Page 263 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

The pearl industry, 1924-1927 251

I do not think there wA.ll be any very norlouu opposition. I am in­
clined to th In km that ; rounohablo rate of interest la f> ir,since the
divers pet their money ho fore they actually nurn it, but on the other

hand thoy cannot object to soino limit being put to tho amount of
interest ohargedjOspecially n» no intorost whatever io permissible
aooording to their own .Jhara^fc this la n form of making osrtra money
which has only crept in a.inoe thoy have had matters entirely their own
way A refused to h vo their oases decided by tho iihara.lt is noteworthy
that although in nl] other casos,particularly criminal ouurts.tho same
Wnkhudas have always boon loud in dora nding tho Jhara’.they are
by no means agreeable to disputes in accounts being 30 settlodl
The matter is of considerable urgency^ I should be glad if you would
put me in « position to advise the Jh:?ik ms to the iflogula tions, if any,
which he should introduce.lt is very commonly known that the interest

hitherto charged has boon quite unreasonable -t. 1 great hardship to the
divers.lt cun be argued that the divers con d go without advances i<f
they chose,but thoy - re ignorant ib improvident people,& have hitherto
(X.
almost always been swindled of their fair share in the pourls ■« oompollg:
from shier do3titutdon, to tuko advances at any rate of intarest.to
provido therasolvea with food.
The diving diffiojiltiea would bo vory considerably lessened,
if some rival industry, such as oil dovolop raont,capable of providing

labour,could be started in Bahrain.Then Nukhudes would hive to treat
divers bettor or go without them.

MuJor.I.a. Political Agent.