Board games from the city of Vijayanagara (Hampi ... - Gioco dell'Oca.

A.J. DE VOOGT, HAWALIS IN O MAN 97
Hawalis players
Players of Hawalis are found in two places in Muscat, the capital of Oman. The first
group plays at the taxi stand near the Ruwi bus station in order to pass the time while
waiting for clients. Card playing is equally popular in that area. The second group plays
near the harbor at the Corniche in Mutrah. It is said that players were also present in Seeb
and that there were many more playing clubs in former times.
At the Corniche there appeared serious competition. The present champion by the
name of Dad Mohd, claimed to calculate at least 6 rounds. This so-called duru calculation,
which is also found in the game of Bao, can be tested (de Voogt 1995). The planned
position and the calculation that was required provided Dad Mohd the opportunity to
show his ability with success. The simple fact that this player was indeed able to calculate
six rounds of counters traveling the board indicates that some level of expertise is present
in the game of Hawalis in Oman. He recalled at least two champions who were
active about 30 years ago, who had dominated the game in earlier times.
Hawalis played in the sand at the Corniche in Mutrah, Muscat (photo A.J. de Voogt)
All players appeared Arab-speaking Omani’s. The large Swahili-speaking community
in Oman which has increased particularly since the revolution in Zanzibar in the
1960s does not participate in the game, nor do the players of Hawalis speak Swahili.
Despite the African appearance of many players, both the knowledge of Swahili, Africa
or the game of Bao appeared absent. When interviewing Swahili speaking inhabitants of
Oman they appeared familiar with the game of Bao but not with the game of Hawalis.
Despite the obvious similarity with East-African mancala games and the close his-