84 OMENTAL COMMERCE. [Gulpk of Persia. 



Near the Isthmus is a village called Psetine, with a small flat islet upon a 

 bank in front of it. 



The Port of Bahreen carries on considerable trade, and appears a place 

 of great resort, particularly by the Arabs. A great many vessels are seen 

 in the port. In 1817, thirty-nine large boats were counted, fit either for 

 war or traffic, besides several building, and some absent at sea. The people 

 were friendly and hospitable, though they are addicted to piracy. Lieut. 

 Tanner experienced from the principal merchants the greatest kindness. 

 The Saikh of Bahreen refuses to acknowledge the supremacy of Persia, 

 and sufFers none of the coin in the Islands to bear the titles of the Persian 

 Sovereign. 



Trade.— At these Islands is the greatest and most valuable pearl 

 fishery in the world. The pearl banks commence in about 25° N. latitude, 

 and extend to 26° 40 N. 



The fishery generally commences in June, and lasts about two months. 

 It is carried on by the Persians, and the divers are Persians. 



The duty on what is taken, is one third to the Sovereign, which the 

 collector receives every day, either pearls, or their equivalent in money, as 

 the divers, or those who contract with them, can agree. It sometimes 

 happens that a diver, or contractor, makes his fortune in a season. The 

 boats are all numbered, and no oysters are allowed to be opened in a boat, 

 but must be brought on shore by a certain hour, when they are opened in 

 the presence of an officer. The pearls wiiich are found, are then carried to 

 the collector, who receives the duty, and the day's business is concluded. 



The oyster banks have from 15 to 30 feet water on them, and some 

 more. It frequently happens that a man will bring up 300 to 400 oysters 

 in a day, and not find as many pearls as are worth live shillings; as there 

 are more which have not any, than those that have, and of these many have 

 only small pearls, which are denominated seed pearl. 



The oyster shells are always the property of the divers, whether they 

 fish for themselves, or contract with others. Some of these shells are from 

 8 to 10 inches in diameter, nearly of a round form, and thick in proportion. 

 The oysters are seldom eaten, as they are generally rank. The sorts and 

 sizes vary so much, that the smallest are not two inches in diameter : these 

 are eaten by the people on the spot The largest shells have not always 

 the greatest quantity, nor do they contain the largest pearls, as neither the 

 size nor colour indicates their contents, it being mere chance. The round 

 pearls are always found in the fleshy part of the oyster, and many of those 

 which have an irregular shape : some adhere to the inner part of the shell, 

 which are deformed, and flat on that side which is attached to it. 



