Page 406 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

33 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY

Tn vain Sir R. Hawkins gives us bis doubts of this “conceit,” and
Cuvier bis common sense explanations, a poetical idea dies hard, and the
drop of dew will continue to commend itself as a theory till science has
laid its final vctoc on the cherished illusiou, and even that will not
shake the faith of the sons of Oman,

37; They coutcnd moreover that there arc four distinct kinds of
pearls, viz:—
(i.) Pearls from the Gulf of Oman recognisable by their peculiar
gloss and purity and possessing seven*
• The number cannot bo vouched coats which are very thin and lustrous.
for, hut the facts of tho pearl being
Wilt in layers is well substantiated, (ii.) Pearls from Socotra and- the
and a pearl with one or two damaged Red Sea.+ These arc not considered to
layer* can bo cleaned down to tho ]je 0f SQ cr00(l a colour, shape, Or
lower and more perfect stratum. ° *
brilliance, and have only five coats.
t Fishing grounds still visited by
the Arab. (iii.) Pearls from CeylonJ not so
pure as the last, and arc only allowed
X This would 8CCD to he a prejudiced
statement. three coats l
(iv.) Pearls from Kurrachce ; these
are the worst, have only one skin, aud are formed round a nucleus of
sand. They arc very lightly esteemed.
However this may he with regard to the pearl in general, it is very
certain that the pearls of Oman themselves vary in weight, colour,
shape, and lustre, so much so indeed that the merchants recognize six
diilercut names for different sorts of pearls, besides the three distinct
colours, white, red, and blue. Black pearls are also sometimes found;
they are considered to be of no value, and are called " dead” pearls, though
found in living shell fish.

33. These well-recognized distinctions are tabulated in the margin.
Pjuiia. The first being the \ekah
Pirwnt approxi* (/.*., uuique) or Suffcid-i-
Whit* Pearl*. value of Bahrein
ra"krl sbirin, which, like all pearls
Chao. large enough to be valued
1. Faffcld-l-Shlrin or Yrkoh ... 11 to 30 $
2. Nlm.blrio 3 to 10 9 singly or in small packets,
3. Cumrshal 3 to 7 9 takes rank according to its
4. KauibtjiU ... — tto 59
9. Uipbi... ... ,M — 3 to 2 9 size, purity, and beauty of
«. Khaka Suffeld or Kboartfc ...
- p«4aa form/ They ^ are all 8old
RUPrarl*. after a certain size, at so
1. Farkh-I-Fhlrl® ...
Z. Burkh-l-Nlm, thlria M at to m s much per cliao, but this will
3L Hurkh Uaghx, lit sort ...
4. tturkh Mifbx; 2nd variety M be more fully gone into
Plus Pearl*, presently.
1. Kabnd-I-Mljaa
X. Kabad-ldorum ii01** If such » pearl were
S f*. Kbaereh M i$ found weighing one miscal
2 J 4. Noori ... to 119
Si 9. Khxkeb, one variety U> l| or six grains English, being
^ Khakeh, another do U* good and pure and shapely*
- *Uh its value in the present State
Iwt lUUr«l»«fltfor Bupcca S-3-0 por*. of thg market WOUld b6
about Rupees 44,220 at 05$ per Arab chao.