Page 399 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

and muscat political aoency por tub year 1877-78. 31
to pay off hie debts by yearly instalments. A paper of release (from
obligations) is supplied by the Alusaygum, and the Nakhoda seeks
another employer.
This new master secs the amount of yearly instalment due, and is
liable himself for it for the year that he receives the Nakhoda into bis
service.
In turn he also is similarly protected, but the whole instdments
due to the first master must be paid up before the second master can
claim those which have been assessed as his due.
Of course, the whole boat’s crew is more or less in debt to the
Nakhoda as he himself is to the Bunncah, so that when it suits the
latter to sell up a Nakhooda rather than await payment of the debt by
instalments, be does so to tbe extent of the boat aud the crew. Hero
however his claims are ended, and from that moment the Nakhoda is
a free man, his house and other property on shore cannot be touched,
and he is able to enter into new contracts elsewhere. This he generally
docs, getting together a fresh crew, and hiring a boat at the recognised
rate of 20 per cent, on the value of the season’s harvest.
One further prohibitory custom that obtains in the Gulf should
be mentioned, it is this, that should a stranger buy pearls privately from
a Nakhoda, without the permission of his Musaygum, he becomes
responsible for all tbe Nakhoda’s debts even if these are far in excess
of tbe value of the pearls which have changed bauds.
Altogether, looking at tbe position of tbe Bunneah in the Persian
Gulf, it would seem to be rather ail enviable one according to their
ideas. They are well protected, and have every opportunity of amassing
considerable wealth. •
11. It* will be noticed below that tbe crew of the boats engaged
in these fisheries have all a recognized
• See para. 12.
definite share in the results of their
enterprise.
The Nakhoda is the master, the responsible man, and often owns
the boat himself.
The Seb or saib, the hauler, comes next, and lastly the "ghoas*
or diver; besides these working hands there are usually a boy or two
employed to catch fish for the daily food, (which is done by putting
down traps at night, shaped like on English Eel trap) to cook, and
for other purposes.
The Nakhoda is either u khali” (f.*., free from debt), the actual
owner of the boat, and rich enough to conduct operations and provision
his boat and crew without having recourse to a u Musavgum/’ or he
owns the boat, but has not money enough to do this, or, lastly, he has
merely hired the boat at the usoal rate of 20 pc" cent* on the valae
of the season’s gains.
In either of these latter cases he is eir; '.atically no longer free
as he falls into the hands of the Musaygum. Once in that gentleman’s
hooks it is not easy to make hauls largo enough to get oat of them
Again, or do more than gain a bare subsistence.