Page 209 - UAE Truncal States

Chapter Five

sun, lhe stars and the colour and depth of the water as navigational
aids. Most pearling boats were sanbuks, but batlls, baqarahs,
shu'ais, and zaruqahs were also used; all types were propelled by
sails but also had oars for moving short distances, while on the
banks the sails were used to provide shade for the men on board.37
Once the boat reached the bank of the captain’s choice it might stay
anchored for a whole season by the same pearl bank; although some
captains preferred to move frequently from one bank to another.
Since the more perfect pearls in general came from greater depth the
captain with a number of very good divers would go to a different
bank from the one who had a motley collection of untried divers of
whom he could not expect above average performance.
The dive
The captain and crew of a pearling boat formed an unusually close
unit during the months they were at sea. Each individual’s economic
well-being depended so much on the co-operation of all aboard the
boat that most disputes and animosities were shelved at least until
after the dive was over. A boat carried on an average 8 divers
(ghasah, singl. ghais), 10 haulers (saib, pi. siyub), an apprentice
whose duty it was to catch fish, to serve coffee, cook and scrub the
deck. Some of the very big boats also carried a mulawwa', who could
lead the prayers and start off the rhythmical chants which the Arabs
on this coast often use to ease a common strenuous effort. The
captain, nukhada, was responsible for the location of the dive and
the sale of the catch, but not for the date of sailing to the banks or of
returning from them; the Ruler in each port appointed an “admiral”
of the local pearling fleet, who was responsible for fixing these dates.
The age-old modus operandi of the actual dive was as follows.
After a light breakfast of dates and coffee the divers started work
about an hour after sunrise, having opened some of the oysters which
were caught the previous day. Diving continued without intermis­
sion until about an hour after midday. After prayers, coffee and a
rest, diving continued until about an hour before sunset when
prayers were again said. The evening meal usually consisted of fish
and rice followed by dates and coffee. Due to the heat and humidity
none of the crew on board slept anywhere but on deck, even where
there was room below. During one day each diver would dive up to
sixty times, staying submerged usually for less than one and a half
minutes.38

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