Page 291 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

The pearl fisheries, 1877-1878 617

AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TUB TEAR 1877-78. 33

liira from tlie ?>urniiiff embraces of these most unpleasant bath fellows
They have uo fear of sharks or dog fish; accidents of this sort are
said to bo unknown.
On reaching the bottom the diver bolds on with one band and
one foot, propelling himself with the other, and making use of his
disengaged band to gather the shells and put them in the small sacking
bag that hangs round his neck. Sometimes bo is floated away by a
current, and on these occasions the exertion is severely felt, and ho
comes np exhausted. As a rule, however numerous the sheila* may be,
a mau cannot gather more than fifteen or sixteen per dive.
IS. That this incessant plunging entails a severe physical strain
will be obvious, and indeed the divers are liable to sundry ailments, of
which the worst arc madness, cramps, and paralysis, the latter being
sometimes a merely temporary form of the disease.
A lesser ailment, but one that is constantly suffered from, is a
softening and rotting of the skin; to guard against Ibis the divers
constantly rub in “ japt” or tanning, when turniug in for the night.
A few common drugs are alwn3*s kept in the boat, the favourite
being senna, which is mixed up with raisins and tamarind, but burning
with hot iron is the mode of cure most frequently attempted when the
illness looks serious.
19. Altogether it would appear that the diver hag rather a hard
time of it, but lie is buoyed up by hopes of reward for extra exertions
and windfalls (if such a term is applicable under the circumstances).
Of the nature of this latter is the "Tubrcli,” which is the best piece
of luck that can befall him. This
See parn. 35.
entitles him to a new suit of clothes
from the Nakhoda and a present for the crew.
Another form of good fortune 19 that in which a pearl is found
outside the shell, or attached to it; in either case, as also in the event
of a shell containing an unformed pearl, it is the property of the
diver and crew, and no deduction of 20 per cent, is allowed to the
Alusaygum on the market value of the find.
It is customary also to make him a small present if he finds a good
pearl during the opening of the shells, winch operation takes place
every morning regularly, after prayers are over, and before the diving
begins.
The crew rifc round the heap gathered daring the previous day
and set to work on them with crooked knives. When all have been
opened, and the pearls extracted have been examined, they ore given
into the Nakhoda'* keeping, who weighs and records oil particular* every
fifth day.
20. It follov/8 from the dependent position of all the
®8*nta engaged in this business, that, from the .
down to the boat boys, all are more or less tiedond bound by local
usage and customs from which they cannot shake free.
Tho Nakhoda ia bound to the Mucaygura, ondthe orenrto •
Nakhoda in liko manner, on account of the advances of food, & ,