Page 110 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

436 Records of Bahraiti

& o
and excused himself from coming by land. Notwithstanding tho ntroni?
southerly wind wo awaited his arrival, llubi’a bin Abdul Rnzzak, ono of tho
headmen of Eoweyrat, also excused himself on tho plea of illness.
We loft Bida’a on Friday, tho 11-th, at 11 a.m. On our way to Khor Sliakik,
a strong southerly wind was blowing at tho timo accompanied with rain. Wo
reached Khor SLuikik at 4 i*.m. and anchored in Ayo fathoms, about sovon
miles from ahoro. The Captain thought it unsafe for us to land, so we sent tho
letter by tho pilot in tho boat, lie reached the shore with great difficulty and got
nows that All bin Abdul Aziz, tho Chief of tho place, had gono in a boat to meet
us at El Bida’a, but that owing to rough weather tho boat had capsized and ho
saved himself and returned to tho Khor whence ho again started by sea to go lo
El Bida'a. He, the pilot, thoroforo delivered tho lottcr to tho headmen of Khor
Sliakik, such as Muhammad biu Saad and Ghani bin Ghanorn who made
excuses to him ns por accompanying lottor and sont with him tho roply to your
letter to thorn. The pilot returned from shoro, but did not reach tho vessel until
sunriso and after a great deal of tacking amidst great difficulties.
On Saturday, tho 15th instant., at 7 a.m., we started for Eoweyrat, thoro
being strong wind at the timo accompanied with rain, and nrrived nt Eoweyrat
at 11-30 a.m., when it was stormy and raining. We anchored in livo fathoms
of wator; and sont with tho pilot tho letters for llubi’a bin Ahdur llazzak, ono
of tho hcadmou of Eoweyrat, and ilashid bin Jabir. The pilot delivered
Rubi’a’s letter into bis baud and took his roply as enclosed and roturned to tho
steamer two hours before suuset. He saw Itubi'n was sick and hogged to he
excused for not coming to El Bida’a on account of his illness. Wo then left
Eoweyrat on Saturday at night and anchord at the outer buoy at Bahrain, and
on Sunday, tho 17th instant, we entered Bahrain.
Thu letter to the address of Rashid bin Jabar was taken by llubi’a bin
Abdur llazzak who agreed to send it to Rashid, who was in the iulcrior, and
obtain bis reply and scud it to JLIaji Ahmed at Bahrain.
Ju ///^
/ /
Tho inhabitants of Eoweyrat, belonging to various tribes, number about
1,600 men tenanting 300 houses. The principal tribo is the El Bukuwarah
who number about 700 souls, tho others are miscellaneous such as tho
Amawerah, El Chaban, El Chebosah, El Hamoydat, and the El Nneem. They
aro chiefly divers, and possoss about 100 boats. They were formerly equipped
for their voyages by Muhammad bin Tlmni, then Muhammad bin Soid El
Bukuwarah, Jasim bin Tliaui, and Ibrahim bin Yusuf, successively, and last
year they went to 'Muhammad bin Abdul Waliab. About twenty houses
(families) of tho El Bukuwarah dwell at El Sameysamali under Jnsiin bin
Tliaui, who also go to Bahrain to obtain presents from the Shaikhs.
The Nneem arc inhabitants of the desert. In the summer they dwell round;
about tho walls of Eoweyrat, and in winler they go into (lie desert. They
number about 300 men including their dependants, uud get their maintenance
from the Chiefs of Bahrain.
The residents of El Bida’a number about 6,000 men, dwelling in 1,200
houses, aud they own about 300 boats. They belong to tho El Maazid, El Sul tali,
A1 Bukafalah, A1 Klialoyfat, El Mussaliui tribes, severally. Somo of them
also belong to tho A1 Bukuwarah, El Amamarali, El Moniinli and As-Soudnn.
Jn6im bin Tliaui levies from somo of the owners of pearl flsliing boats 10
dollars, from somo 7 dollars, and from others 4 dollars; altogether he gets about
2,100 dollars. Jasim also taxes shopkeepers,- pearl-dealers, and evory other
trador, each according to his position. Erom somo lie takes 16 rials, from some
10, from somo 6, and from some 3.
Tho residents of Wakrali numbor about 250 houses, 000 men, and thoy
own about 60 boats. They belong to the El Bu Ainain, El ICuboysat and El
Zaria.
Khor Sliakik lias about 400 men, who own about 30 boats. They bolong
to tho El Moliamidoli, liulf of whom having quarrcllod among thcmsolvos have
emigrated to Jamoyl.