Page 287 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

The pearl fisheries, 1877-1878 613

AND MUSCAT rOLlTICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1877-78. 29

It js almost unnecessary to add that the tax was continued
under the altered circumstances, and that it is a source of considerable
profit to the rulers, being now levied however when the boats fit out and
leave for the fisheries.
If the “Nakhoda" or master of the smack has not the money to
• Or, w written in Arable, "Musa- pay before starting, he gives an order
lain, ” a word of unknown derivation. on fag Bunneall or '< Musaygum*/’
who pays tho amount and recovers afterwards from the proceeds°of the
fishing, but I. shall have occasion to recur again to this gentleman's
raanuer of doing business.
8. This custom of levying “Nob” commended itself at once to
the unanimous appreciation of the Sheikhs of the Arab littoral, and
it is in full force from lias Mussondom to Koweit.
The proceeds derived from the tax at Bahrein and Guttor in 1872,
were supposed to amount to Rupees 10,000.
Whilst on the Arab Coast from Abu-Zhabi to Khassah the yield
was put down at Rupees 20,000.
In explanation of this difference I should mention that the heads
of the different bribes at Bahrein (as well as those on the Coast of Oman)
have the right to send out from 10 to 15 boats, duty free, according to
their rank and the number of their followers.
9. The “Traz" is a further tax, levied exclusively on tho Arab
littoral, and is oue “ Sebs'f” share, which being deducted from tho
pearls brought in by each boat, is made over to the Chief.
The amount would thus of course vary according to the amount
of the take of each boat's crew, it would be somewhere between four
and oue hundred Rupees; as a rule, not more than the latter sum, but
this uncertainty makes any estimate of the yearly revenue derived by
the maritime Sheikhs under this bead an impossibility.
We may, however, fairly assume that the item is considerable.

Classes op men engaged in the Pearl Trade op tub Gulp.
10. It has been noticed above that these fisheries are open to
»dl the inhabitants of the coasts of the Gulf and Oman, but it must
not be supposed for a moment that the trade is really in their bands.
It is the old story etc tot non vodio. They merely stand in the
relation of a hewers oi wood and drawers of water' to the 4t Musaygum,
the supplier. This is no other than our ubiquitous friend the Indian
Bunneah, whom we find equally at home here as in the wilds ofthe
northern ranges beyond the Indus, and carrying on * thriving trade
with far less risk to himself of personal annoyance. This mimumty
is here due to the protection he receives as a British subject, whilst
there, an unnecessarily importunate creditors' account is wiped out in
a manner characteristic of, and no doubt suiting to, the requirements
of the country.

f For value of sharee uud dirWon below.

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