Page 282 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

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270 Records of Bahrain
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with them I informed Shaikh Hamad of the advice prol’crred by these
persons adding that I myself considered the limitation of Tluqam

by exeoutive order should continue oo that the object desired
i.c, the release of the divero from the bondage of debt should
finally be achieved, I advised Shaikh Hamad before fixing the
amount to conoult 4 or 5 men of experience, One or two other
matters which worked badly in practice were also discussed such
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aB the right of a diver to hold up all diving work and bring a
pearling boat to Bahrein in order to oettle a squabble with his
Nakhoda. I told Shaikh Hamad that 1 sav/ no reason why minor ad­
justments should not be made provided nothing was done which

might lead in any way to the virtual enslavement of free men or
the cheating of the divers by neglect in keeping up their accounts
whifih were the main points I wished to watoh.
One of tho points to which objection was taken was the right
of a two thirds majority of the crew of a pearling boat to veto
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: the sale by the Nakhoda of their catch* The right which was
conceded by Daly scemB to have worked very badly in practice*
: 5
The actual divers have never had any connection with the
pearl trade and know nothing regarding the value of their catches.
It was proposed that the former practice of leaving the sale
wholly in the hands of tho Nakhoda should be revived, and that the
crew should have no knowledge of the transactions and no right
of interference. I objected to- this on the ground that it would
revive the old scandals which resulted from the wholesale cheating

of the crews. I suggested as an alternative that the right of
veto should be cancelled but that no oale should be valid unless
made in the presence, or, with the knowledge,of 4 men elected by
the crew, who should sign or impreos their thumb impressions as
witnesses of the sale. I explained that tho objeot of this was
to ensure that all the proceeds reached tho persons who were
entitled to them instead of otioking to the palrao of the Nakhoda.
Belgrave came back tbtday after I sent Shaikh Hamad this
A>t\ou>\tr
reply but still the question of asaaawmettt of Tisqarn hung fire.
About a fortnight ago .Shaikh Hamad sent me a furthor commu­
nication which contained a list of articles which the Nokhodao

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