Page 400 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

32 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN C1ULF
POLITICAL RESIDENCY
The crew of course is ns entirely in tbe Nakhoda's books as he
bimsclf is in those of tbe Bunneah.
12. Tbe shares of each of tbe above aro as follows
“Nakboda” ... one-fifth.
" Gbotts” ... three shares }of remainder.
“ Seb” ... two shares,
If the boat is hired and does not belong to tbe Nakhoda, this one-
fifth goes to tbe owner, and the Nakboda has to be content with one
(t ghoas” sb are.
13. We sec therefore that there are tbe two taxes of Nob and
Traz, which have to be met from the proceeds of the fishing; that the
" Musaygum” or " Nakhodas" account has to be settled; that the value
of the take is reduced 20 per cent, in favor of the Musaygum; that
one-fifth of the remainder goes to the owner of the boat, whoever he
may be, and finally that what remains after all these charges have been
met is divided into five shares, of which three-fifths go to the divers
for division amongst themselves and two-fifths to the haulers.
As the haulers and divers are always in equal numbers, the share
of the diver is somewhat the larger, and this is fair as his work is
infinitely the harder.
14. The “Sob,” are usually Bedouins, sometimes Persians; it is
their duty to work the ship, handle oars and sail, and pull up the divers.
15. The “Gkoas” is generally a Sedce, or Arab of the poorer
classes, or a sedee domestic slave. He will go on diving all day if the
weather is fair, merely taking short rests in the water, to recover
breath and strength. As a rule he does not remain below longer than
50 to 70 seconds. The latter is over the average; these men are very
abstemious, eating about a $ lb of dates in the morning, and drinking
three or four cups of coffee after morning prayers; and they then
begin fishing when the sun gets up.
At about 2 o'clock they all come out of the water for coffee,
prayers, and a rest which lasts for about an hour, when they go to
work again till sundown. At night they eat a hearty meal of roast
fish and dates, and do no further work.
A good diver will go down twelve, fourteen, and even sixteen fathoms
occasionally, but this last depth is so great a strain that very few are
ca]iable of enduring it. From eight to twelve fathom is the usual
depth at which work is carried on.
16. There are many different weights in the boat to suit tbe
necessity of each diver who chooses a sinking stone that will neither
he too light nor too heavy for his comfort.
These weights are attached to his feet, slipped, and hauled up
again when he reaches the bottom. A pair of horn pincers on his
nostrils, a rope round his waist, and leather tips to his fingers, to save
his hands from abrasions, usually complete his costume.
17.. In tbe case of a large number of devil fish being about his
toilette is more finished, it then consists of a long white shirt to protect