Page 242 - UAE Truncal States
P. 242

Social Aspects of Traditional Economy

         and British-protected Indian communities. This consciousness
         turned easily into resentment of one group against another’s
         privileges when the economy started to decline. Signs of such
         resentment became therefore more obvious during the later 1920s
         and may be detected, although in a not entirely unbiased version, in
         the reports which the Residency Agent sent to the Political Resident.
           An attempt was made in Dubai in the 1930s to introduce a new
         socio-economic balance between the various old and new interest
         groups in that town.41 This came to be known as the Dubai reform
         movement, which is described in the next chapter.

         The divers’ court
         During the fast expansion of the pearling industry up to the 1920s the
         demand for cash to equip and provision boats also grew, and
         entrepreneurs, both Arab and foreign, not only earned a high and
         relatively risk-free return but also were in a strong position to lay
         down the terms for giving credit. The very complicated system of
         financing the pearling industry also called for stringent regulations
         to safeguard the rights of all the people involved, including the
         financiers without whom the industry could not continue to grow.
         Such rules differed from place to place and changed considerably
         with time, circumstances, and the nationality and experience of the
         participants in the industry. Deviations from the current code in any
         one shaikhdom were not tolerated, regardless of the status of the
         offender within the community. In each pearling port a tribunal
         constituted of members of the pearling community was set up to deal
         with such complaints. The financiers, captains and divers all stood
         on an equal footing before this tribunal, called salifah al ghaus.
           It usually consisted of several members of the diving community,
         particularly nawakhidah with a reputation for fairness and good
         judgement. The Ruler appointed the members of the diving tribunals,
         but neither he nor the qadi could interfere in their judgement. In
         matters which required an oath, however, the disputants had to go
         before the qadi. In Abu Dhabi, throughout the present century there
          has invariably been one person appointed by successive Rulers: only
         three in eighty years.42
           During the early years of the decline in the pearling industry, when
          the accumulated debts which could not be recovered were leading to
          the ruin of many families, an increasing number of cases were
          referred to the qudah, particularly if all parties involved were

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