Page 356 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

58

yew. Events and facts.

1880-81 . The Chief of Abu Thabi proceeded to Mckka on pilgrimage and
returned in safety. Ho bad proviou6ly visited Braiuii. Ilis
sou Khalifa paid a visit to Bahrein and received a present of
two horses from the Chief.
The pearl-fishing was satisfactory.
1388-84 . Heavy gales were experienced in February and March 1884,
and several boats were wrecked; a bad form of malaria
prevailed during the year causing many deaths.
The pearl-diving was fairly productive and a new bank was
discovered iu three fathoms south of Halul islaud.
1885-86 . Results of the pearl-fishery on the Pirate Coast were poor and
250 divers were reported to have died from deep diving.
1886-87 • The pearl-fishing was unsatisfactory. Tho boats of the Pirate
Coast proceeded to the Red Sea for peurl-fishiug.
1889-90 • Residency agent furnished the following estimate of the number
of peail-fishiug boats sailing from the Pirate Coasts
Rami-a . , 10
R&s-el-Khima . . 31
Jezirat-el-Zab . 25
Uimn-el-Kowein . 65
Himriyeh 20
Ejman 40
Shargah, Hijrah and Khan 350
Debai and Jumeyra . 950
Aba Thabi and dependencies 355
Total 1,840
The various Chiefs derive the chief part of their income from
taxes levied on the boats and their crews.
1890-91 . Pearl-fishing moderately successful, the market in India being
dull. The Arabs proceeded to the Ceylon fisheries to offer
themselves as divers in 1&89-90 and 1890-91.
Locusts appeared at Shargah in May 1890 and did much
damage.
Influenza prevailed in the spring and carried away several people.
Heavy storms passed over the coast and caused much damage.
1891-92 . Chief of Ras-ol-Khima opened a custom house for the taxation
of imports in June 1891.
The pearl-fishery season was long and more than usually
remunerative, each boat having earned more than §1,000
per boat.
1892-98 • In September 1892 the Chief of Debai visited the Sultan of
Masknt, returning overland theooe to Bereimi where he
married iuto the Albu-Shams 6ept of the Naim tribe.

1893-94 . Cholera prevailed on the Pirate Coast at the end of the hot
season and disappeared in October 1892, after causing consi­
derable mortality.
1894-95 . Outbreak of dengue fever occurred in the early part of the
pearl-fishery season.
The outbreak of fever prevented many of the divers going as
usual to the pearl bauks. This reduced the take of pearls.
1896-96 • The Chief of Debai with a son of the Chief of Abu Thabi visited
the Sultau of Moskat, with what objeot it iB not known,
though there were various rumours. A serious fire broke out
at Debai iu August 1895, destroying 60 houses, only one
life was lost.