Page 96 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

86 Records of Bahrain

22 n.uin i-in.

ISLAND OF BAHREIN.

The Island of Bahrein lies opposite to the port of Ogair, is thirty-
three miles in extreme breadth, and seventy in extreme length, covering
about eight hundred square miles. The Chiefs of the Beni Ilbah, a
foreign tribe of Arabs from Crane (orKoweit), have governed its aborigi­
nal inhabitants for more than thirty-five years with absolute power, Not
so, however, their Ulloobcc brethren, who yield to superior authority
with difficulty. The revenue collected by them amounts to the yearly
sum of 100,000 Tomans, of which 20,000 Tomans is the original
revenue, and 80,000 Tomans consist of arbitrary impositions of the
governors. The pearl fishery produces to them 100,000 Tomans, of 12
Piastres Roomce each, which is divided among the members of the
tribe in proportions, according to their rank and consequence.
Their fishing-boats amount to 1,400 sail, of which 700 arc of larger
burthen, 300 intermediate, and 400 of a small size. The larger are
manned by one master, fourteen divers, and fourteen assistants, in all
twenty-nine men; the intermediate with one master, nine divers, and
nine assistants, in all nineteen men ; the least with one master, seven
divers, and seven assistants, in all fifteen men. The portions of the
fishery arc four to the master, and two to the divers; the assistants
receive for the season a settled pay of from five to six Tomans. The
fishermen borrow for their support, from noted bankers, amounts both of
money and grain, on which these gain a profit of thirty per cent., or