Page 46 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

40 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

slow in draining, then the cultivator encourages the How by pouring a little warm water on
the dates while they are in the raadibash. Hut the dates thus treated and forced to give up
their juice lose their taste and commercial value, and are not bo much esteemed as those
which are simply dried.
The best method for curing dates is the following:—
The fruit, as soon as it has become u ratal),” i.c., ripe and juicy, is picked off the bunch
and spread in an enclosed plot of ground called “mustab,” which is previously well beaten to
reuder it firm, and sweeped clean to prevent dust from mixing up with the dates; or, better
still, they aro exposed to dry on date jowlies spread within the "mustah” from three to five
days, and then collected and packed in baskets.
The following are the principal varieties of date9 which are cured iu the above method
At Busrah and Mo/iamwcrah.—Guntar; Ivhadrawi; Hallowi; Raraim ; Dairce ; Shakar;
Sa’araernn; Kabkab; Zahidee Saycr. Sometimes small quantities of the following
dates which are rare, and usually consumed in the fresh Kharak stage, are mixed with
the above: Barhc-e; Jowzi; Loolooi; Khassab; Hamrawi; Firsee; Shirsi; Asgar, &c.
At Dcxhfi.—Secsee; Kbanaizee; Zynndhceni; Knsp ; Kabkab; Kandi; Shakar; Guutar;
Hallowi; Muktoom; Sliaikali; Khdroo; Shcoreeui; Jowzi; Shahoooi; Kaidi; Rash,
Sccn &c.
At Bit inch and 9Oman coast.—Musalla; Salani; Khanaizi; Hilali; Khasrab; Maisali
(principally made into Kharak); Barani; Saraslii; Maznaj ; Fardli; Khamri; Nagkal;
Khalas; Abunaranjah, &c.
At El JItua, Katceff and Bahrein.—Khalas; Khanaizi; Marzaban; Ililali; ICbassab; &c.
At Jtinab, Bunder Abbots, and Sham Hat.—Kbanaizi; Murda-sang; Ililali; Marziban;
Az&d; Zarrak; Sahkari; Ab-daodan; Mandal; Kalak Soorkh; Malak-Soorkh; Shaikh
Kamali; Dang-Safeed; Clnttan; Hallow; Ali-mehtari; Soorkh-dang; Mosalli; Mesa 11a;
Na^hal; Shahri Sa'Amcrdn, Szc. &c. 111010 are other varieties not well known, and are
comprised under the general term " Kharoo.”
At El Hasa the best dates, principally Khalas, are packed in skins of 70 to 120 pounds
for export So also at Busrah dates are packed iu skins; the dates are picked for the
purpose; the skins are then allowed to dry in the sun and covered with gunny. At Bahrain
and Katecf, Khalas aud other dates of superior quality are put in small earthen jars und
rendered palatable by aiding to th*m small quantities of sesame seeds and ginger powder;
the jars are then sewn up in the .date-leaf matting.
Now, since the European and American firms have commenced to send dates to their own
countries, they have adopted the system of packing the best dates—i.c., Hallowi, Khadrawi,
Zahedi, and Saver—in deal boxes of various shapes aud sizes, brought ready made from those
countries. The average size of a box is about 45 pounds-nct weight. Hallowi dates are also
carefully packed in small cardboard boxes, 10 to 15 of which are then put in a large deal
box, which is then nailed over. Tho best dried dates of sound skin, and specially those which
are allowed to dry on the palm, are carefully picked by a large number of labourers, principally
women, boys, aud girls, employed for the purpose. A certain weight of dates so picked intended
to go in a lox is taken; the dates are then carefully placed, one by one, in rows, so as to form
layers in the box, which is lined with paper and eventually nailed and ready for export. Some
people put hoops round the boxes and cover them with gunny, while others do not. These
layers are pressed down three or four times during the filling of each box. The dates pocked
in boxes in layers throughout have now the best repute in the market. Small quantities of
dates have lately been shipped from Basrah in fancy baskets, but on account of the heavy
freight no sanguine hopes are entertained of this method proving a success. Hallowis keep
best, but Zahidis arc tbe brightest in colour, but soon get wormy and spoiled.
The cultivator has other modes of curing fresh dates and making preserves of them in small
quantities for bis personal use and for presents to his friends, and even for sale to a small extent.
" Khoorma-Sheerah” is generally made of Murda-sang and Khanaizi dates. The best
dates are culled and further well dried in the sun, exposed on mats or date jowlies, and
protected during nights from dews. They are then washed with diluted date juice, of all
dust, &c.t and put in a jar mixed with 6esarae seeds, ginger, walnut kernel, &c.; a quantity of
good date joice is poured in so as to cover the whole. This is much prized by the native*.
u Kboorma Sch-Itoza,” so named from its being fit to be eaten on tbe third day of ita Uing
potted. Iti8 a rare and s]xx*ial preparation made at Minab from the llildli dates. The fresh