Page 255 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

The pearl industry, 1924-1927 243

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Sorial No. SOS.—FnoM run IIonourabi.f. mp. Political Rp.SiDent in Tnp.
Persian Gui.f, Busiurf., Memorandum No. 124-S. of 1024, dated 17tiji(, • N*
(received 25rn) February 1024. /•.{-*■• « * ‘ » \<>\\:b'
Refcrcnco Foreign and Political Department tclcgratn No. 315-S, dated
8th Fobruary 1024 (Serial No. 285). 1 enclose a copy of a memorandum
too. 122-S., dated 15th February, I have sent to Political Agent, Bahrein,
on tho subject of the reform of the Pearling Industry. / v 7 ^
I have given Major Daly a rough outline of my ideas on tho subject
domi-oflieially somo little time ago, but ovonts in Bahrain and pressure of ^ —•
tfioro important work has prevented tho matter being pursued. '** ^
I'cannot say at present if accounts anything on tho lines I suggest are ^"'w'
possible, but if they are, and stringent orders aro issued by the Shaikh that /J, 7~Sf
Nakhudas should keep intelligible accounts, and Nakhudas who refuse to do / t.
so (or moroly arc too lazy to) aro punished, then I think somo arrangement *1 ■ //~
of tho 6ort will sullico. If so, Nakliudas who keep proper accounts and keep )c
thoir divers properly informed of tho stato of their account and treat them
decently need never bo interfered with by the Stato, or their financial posi­
tion, etc., bccomo public.
Tho drawback to tho suggested arrangement of having a special Pearl­
ing Department of Stato seems to mo to ue that it involves an excessive
amount of Stato interference and makes tho financial position of tho
Nakhudas public proporty, which in certain circumstances may easily affect
thorn advorsoly.

Enclo. of Serial No. 295.—Memorandum to the Political Agent, Bahrain,
No. 122-S. of 1024, dated Buhhire, the 16th February 1024.
In thoir telegram No. 315-S. of 8th February (Sorial No. 285). Foreign
stated that Government aro awaiting my proposals about tho reform of tno
diving rulos.
As you know, I am rather of the opinion that tho reforms outlined in
para. 5 of your memorandum No. 208-C., dated 17th Dcccmbor 1023 (Enclo.
of Serial No. 200) and repeated to Government in my Express letter No.
712-S, dated 21st December 1023 (Serial No. 250), aro too drastic and, in
point of fact, lead to too much interference by the State in tho Pearling
Industry. Apart from this I do not know that'there is sufficient time to in-
3 it before tho pearling season. In a communication somo littlo time
troduco it before tho
ago I : w PHI
myself outlined a scheme which muv or may not bo fcasiblo, and I
ropeat it somewhat amplified below. Perhaps something on these lines
might be tried this year and if it is not successful tho other scheme of creat­
ing a eopnrato Stato Department to run tho Pearling Industry might bo triod.
Tho scheme I suggest is roughly this:—
Shaikh Hamad should issuo a proclamation stating that for somo timo
past it has como to his knowledge that grave abuses exist in tho pearling in­
dustry in Bahrain, particularly tho slackness of tho nakhudas in kcopiug
accounts, tho result of which is that divers cannot obtain their just oucs.
Ho therefore orders that all nakhudas should keep regular accounts which
should begin with "GufTal” 1023. Tho accounts should bo drawn up on tho
lines of tno 6amplo account attached to tho notification and should consist
of a general account for tho whole of tho Nakhudas transactions, together
with separate accounts for each divor and hauler; each of tho latter should
bo givon a small book containing a certified copy of this account. The
amounts carried forward on to these accounts should bo verified cither from
his previous account or by oath before tho Quzi or by agreemont between
Naknuda and divor. Tho proclamation might go on to say that ignorance
of letters or figures on the part of tho Nakhudas will not bo accepted as an
excuso for incorrect or improperly mado out accounts, that Nakhudas must
ongago~clorks if they cannot do tno accounts thomsclvos, a big Nakhudn a
special clork o.nd tho small nakhudas a sharo of a clerk. Finally ho could
say that a divor askiug to havo his occount settled boforo tho Salffah or tho
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