Page 229 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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accounts which arc recorded and a proportional calculation of boats whose accounts
are not recorded. The following table shows the decline of the pearl industry ;
Year No. of boats Approx, value of catch
1356 271 Rs. 13,22,000
1357 252 „ 7,56,000
1358 219 „ 6,25,000
The market in Bahrain was affected by the disturbed conditions in Europe
before the war and then by the war itself. The only foreign buyer of note to visit
Bahrain was Mr. S. Pack who returned to France at the outbreak of war without
having done much business. The pick of the season’s catch was bought by the firm
of Abdulaziz Gosaibi and Brothers who, with no important competitors, were able to
acquire a quantity of very fine pearls at a low price, but in order to do this the
Gosaibis used all their available capital and credit. It remains to be seen whether
this big gamble in pearls by a local dealer results in profit or loss.
One outstanding pearl was found which weighed 204 chows: it was larger than
the famous C 15,000 pearl from Bahrain which was eventually bought some yeasr
ago by Barbara Hutton, the Woolworth heiress. The pearl was sold by the nakhuda
for Rs. 35,000 and the shares of the men in the boat were, divers, Rs. 475 and pullers,
Rs. 317.
The two main diving systems are Salafieh and Ivhammas ; men diving in
Salafieh boats take advances. Out of 72 Salafieh boats only 36 covered their
expenses and advances. The Khammas divers were somewhat better off.
The Bahrain Court in dealing with the estate case of the late Ali bin Saggar,
at one time one of the leading pearl merchants of Muharraq, financed a diving boat
which belonged to the heirs. The accounts were kept by the Court. This boat had
a fairly successful season and found pearls which were sold for Rs. 7,265. The ex­
penses amounted to Rs. 1,563 not including the advances, and the final share of a
diver was Rs. 80/8/3 and a puller Rs. 53/10/10, but the advances received by the
divers and puller amounted to Rs. 50 and ffs. 40 respectively.
The following summary of the diving account of this boat is typical of the
Salafieh diving system.
Account from diving boat of Ali bin Saggar.
The crew consisted of the nakhuda, 29 divers, 35 pullers and one radif
(apprentice). Diving was carried on throughout the season with only one visit to
shore: there were 130 diving days.
The expenses for the season amounted to Rs. 1,563 including Rs. 100 for the
diving license, paid to the Government. Included in the cost of provisioning the
boat were rice, dates, ghee, firewood, tea, coffee, sugar, kerosene, dried lemon ( used
to prevent scurv}') ropes, porterage, knives (for opening shells) lamps, pails, cooking
pots, ginger, pepper, a goat (killed on the day the boat set off) and purgatives.
The pearls were divided into 6even lots, each lot being kept separate for the
purpose of accounts because 6ome divers did not work all through the season. They
were sold in one transaction to one buyer for Rs. 7,260.
The final account was as follows :—
Government Tax ... Rs. 100
Nakhuda’s share being one fifth
of the sale price 1433
Expenses 1463
Share of divers 2341
„ .. P“>IerB 1799
„ ^if 26
Each diver reoeived 80/ 8/ 3 (3 shares)
„ puller „ 53/10/10 (2 shares)
„ radif 26/13/ 5 (1 share)