Report No.67 of 1863 detailing the tribes, trades and resources of the Gulf Littoral [‎11r] (21/58)

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but, it is, pearls alone excepted, the sole export of these Maritime Arabs. Men
must export what tliey can produce and spare, or else they must go without
Imports. If men situate like these Arabs do not export salt-fish and pearls, they
must either turn pirates, or starve.
111. So long ago as 1823 Captain McLeod reporting on the Joasmee tribe
(being then at Ras-ul-khyma and Shargah) described them as possessing " no
articles of export, since their pearls are generally purchased by merchants on the
spot, and the produce of their country is not even sufficient for their maintenance.
Iheir only employment is fishing, diving for pearls and importing dates, grain and
other necessaries of life, which they purchase with the price of those pearls.
1 heir dates are chiefly brought from Bahrein and Busreh; grain and cloth from
Muscat and the Persian Ports. They are very poor, and, perhaps can never find
much employment in commerce unless in carrying for others, although it is said
they at one time possessed a very extensive trade. The Joasmees procure all their
materials for building, as well as their warlike stores from Muscat, Bahrein and
the Persian Ports in the lower part of the Gulf."
112. Colonel Kemball writing in 1845, remarked:—
" Upon the success of the Pearl fishing, and the profits of the carrying trade,
which it brings into operation, must depend the means of obtaining the positive
necessaries of life, and those trifling luxuries desirable to an Arab. It is needless
to observe how materially their own condition, and by an easily deduced corollary,
the safety of the Gulf, might be affected by the failure of a single season." Hence
' the anxiety and care attended with great expense which has been devoted" by
our Government " to the maintenance of perfect tranquillity and security on the
Pearl banks."
113. The Maritime resources of the Arab (or Piratical) Ports are stated to
be as follows:—■
Poets.
Buglas
engaged in
the Indian
and Afri
can trades.
Their ton
nage in
morahs.
Smaller
vessels for
Gulf trade
from 500
to 1,000
morahs.
Pearl
Boats.
Remarks.
Kas-ul-kliyma
Eamse
11
1
24,000
1,000
••••••
14,750
15
6
6
15
Pays 800 Drs. annually to Eas-
ul-ldiyma.
Do. 900 to 1,000 Do. do.
Do. 200 Do. do.
Do. 1,500 Do. do.
Do. 50 to 75 Do. toShar-
Do. 100 Do. do.
Do. 100 Do. do.
In addition to the places here enu
merated as Joasmee territory,
Sheikh Sultan ben Suggur posses
ses several small places on this as
well as Coomza, Dibah, and Khore
Facawn, and others on the other
side of Cape Mussendom, which
yields him a small revenue. His
supremacy over Cassaab is merely
nominal.
Jazirat-ul-Hamra ...
Himreeah
35
30
400
25
25
50
Shargah
Heyrah
6
25
Fa slit
• •••••
2,000
Khan
Total...
Amulgavine'
Ejman 3
Debaye
Aboothabee
1
5
19
41,750
56
580
3
4
2
9,500
6,000
» • • • e •
4,000
10
10
4
10
60
50
90
600
The tax levied upon each diver and his attendant varies, under the different Arab Chief
tains, from Ivr to 7 Dollars. The amount, too, fluctuates each season, at the will of the
Sheikh.
114. The population varies in these towns; and the frequent convulsions
sustained by society have precluded any permanent increase. The Ports of
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