lira = 8 rials ... ... 15 0 0
id) W- (7) As to population, see article on Hasa, above. (8) In Niebulir's
day justice was well administered under an Arab regime. Kevenue in 1865
was $270,000. The present Turkish Kaimmakamlik of Ilasa Proper is divided
into the Mudirliks of Ojair, Jafar, Uofhuf and Mubarraz.
HASEN.—Place in Beni Hajir country.
H ASS AM (BENI).—Mentioned by Z vvemer as one of principal Arab
tribes in Hasa.
IIEDEEYAH.—Village placed by Palgrave about 50 miles north of
Hofhuf. Sadlier describes it as a walled village with cultivation and flocks of
sheep.
HERKUZ.—Mere sandbank, about 1 cable in length, hardly above the
level of high water. Lies 26 miles west from Jazirat Earsi.
HEWEVERAT ( or IIOWERAT ?).—Mentioned by Sadlier as walled
village, surrounded by large date plantation and well supplied with water from a
hot spring and a large lake. Lies about 5 miles north-north-west of Hofhuf (P).
Adjoining desert is barren and dreary.
EIILLAT MEHAISH.—Walled village on mainland in Katif district
south of Jarudia and north of Khewaildia. Appears to be identical with the
Hilutumhesh of Sadleir, which in his day was unwalled and had population of
1 ,200.
HOFHUF.—.Chief town and administrative capital of Hasa, situated in
P 10 P e ^- gives latitude as 25° 20' 06" North and longitude as 19° 40'
50 Last. Douglas says it is about 50 miles south-south-west of Ojair. It
/own v0n . ^ days distant from Riadh and 6 from Bidaa by caravan,
{ ) o^vn is an elongated oval, ^ mile broad and 1 to Ij miles long.
is surrounded by date groves and gardens. Palgravo (1862) shows
j,ai ens anc fields on every side; Jopp (1841) describes the ground to the south
anc east as clear and on the north as clear to a distance of £00 or tiOO yards, hut
says e a^c groves adjoined the wall on the west side. The houses are of
n« 0n( l^- ant + C U roofs. There is a regular Municipality. Streets
ccok mg o some authorities are narrow and dirty; others say they are wide
Tvof C ?'f n ^ an e ^ em town. Palgrave divides the town into 3 wards: (i) the
or 1Q n orth-west corner; U«) the Rifeeyeeyah or "high" quarter in
pjnifory fr?p Proportion of the older and nobler families reside; it forms the
la 0 0 and Palgrave describes it as containing tolerable and