A Morning in the Old Souq - Grain Sale

Photos: left - Dorelle and a grain saler; right - men gathered around the autioneer; below - various bags of grain waiting to be sold.

Typically on a Thursday morning I like to go into Taif on the 8:10 bus to the old souq and watch it slowly come alive. At this time of day not many people are out and it is not that hot. My friend Dorelle and I wanted to get olives, almonds, baking chocolate, brown lentils, and to return a scarf. After getting the olives we went to get the almonds in the part of the souq that sells bulk items like cloves, cardamom, other spices I don’t know the names of but they look very pretty all piled up in bright colors, barley, lentils, other dried pulses, and honey.


This past Thursday Dorelle and I stumbled upon a grain sale. Why they hold it in this part of the souq where it is off in a corner and not in the main square seems strange to me because they have to drive in big trucks and then carry the big bags into this secluded spot. At first the scene was many bags of corn, wheat, millet, and sorghum in their various forms stacked in piles while the men and boys dressed in their white gowns and red and white head scarves sat around the edges drinking tea and looking like they were waiting for a parade to start. Dorelle and I were secretly watching from the almond stall wondering what was happening or about to happen. I had a camera and badly wanted to take pictures but wasn’t sure if this would be acceptable. I am sure we were also being secretly observed from the waiting crowds. We got brave enough and walked around the bags looking to see what was inside. A gentleman did ask if we wanted to buy 80 kilos of wheat. Luckily I recognized the Arabic word for “to buy” and politely said not today, just looking.

By now the waiting men got up and gathered around a newly arrived man. We thought to ourselves he must be the auctioneer. While the men were distracted with this new man, Dorelle and I decided this was our chance to snap some shots. We did and no one said anything.

We enjoyed this mini side show and then continued with our errands. No baking chocolate to be had though. By 10 am the heat of the day was growing and we were glad to be going back on the 10:30 am bus to cool off in the pool.