ABSTRACT
Bahrainhadbeenfamoussinceancienttimesforproducinga numberofhighlyexportablecommodities,notablycopper,precious stones,timber,dates,tinandlead.Inadditiontothisitwasalso importantasanentrepotfororientaltradinggoodssuchasclothing, silk,brocade,spices,pepper,cloves,cinnamon,walnuts,saffron, mother-of-pearl,ivory,pearls,coral,frankincense,incense,perfumes, rubies,musk,diamonds,crystal,ambergris,timberandmore.Muslim geographersareagreedthatdatepalmsandfruitsuchaspomegranate andcitronwereabundantinBahrainandthatcotton,wheatand barleyweregrownthere.36Pearlswerefishedthereand,asNasri Khasrumentions,halfofwhatthediverscollectedwenttothe sultansofal-Hasa, 37andtheambergrisextractedfromtheGulfwas exported,andSulaymanat-Tajersaysthateventheperfumiersin BaghdadandBasrahadambergris.38TheauthorofthebookAlAnkarJijawahiral-Ahjarreferstohigh-qualitypreciousstones beingobtainedfromparticularplaceslikeCeylon,Kish,Omanand Bahrain,andthenqualifiesitbysayingthatthestonesobtainedfrom Bahrainwereoftheveryfinestkind'andthatthosetobefound elsewherewerenotworthconsidering'.39FromBahraincamedates: thereweremanyplacesintheArabiandesertwheretheywere produced,40butthedatesofBahrainweresaidtobeasabundantas intheGhutaareaaroundDamascus.41Thepeopleofal-Hasa'andalQatifusedtoexportdatestoKharjintheYamamavalley,bartering themforwheat.42ThecityofHajarwasmorefamousthananyother inArabiafordates,andIbnal-Faqihal-Hamadisays'Date-producing countrystretchesfromYementoBasraandHajar'. 43IbnBattuta praisedthedatesofHajarsayingthattherewerenonetoequalthem inanyothercountry.Thepeopleusedtofeedthemtotheir animals.44TheabundanceofdatesinHajargaverisetothesaying 'likeonewhotakesagiftofdatestoHajar',anditappearsthatone kindwasalsotransportedtoBasra.45Hajarwasalsofamousforits winetrade46andforpearlfishing,foral-Maqdisisaysthattheywere obtainedatHajar;theyweredivedforoppositetheislandofAwal.47 TheislandofAwal,whichwasforhierlyknownasTarm,wasfamous foritsabundanceofdates,bananas,nuts,citrons,lemons,treesand cereals,andwasparticularlyfamousforproducingpreciousstones andpearls.Inthisregardal-Maqdisisays'menarehiredtodiveand dislodgetheshellswhereinarethepearls'48whichhedescribesas 'thetreasureofthesea'.Darin,orDamn,whichaccordingtoYaqut al-HamawimighthavebeenAwal,wasfamoustoo,astheanchorage forshipsfromIndia,andfamousforexportingthemuskandperfume thatcamefromIndia.Itwassofamousforitsmuskthattherewasa sayingofJa'adi:
'TossintwopinchesofDarinmuskandapinchoffierypepper.' Darinwasalsofamousforproducingwine,andal-Qatifforcotton, hennaandsuchfruitasmangoes.50
