"معاملات الجمعية الجغرافية في بومباي. من يناير ١٨٦٣ حتى ديسمبر ١٨٦٤. (تحرير السكرتير.) المجلد XVII." [‎١‎٢‎٦] (٥٢٤/٢٩٣)

126 RECENT TOUR ROUND THE NORTHERN
One hour south of this place is the village Bizea, on the bank of the
liiver Jaraihee.
From one to two hundred vessels of from 50 to GO tons burden are *
said to arrive here yearly and carry away rice, dates, barley, wheat, and
horses.
But so difficult it is to obtain accurate information even on the spot,
that while one, an intelligent Jew, a native of Baghdad trading here,
declared that many horses were exported to Koweit and thence to
Bombay, another man, apparently equally intelligent, told us that
none were exported.
Towards the afternoon Sheikh Khumfeis bin Mahomed, an intelligent
little fellow, about 12 years old, paid us a visit. He was dressed up as
a Sertip or Lieutenant-Colonel of Persian Infantry, and wore a hat very
much on one side of his head. His grandfather says he rides bravely
and shoots partridges on the wing, a great accomplishment in these
countries. Later' in the day Sheik Farass himself came, accompanied
by his son Mahomed Sertip. The old gentleman seemed about 40 or
50, but rather dissipated in appearance.
The Sertip had been some time at the court of the Shah, and looked
as if he thought himself a degree better than his country relations.
They professed great friendship, were profuse in their offers or
assistance, and after a time departed. One of them of course wanted
medicine.
While walking in the evening with the Resident, I felt my arm
touched. It was little Sheikh Khumfeis who came for caps for his
rifle, and medicine for himself. On returning to the tents we made
him quite happy with a box of caps, some powder and shot, and a large
bottle of physic.
An hour and a half after sunset we visited Sheikh Farass, Passing
through an extensive courtyard, we entered a large hall of sun-dried
bricks. At one end were fine carpets and felt rugs, with one rickety
old chair. Two English candles in glass candlesticks of different shapes
were placed on the carpet. At the other end I could just trace
the outline of many attendants, for there was only one oil lamp,
scarcely sufficient to make darkness visible. It seems we arrived too
soon, Sheikh Mahomed Sertip and a number of the heads of the people