Page 444 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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then this sun, provided that the divers end
nakhuda come to a mutual ari'angenent. The result
of the season is that most of the divers who received
the full advance have increased their debts but most

of the Xhamnes divers earned a small amount.
Mortgages.

10. There is a striking feature, very evident
in the courts, which reveals the changed conditions

in the diving industry, In the old days, some five
years ago, the nakhudas never had any difficulty
in obtaining money from the merchants to finance
the boats for the season. During the last two years

the merchants have been insisting on receiving mort­
gages of land ar.d property from the nakhudas in
return for their loans. This is entirely contrary
to the spirit of the diving system and is resented

by the nakhudas. The merchants on their part
complain that owing to the Uncertainty of making
any profits it is necessary to protect their loans
by mortgages. In the past if the nakhuda was

unable to satisfy the merchant the latter could only
take over the nakhuda’s boats and divers.
Reasons for depression.

i 11. The depression in the local pearl trade

is attributed to the following causes.
(i) The European markets are dull.
(ii) The pearl banks are giving out.

The whole diving community agree that the actual
quantity of shells on the pearl banks is decreas-
ing each year, The opinion is shared by the
foreign buyers and refers not only to the Bahrain