Bahār

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The Bahār or Buhār ( Arabic بهار, DMG bahār , from Sanskrit bhāra "load, mass"), in European transcription also in the forms Bohar , Behar , Bähar ; Bar , Bhar , Bhahr , Baar , Bhahr , Baer , Barre , was a measure of weight that became important in the international spice and spice trade in the countries of the Indian Ocean and around the Persian Gulf . Its value varies from region to region, mostly in the range of 200 to 300 kilograms.

About the term and early information

The Bahār is already mentioned by the geographers Ibn Chordadhbeh (d. 912) and al-Muqaddasī (d. Approx. 1000). According to Ibn Chordadhbeh it consisted of 333  men (English Maund, originally probably of Iranian origin), in Mecca according to al-Muqaddasī it consisted of 300  Ratl (which probably comes from the Arab-Maghreb region), whose ratio could be around at the time 1: 2 to 1: 3. According to Cardarelli (2003), a distinction must be made between the larger Bahar (Bokard) and the smaller Buhar ( Kantar ) for old Saudi Arabian weights (without dating) ; they have a ratio of 1: 3, with 202.5 kg and 67.5 kg, respectively kg. This can explain the range of information that can already be found in Ibn Chordadhbeh and al-Muqaddasī.

Since, depending on the type and price of the goods, a rate that was measured differently in terms of time and place was added to the basic weight, there were enormous fluctuations in the measurement of the Bahār weight.

The name is probably derived from the Sanskrit word bhāra 'load, mass'. According to Klimpert (1896) there is an indication that the load depends on the strength of the animal in question (for mules, Iran, 19th century), and that this could also have applied elsewhere and for other pack animals .

Arabia

  • In Mecca in the second half of the 17th century, 1 Bahār consisted of 15  Frasil of 10 local men, equal to 30 Ratl. This gives the Bahār 183.7 kg.
  • In Saudi Arabia 1 Bahar (Bokard) = 3 Buhar = 150 men = 450 Ratl = 202.5 kg, with the Buhar = 50 men = 150 Ratl = 67.5 kg  corresponding to the Qintār (Kantar).
  • In the city of Mocha , 1 Bahār was 199.328 kg, for coffee 1 Bohar corresponds to 460  mocha finds (487.5 grams each ) d. H. 224.25 kg.
  • In Bayt al-Faqīh , 1 Bahār = 40 Frasil or 6000  Tuckeas = 400 men = 800 Ratl = 369.9635 kg.
  • In Jeddah 1 Bahār = 10 Frasil = 100 men = 500 Ratl of 15  Ūqīya each = 82.998 kg.
  • In Oman , the standard Bahār consisted of 200 men and corresponded to 202.30 kg (so the Saudi Arabian measure, with a different subdivision). In the case of rock salt , double the value applied. There and in Muscat there are also data up to 808 kg.

Persia (Iran)

India

  • In Goa , 1 Bahar was 205.632 kg.
  • In French India , it was 234.96 kg.
  • On Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the 18th and 19th centuries it was about 250 kg (500 pounds, with 1 Bahar = 20 Mound = 800  Seer more precisely 226.796 kg), and thus corresponds to the Candy .

South East Asia

  • In Ambon , where cloves were weighed with this measure, a bahar was 270.692 kg.
  • In Aceh 192.06 kg, on Banda 276.8 kg.
  • In Batavia (Jakarta) a distinction was made between 1 Bahar (large) = 276.844 kg and 1 Bahar (small) = 184.563 kg.
  • Malacca 1 Bahar = 184.563 kg (like Batavia, not tin weight).
  • Prince of Wales Island 1 Bahar = 193.53 kg.

East Africa

  • The Bahar was also in use in the former Portuguese Mozambique : 1 Bahar = 20 Frasil = 108.86 kg.

literature

  • François Cardarelli: Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. (Translated by MJ Shields), Springer, 2003 ff, ISBN 978-1-85233-682-0 (eBook ISBN 978-1-4471-0003-4 ), Table 3.5.2.4.1.4 Old Saudi Arabian Units of Weight , P. 136 ( reading sample Printing 2005, pdf , francoiscardarelli.ca ; there p. 117).
  • WJ Donaldson: The pre-metric Weights and Measures of Oman. In New Arabian Studies 1 (1993), pp. 83-107.
  • Walther Hinz : Islamic measures and weights: converted into the metric system. EJ Brill, Leiden / Cologne 1970, pp. 8-10.
  • Wilhelm Hoffmann: General encyclopedia for merchants, manufacturers, businessmen, or a complete dictionary on trade, factories, manufactories, arts, etc. Business. Volume 2, Verlag Otto Wigand, Leipzig 1848, p. 371.
  • R. Klimpert: Lexicon of coins, measures, weights, counting methods and time sizes. 2nd edition, Verlag C. Regenhardt, Berlin 1896, entry Bahar , p. 21 ( digitalisat, eReader , archive.org, p. 32 there).
  • Johann Christian Nelkenbrecher : JC Nelkenbrecher's general pocket book of coin, measure and weight. 15th ed. Sander, Berlin 1832, p 87 ( Digitalisat , digitalis.uni-cologne).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b lit. Klimpert: Lexicon of coins, measures and weights. 1st edition 1885, p. 314 ( limited preview in the Google book search; Bohar entry is missing in reference 2nd edition 1896).
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j lit. Klimpert: Lexicon of coins, dimensions, weights . 1896, p. 21.
  3. ↑ a b c lit. Klimpert: Lexicon of Coins, Dimensions, Weights. Entry bar p. 25 ( digitized version , eReader , archive.org).
  4. ↑ Lit. Hoffmann: Allgemeine Enzyklopädie… Volume 1, p. 176.
  5. ↑ Lit. Hinz: Islamic Mass and Weights . 1970, p. 8.
  6. ↑ a b Lit. Cardarelli: Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. 2003 (2005), p. 136.
  7. ↑ a b Lit. Hinz: Islamic mass and weights . 1970, p. 9.
  8. ^ Lit. Donaldson: Pre-metric Weights and Measures of Oman . 1993, p. 86.
  9. ↑ a b Lit. Hinz: Islamic mass and weights . 1970, p. 10.
  10. ^ Leopold Carl Bleibtreu: Handbook of coin, measure and weight and the exchange-government paper, banking and stock system of European and non-European countries and cities. J. Engelhorn, Stuttgart 1861, entry Mokka p. 295 ( digitized version , p. 295-303 , pdf, digitalis.uni-koeln.de).
  11. ↑ Lit. Klimpert: Lexicon of Coins, Dimensions, Weights . 1896, entry Pfund , p. 273 (in eReader p. 286).
  12. ^ Johann Karl Gottfried Jacobsson: Technological dictionary or alphabetical explanation of all useful mechanical arts, manufactures, factories and craftsmen. Volume 1, Friedrich Nicolaus, Berlin / Stettin 1781, p. 667. ( Digitalisat , reader.digitale-sammlungen.de).
  13. ↑ Georg Gottfried Strelin: Real dictionary for cameralists and economists. Volume 2, Karl Gottlob Beck, Nördlingen 1785, p. 712.
  14. ↑ a b Lit. Nelkenbrecher: Allgemeine Taschenbuch . 1832, p. 87.
  15. ^ Lit. Donaldson: Pre-metric Weights and Measures of Oman . 1993, p. 96.
  16. ↑ United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Statistical Office of the United Nations: World Weights and Measures. Handbook for Statisticians. Statistical Papers. Series M no.21 Revision 1. (ST / STAT / SER.M / 21 / rev.1), United Nations, New York 1966 (p. OA, information from bahar , sizes.com).
  17. ↑ Robert Montgomery Martin: History of the Colonies of the British Empire in the West Indies, South America, North America, Asia… WH Allen & Co. and George Routledge, London 1843, p. 396 (according to bahar , sizes.com) .
  18. ↑ Ref. Cardarelli: Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. 2003 (2005), Table 3.5.2.4.7.2 Old Ceylonese and Madrasian Units of Weight , p. 143 (in pdf p. 124).
  19. ↑ Ops.cit. Bleibtreu: Handbook of coin, measure and weight ... 1861, entry Mozambique p. 298 (in pdf p. 4).