'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎22] (59/733)

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PIRATi: PORTS. — BAHREIN.
which in the charts is represented to form, with the main, the entrance
of the Derabin river.
It has a square fort, with four towers, and there is a town independent
of the fort. Our boats carried in regular soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. , and it appears
that a frigate could anchor within shot of the town ; but as it lies in a
hook of land, the anchorage is wholly exposed to north-west winds.
Ciieeroo.
A village subject to the Shaikh of Nakheeloo ; about four miles SE.
of that town. Between these places the shone is abrupt, and therefore
ships should not stand under fifteen fathoms, when they will be within
three quarters of a mile from the land.
I have had too little experience of the coast to the northward to give
any particular remarks : the directions by McCluer, for avoiding the
Verdistan Shoal, appear to be good ; but in that gentleman's chart of
the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. the shoal-water is carried further from
Bushire than the truth.
ISLAND OF BAHREIN.
The Island of Bahrein lies opposite to the port of Ogair, is thirty-
three miles in extreme breadth, and seventy in extreme length, covering
about eight hundred square miles. The Chiefs of the Beni Itbah, a
foreign tribe of Arabs from Grane (or Koweit), have governed its aborigi
nal inhabitants for more than thirty-five years with absolute power. Not
so, however, their Uttoobee brethren, who yield to superior authority
with difficulty. The revenue collected by them amounts to the yearly
sum of 100,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , of which 20,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. is the original
revenue, and h0,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. consist of arbitrary impositions of the
governors. The pearl fishery produces to them 100,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , of 12
Piastres Roomee each, which is divided among the members of the
tribe in proportions, according to their rank and consequence.
Their fishing-boats amount to 1,400 sail, of which 700 are of larger
burthen, 300 intermediate, and 400 of a small size. The lar-er are
manned by one master, fourteen divers, and fourteen assistants" in all
twenty-nine men; the intermediate with one master, nine divers and
nine assistants, in all nineteen men ; the least with one master seven
divers, and seven assistants, in all fifteen men. The portions of the
shery are four to the master, and two to the divers; the assistants
receive for the season a settled pay of from five to six Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . The
fishermen borrow for their support, from noted bankers, amounts both of
money and grain, on which these gain a profit of thirty per cent., or