Page 209 - UAE Truncal States_Neat
P. 209

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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