Page 278 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

Left the fort at about 6.30 in one of Kanoo's big launches. Took Jasim Bengi, the man who inspects the pearl boats & some
servants. A good launch with a big deck at one end on which we spread carpets & cushions. Lovely day & perfectly smooth.
The launch couldnt come close in owing to tide so we had to wade out, in water waist deep, so spent most of the time dressed
in a towel while our clothes dried. Alban wore bathing kit. Took just 4 hours to reach the place. Went on board a biggish boat
& stayed about an hour then cruised round & boarded about 6 others looking at the licenses & counting the men. Most
interesting experience. Took 8 photos but the film stuck so I fear they may be damaged.

The boats have the oars sticking out on each side while they are working & the divers hang onto the oars between dives. Each
diver has two pullers who let him down & who pull up the weights. He goes down on the end of a rope with an iron weight
attached & comes up of his own accord. He has a sort of string bag in which he puts the shells, when he comes up he swims
alongside the boat and throws his shells onto the deck. They stayed below 1½-2 minutes & each man got 2 or 3 shells each
time. None of the boats we boarded had got any very good pearls. The men seemed to be quite happy. It must be pretty awful
living for four months on a tiny sailing boat with literally hardly room to move. At night they must be packed so tight that
each man touches his neighbour. Got back at about 6.30, too late to go to the Agency for tennis.

Saturday 20th August