'Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1877-78.' [‎260v] (66/165)

41 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
When through neglect or oversight the female tree fails to be
impregnated, it is asserted that the fruit it bears does not come to perfec
tion, is seedless and insipid.
The blossom of the date tree is known in Persian by the name of
Taralt ( ), the process of impregnating Budadan ( ), the
male tree Nar ( ), the female Madah ( ).
About May the fruit begins to form, and from this time to Septem
ber, when the fruit is perfectly ripe, the tree sheds the superabundance,
which is used as food by the proprietor or those he employs to watch his
property. At this period the fruit is known as Khumal ( JUA ), and is
green in color.
In June and July the fruit is known as Kharek ( and is
either red or yellow in color. It is now fit to be eaten, and where marts
are close, such quantities as are saleable are cut down for the purpose.
In August the date becomes soft and juicy; it is known as Ratab
( k-*.!) ), and sold in the bazaars as food, but is not yet in a fit state
for preservation, as if kept for two or three da)s it would turn sour.
In September the date is known as Khurma(L r A). It is now
in a fit state for preservation. After being taken off the tree it is
gathered into a tank or trough and exposed to the air and sun, where it
throws oif its extra juice and sufficiently hardens to allow of its being
packed up in baskets and prepared for exportation.
The juice is gathered and stowed in skins or jars; it is called
Dushab ( ), and is used by the poorer classes in lieu of sugar.
This juice is also used in preserving dates in jars, this is done by
mixing these with sesame seed, ginger powder, and the kernels of
walnuts. This preserve is called Khurma-Shirah ( ), and is
much prized both for use in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and for exportation.
There is a species of date called Kharak Bereymi ( ) which
does not ripen beyond the Kharak stage. The mode of preserving this
has been to boil it well in water, and then to expose it to the sun and
air till hardened. If well packed and preserved from damp, this will keep
for sometime, but if kept in air-tight tins, might keep for an indefinite
period in a dry climate, this is called Kharek-i-pukhtah ( ).
Another species, the Zahidi ( ), does notripen beyond the
Ratab stage. In fact, it ceases to progress between the Kharak and Ratab,
and is left to remain on the tree till hardened by the sun and atmosphere.
It is then cut down and packed in baskets. This species is not much
used for food, as it finds a more profitable mart in India, where it is much
sought after by distillers of arrack.
There are more than a hundred varieties of date known by different
names which it would not be easy to enumerate or describe, nor would
there be much utility in doing so, for they would only he understood by
the natives of these parts, to whom it is a matter of great consequence,