Page 296 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

622 Records of Bahrain

33 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN QULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY

In vain Sir R. Hawkins gives us his doubts of this " conceit,” and
Cuvier his common sense explanations, a poetical idea dies hard, and the
drop of dew will continue to commend itself as a theory till science has
laid its final vetoe ou the cherished illusion, and even that will not
shako the faith of the sons of Oman,
37: They contend moreover that there are four distinct kinds of
pearls, viz:—
(i.) Pearls from the Gulf of Oman recognisable by their peculiar
gloss and purity and possessing seven*
• Tlie number cunnot bo vouched coats which are very thin ami lustrous,
fur, but the facta of tho pearl being
built in layers ia well substantiated, (ii.) Pearls from Socotra and- the
end a pcurl with ono or two damaged Red Sca.'f These are not considered^)
lujor. con bo cleaned down to tbo be of 60 good a colour gW or
lower and more perfect stratum. , .... yr I
brilliance, aud nave only live coats.
f Fishing ground* still visited bj
tbe Arab. (iii.) Pearls from CeylonJ not so
pure as the last, and are only allowed
X Tina would seem to be * prejudiced
statement. three coats 1
(iv.) Pearls from Kurrachce; these
are the worst, havo only one skin, aud are formed round a nucleus of
sand. They arc very lightly esteemed.

However this may be with regard to the pearl in general, it is very
certain Unit the pearls of Oman themselves vary in weight, colour,
shape, and lustre, so much so indeed that the merchants recognize six
different names for different sorts of pearls, besides the three distinct
colours, white, red, and blue. Black pearls arc also sometimes found;
they are considered to l>c of no value, and are c;dled ” dead” pearls, though
found in living shell fish.

33. These well-recognized distinctions arc tabulated in the margin.
PlAIU. The first being the Yekah
Prwnt apnroxL tj* Unique) OT Sllffcid-i-
in»f« Ptcrl*. matt market \ • . 4 , ' ... ,
value or uabreia shinn, which, like all pearls
1. Fuflrld-I.Shlrln or Tekih IM ch*°; large enough to be valued
2. Nlm.hlHo a to io» singly or in small packets,
A Oumtvhai ...
4. K.o.bajiu ... ;;; t to a« takes rank according to its
4. Mapht ...
«. Kh&ka Suffeld or Xhaarrh . _ 4 to 10 9 size> and beauty of
~ pwmucai form. They are all sold
RUPt*rU,
1. Fortb-l-Shlrla ... _ 8lol4 * after a certain size, at so
*. Hurkh-l-NIm, tblrla - 81 to Ml • much per chao, but this will
A Burkh Magha, l«* aort - ten
k 8urkh Mif ha, 2nd vvtcty M be more fully gone into
2)1*4 Pm* U, presently.
L Kabnd.|.MIy»a
^ S. Kabad-ldoruaa toll# If such a pearl were
5 fk. Khtsrefc
|U Noori ... ... ” - 1 to If found weighing one miscal
-
toiki
6 it - = .r11 or six grains English, being
ktukch, another do
pood and pure and shapely,
- ,o4U h ,w »*—» its voluo in the present 6tate
iw I lUhrobi tl¥ Of Bupcc* 4-3-0 p«r S. of the market would be
alout Rupee* 44,220 at 05? per Arab chai'