Page 86 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 4,5

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138 * ASIR

Currency

The only coins in universal use throughout Asir are the Thilth
Abu Hautah, a small nickel coin worth half a Turkish piastre, and the
Maria Theresa dollar, locally called ‘ Riyal Fransah ’ and valued at
12 Turkish piastres.
In and round Ibha and Qunfudah the ordinary Turkish coins are
in circulation, but they do not pass elsewhere with the exception
of the lira, and even that is regarded with suspicion.
English sovereigns (known as Abu Khayyal) are more popular
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and are current at 120 Turkish piastres in most places.
In the Tihamah, especially in the south, 2 anna and 1 anna pieces
(both known as Abu Surah) are found and are valued at P.T. 2 and
P.T. 1 respectively. The rupee, however, 'has not been introduced.
In many places in Asir barter is the chief medium of exchange.
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Weights and Measures
In Qunfudah and Ibha the Turks have introduced their own
standards of weights and measures.
In the mountainous districts wooden bowls of certain standard
sizes are employed for dry commodities, according to the following
table :
3 okes = 1 mid
4 mids = 1 sah (sa‘)
3 sahs = 1 Farraj.

Bowls representing halves and eighths of sahs are also used.
In the Tihamah the scale is slightly different in nomenclature, viz.:
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4 okes = 1 keilah
3 keilahs = 1 sah (sd‘) :
3 sahs = 1 Farraj.

These measures of content are chiefly employed in the big market­
places. Elsewhere the practice seems to consist simply in placing
a commodity in small piles (akwam) and making a rough calculation 1
of its bulk.
Land is measured as follows, the feddan being somewhat smaller
than the Egyptian feddan.

2 Fellejs = 1 Rakib
4 Rakibs = 1 Zahab
2 Zahabs = 1 Feddan. »