"دليل الجزيرة العربية المجلد II" [‎١‎٢‎٦‎٣] (٦٨٨/٣١٢)

MUHARRAQ TOWN
1263
Name.
Position.
Nature.
Remarks.
weather while the
men are engaged on
the pearl banks: the
huts which they
then occupy are
their own property.
51 are used for pearl
ing.
Zimmah
Quarter of a mile
north of Hadd.
A date plantation
belonging to Hadd.
The water supply of
Hadd is situated
here.
In the table above negroes are included, being shown as members of the tribe among
whom they live (if free) or to whom they belong (if slaves).
MUHARRAQ TOWN—
The principal town of Muharraq Island and the second in the principality of Bahrain ;
as it is the head quarters of the Shaikh during eight months in the year it may even claim
to be the political and administrative capital of the Shaikhdom.
Situation and general character. —Muharraq is surrounded by the sea at high water on
the eastern, southern and western sides, and its situation is low ; nevertheless, as seen
from Manamah harbour, it stands up handsomely in the afternoon or evening light. Its
distance from Manamah, which it exceeds in area though it is not equal to it in population,
is about 2 miles, measured across the shallow strait which divides the Muharraq and
Bahrain Islands. Muharraq fort, more correctly described as the fort of Abu Mahur,
stands on an island and is 800 yards south of the town, but it is no longer of military
importance ; near it is the celebrated submarine spring of Abu M»hur which supplies the
town of Muharraq with most of its drinking water. The sea, closely approaching the
town on three sides at high water, is the scavenger of Muharraq and removes at inter
vals of a few hours the town refuse which is deposited at its edge.
Inhabitants and qmrters .—The population of Muharraq Town is now about 20,000
souls, who may be classified as below ;
'Ainain (Al Bu)
'Ali (Al Bin-) ..
'Amamarah
^ Arabs (miscellaneous non-Bedouin)
Baharinah
Dha'in (Al)
Huwalah
Kuwalah (Al Bj)
Manana'ah
Mu'awdah
Musallam (Al) ..
Negroes (free) ..
Negroes (slaves, but not living with their masters)
Persians
Qumarah
Rumaih (Al Bu)
'Utub
Yas (Bani) of the Al Bu Falasah section
Ziyainah
Total
100
2,000
200
150
900
50
10,000
50
50
100
75
1,000
1,500
100
50
75
2,800
50
750
20,000