Page 395 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1877-73. 27
Appondix A to Part IL
Note* on the Pearl Fisheries of tho Persian Gulf, prepared by Captain E. L. Duhand,
1st Assistant Political Resident, Persian Gulf.
The origin of the fisheries in the Gulf of Oman is lost in the
mists of a pro-historic period when no doubt the beauties of Niniveh and
Babylon were wont to deck their hair with gems drawn from the same
pregnant shoals that to this day largely supply the markets of the old
world.
2. We see from the accounts of travellers and historians that as
time went on a high value was set upon the pearls of Oman on account
of their peculiar beauty aud lustre.
Pliny says distinctly "Those are most highly valued which are
found in the vicinity of Arabia in the Persian Gulf,” but here his
geography is at fault as he goes on " which forms a part of the
lted Sea”.
3. If we are to judge by the number of times that the Islands
of Bahrain have been taken and retaken, their importance as the heart
of the fisheries has never been undervalued. Even from the time when
Tylos* and Arathcs were Phoenician colonies. These islands have
changed hands more often than the Koh-i-No;»r aud are now in equally
safe-keeping.
4. It is a matter of great difficulty to arrive at anything approach­
ing to a correct estimate of the amount and value of the pearls that
arc now yearly harvested, as they arc carried to many different markets to
suit the varying tastes of the nations.
% Some go to the Courts of Europe, whilst others, failing in this
"purpose of their high creation,” are reduced into aphrodisiacs that
may stimulate the energies of the worn out Sybarites of Hindustan.
These latter are however usually small, or at any rate are of no
intrinsic value, as it would fall to few to be able to concoct as rare a love
potion as the one in which the Egyptian Queen pledged her Imperial
Lover. This heirloomf from the Kings of the East was so large that
its fellow was deemed worthy to deck the Venus of the Roman Pantheon.
Between these best and worst there are many varieties which will be
separately noticed hereafter.
• The ancient name* Tylos is still preserved in the name of a village (against the
statement of llawliuson). Viuccnt had thrown doubt upon tho very derivation of tlis
names which Rawlinson upholds.
These islands have been claimed as the birth place itself of the Ptxrniclan. mce*
that they had colonics there is certain. Itrabo, who wrote before A.D. 20, quotes Erato*-
thanes, (one of Alexander's Historians) who says tb;it Tyrus and Aradus are occupied
by Phccnu-uuts. Gossc’.in says they first moved from Sid>n, or Sidodona, a city visited bj
Marchiu to people Bahrein, and from thenoe establulicd themselves on the shores of the
Mediterranean. Uurea in 1854 states positively that traces of Phoenician workmanship
and buildings have boon found, and is himself convinced of Phoenician occupancv, and
Rawlinson, in his most critical 2nd essay on Phoenician emigration, in the 7th chapter
of Herodotus, gives all tho arguments for and against the supposition. A comparison at
most of the authors quoted, nud the belief of Political Officer* now serving, in the Golf!,
would lend one to the conclusion tlmt there hod most certainly been a Pluenician occupa­
tion though there is only a possibility of these islands haviug been the cradle of the founders
of Tyre and 8’ulon. Herodotus himself however records his belief and the grounds oi it,
t It was supposed to bs worth 10 million 8e*tcrcea.