Page 169 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

Surveyors and travellers, 1832-1837 159

PEARL FISHERY. 123

contact with them stings very severely, they
envelope themselves in white dresses, and have
when floating about in the water, with the sun
glistening on them, a singular appearance.
There arc several modes of opening the shell,
but most commonly it is done with a clasp-
knife, and the pearl is found embedded in the
muscular portion of the fish, where it is attached
to the shell. The shells are also sometimes
piled up on shore, where the heat of the sun
decomposes the fish, and the pearls are at once
obtained.

The sheikhs levy a tax from three to five
dollars on each boat, according to its size. The
value of the whole produce of the season on
the principal bank is estimated at forty lacs of
dollars, or about eighty thousand pounds, of
which it is computed the Hindoo merchants
purchase and transmit two-thirds to India, while
the remaining portion finds its way into Persia
and Arabia.
Five days after quitting Ras el Khaimah we
sighted a cluster of islets called Maudes’ group.
In size, appearance, and formation, they closely
resembled each other. They apparently owe
their origin to volcanic agency, for they abound
in sulphur, gypsum, antimony, and iron. From
seaward they present an extraordinary appear-