Page 107 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

Selections from the Records, 1818-1856 97

CHARACTER AN 0 SUBDIVISION OV TUB TRIBES. 93

materially llicir own condition, and, by an easily deduced corollary,
the safely of the Gulf, might be affected by the failure of a single
season. The attention with which this point has been considered by
the Government, in framing its policy, marks the anxiety and care,
attended with great expense, which have been devoted to the main­
tenance of perfect tranquillity and security on the pearl banks to the
subjects of the several petty chieftains who, however inimically
disposed, arc bound there to forget their quarrels, or suffer them to rest
in abeyance.
The manners and religion of the Arabs of the piratical coast, being
those appertaining to the Soonec sect of Mahomedans, arc already
too well and generally known to call for any further description in
this paper.
Of a character deceitful, vindictive, and treacherous, but brave and
independent withal, they hold in utter contempt all other nations, pro­
fessing whatever creed ; the conviction of the irresistible power of the
British Government, whose weight they have in two instances been
collectively brought to feel, together with its subsequent occasional I
exercise or demonstration in individual eases, have alone reduced them
to succumb to its will, and restrained them from acts of piracy. They
do not at the present time hesitate to admit, that the restraints imposed
upon them once withdrawn, their boats, now, in their own phraseo­
logy, ignobly employed as beasts of burthen, to carry about dales and
merchandize, would again, as in former days, overrun this Gulf and the
[ndian Seas in search of booty.
The inhabitants are divided into a number of large tribes, acknow­
ledging each its feudal superior, which arc, again, sub-divided into
branches or clans, composed of the relatives and dependents of
some connexion of the general head, or of a powerful and wealthy
individual.
The superior of the tribe collectively has the general control of all;
possesses the right of claiming at his pleasure their military service's ;
and appropriates the small taxes that arc levied.

dates, grain, and other necessaries of life, which they purchase with the price of those pearls.
Their dates arc chiefly brought from Bahrein and Bussora, grain and cloth from Mu skat and
the Persian ports. They arc very poor, and, perhaps, can never find much employment in
commerce, unless in carrying for others, although it is said they at one time possessed a very
extensive trade.” The same holds good for the tribes in general to the present day, except
that their own boats arc now engaged in the Indian trade.
Such was the original object of the Maritime Truce, guaranteed by Government, and enter­
ed into for the six months including the season of the pearl fishery.
At the request of some, and with the concurrence of all the Chiefs, its time was extended to
eight and twelve months, and finally to ten years, during which all hostilities at sea arc
forbidden.