Page 68 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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26 BAHREIN.

particularly in hot countries. The shell of both these species, which is
known by the name of mother-o’-pearl, is used in Asia for various
purposes.
“ The annual revenue arising from the fishery in the latitude of Bahrein
is computed at 3,600,000 livres (£157,500). The greatest part of the
pearls that are uneven are carried to Constantinople, and other ports of
Turkey, where the larger compose part of the ornaments of the head­
dress, and the smaller are used in works of embroidery. The perfect
pearls arc of course reserved for Surat, from whence they are distributed
throughout all Hindoostan. The women have so strong a passion for this
luxury, and the sale of this article is so much increased by superstition,
that there is not the least reason to apprehend any diminution either in
the price or the demand. There are none of the Gentiles, who do not
make it a point of religion to bore at least one pearl at the time of their
marriage. Whatever may be the mysterious meaning of this custom,
among a people whose morality and politics arc couched in allegories,
or where allegory becomes religion, this emblem of virgin modesty has
proved advantageous to the pearl trade.”
At a time when the revenue from the pearl banks of Bahrein alone
was at the lowest point, under the Shaikhs ofBushire, from the weak­
ness and imperfection of their tenure and government, Neibuhr thus
speaks of it:—
“Bahreinis said at one time to have contained 365 towns and
villages; but at present there is only one fortified town on the island,
Awal (Bahrein), and not more than forty or fifty villages on the
neighbouring islets. The remainder have doubtless been destroy­
ed by the continual wars which have infested this country. The pearl
fishery of these isles is still celebrated, but as the tribe Hul pay little
or nothing for the permission to fish, the revenues of the Shaikh of
Abooshahar, on account of the fishery and the date grounds, amount to
no more than Rs. 100,000.
« Many persons who have been on these islands have assured me that
excellent spring-water is found in a depth of two and a half fathoms, at
some distance from the shore ; and that the fishermen constantly dive
to that depth, to replenish their jars.”
Tavernier says :—“In the first place, there is a pearl fishery round the
island of Bahrein, in the Persian Gulf, which belongs to the King of
Persia, and there is a good fortress, garrisoned with three hundred men.
The water they use in this island, and also on the Persian Coast, is
salt, and of a bad taste, and it is only the Natives of the country that can
drink it. With respect to strangers, it costs them a considerable surn
to get it good, for they have to draw it from the sea, at a distance o
from half a league to two leagues beyond the island. Those that go to