Page 285 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

The pearl fisheries, 1877-1878
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AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOIl TUB YEAR 1877-73. 27
Appendix A to Part IL
Koto* on the Pearl Fisheries of tho Persian Gulf, prepared by Captain E. L. Dchaxd,
lfcl Assistant Political Resident, Persian Gulf.
Tiik origin of the fisheries in tho Gulf of Oman is lost in the
mists of a pro-historic period when no doubt the beauties of Niniveh and
Babylon were wont to deck their hair with gems drawn from the___
same
pregnant shoals that to this day largely supply the markets of the old
world.
2. We see from the accounts of travellers and historians that as
time went on a high value was set upon the pearls of Oman on account
of their peculiar beauty and lustre.
Pliny says distinctly "Those arc most highly valued which are
found in the vicinity of Arabia in the Persian Gulf,” hut here his
geography is at fault as he goes on " which forms a part of the
lied Sea”.
3. If we are to judge by the number of times that the Islands
of Bahrain have been taken aud retaken, their importance as the heart
of the fisheries has never been undervalued. Even from the lime when
Tylos* and Arathos were Phoenician colonies. These islands have
changed hands more often than the Koh-i-Nour aud are now in equally
safe-keeping.
4. It is a matter of great difficulty to arrive at anything approach­
ing to a correct estimate of the amount aud value of the pearls that
are now yearly harvested, as they arc carried to many different markets to
suit the varying tastes of the nations.
Some go to the Courts of Europe, whilst others, failing in this
"purpose of their high creation/' are reduced into aphrodisiacs that
may stimulate the energies of the worn out Sybarites of Hindustan.
. These latter are however usually small, or at any rate are of no
intrinsic value, as it would fall to few to be able to concoct ns rare a love
potion as the one in which the Egyptian Queen pledged her imperial
Lover. This heirloomf from the Kings of the East was so large that
its fellow was deemed worthy to deck the Venus of the Homan Pantheon#
Between these best and worst there are many varieties which will be
separately noticed hereafter.

9 The ancient names Tylos is still preservod in the name of a Tillage (against the
statement of Uawlinaoo). Vincent had thrown doubt upon tho very derivation of tbs
names which Rawlinson upholds.
Thcso islands hare boon claimed as the birth place itself of the Phoeniciani ncej
that they had colonics there Is certain. Umbo, who wrote beforo A.U. 20, quotes hratos-
v ?»?*• (°ne of Alexander’s Historians) who says that Tyrua and Aradus ye
hr I hccoimua. GosscISa says they first moved from Sid)n, or Sidodona, a city visited by
AUrcl.us to people Bahrein, and from tlieooo establUlicd themselves on the shores of the
AJvditcrr.inean. Huron in 1854 states positively that traces of Pliccnician workmanship
®»'d buildings have been found, and is himself convinced of Phanician occopaocf, and
»«wllnsoti, in hi* most critical 2nd essay on Phoenician emigration, in the 7tb chnM
of Herodotus, gives all tho arguments for and against the supposition. A couiporuoo
teo-Jof the authors qooiid, aud the belief of Politics! Oncers now serving In the <Iol4
*’°uld lead ono to the conclusion that there had most ci*rtainly bi\n a Phiemcun occupa-
Hoi, though there is only a possibility nf these UUndshaviugbeen the cradle of thefoniidm
** Tyro and Sitlon. Herodotus himself however records his belief snd the grounds oi *•»
t It was supposed to ba worth 10 million 8cttcrcea.

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