Page 89 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

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The pre-war economy: pearl fishing, 1899-1915 505

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special arrangement with the local authority before they are allowed to
dive on any Persian bank. The taxes ordinarily levied by the Shaikhs
from their own subjects and from thoso of friendly Shaikhs on the same
coast are given in Annexure No. 6 ; and here we may add that the sum
realised by the Shaikhs from outsiders who wish to work upon their
banks generally varies from §20 to §40 per boat for the season, and that
the permission is given in writing. The finder of a valuable pearl is expected
to bring it secretly to the Shaikh, and, if he does so, he is generally compelled
to part with it on payment of a mere fraction of its value ; if, on the
other hand, he fails to bring it, his life and property will both be in
danger.
Revenue from the pearl fisheries is not as yet included in the Pessian
Tumar or list of revenuo assets for each district, and the local Shaikhs
conceal the amount of their incomes from this source as best they can
from the Persian Government. When the Nizam-as-Saltanch was Gov­
ernor of the Gulf Ports he aspired to levy a Malyat of 4,000 Tumaus
on the pearl banks of the Shibkuh and Lingeli Districts; but the
Shaikhs refused to pay, and he was unable to give effect to his inten­
tions. In the Governorship of the Sa'ad-ul-Mulk, however, with the
connivance of the merchants of Lingeh, a Malyat of Us. 800 per annum
was assessed by the Persian Deputy-Governor on 30 pearl boats of the
A1 Bu Samait tribe at Liugeh Town and has ever since been regularly
collected j this is the sole item of revenue which any Persian official
recovers from pearl fisheries, aud it is believed that the proceeds are
divided between the Governor of the Gulf Ports and the Deputy-
Governor of Lingeh.

Political questions connected with the pearl fisheries.

We have seen that the pearl fisheries arc, on the western side of the
Persian Gulf, the chief means of livelihood of the people; that they are
participated in by the subjects of a number of separate states and princi­
palities ; and that the}' are at present carried on entirely by the native
inhabitants of the Gulf. Prom these facts spring political considerations
of great importance, which we propose to explain and illustrate in a
short historical review, dealing first with matters of a purely local kiud,
and then with issues of a wider and international character.

Local political questions.

laintemuice
f ihe poai:o. Siuco 1853—the year in which the Trucial Shaikhs entered into a
permanent mutual agreement for tlic preservation of peace at sea, while
the British Government simultaneously undertook the responsibility of