'File 19/175 Bahrain - Pearling' [‎28r] (54/83)

ii.
with them I informed Shaikh Hamad of the advice preferred by these
persons adding that I myself considered the limitation of Tisqam
by executive order should continue so that the object desired
i.e. the release of the divers from the bondage of debt should
finally be achieved. I advised Shaikh Hamad before fixing the
amount to consult 4 or 5 men of experience. One or two other
matters which worked badly in practice were also discussed such
as the right of a diver to hold up all diving woric and bring a
pearling boat to Bahrein in order to settle a squabble v/ith his
Nakhoda. I told Shaikh Hamad that I saw 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
A** 4
whieh were the main points I wished to watch.
One of the points to which objection was taken was the rignt
of a two thirds majority of the crew of a pearling boat to veto
the sale by the Nakhoda of their catch. The right which was
conceded by Daly seems to have worked very badly in practice.
The actual divers have never had any connection with the
pearl trade and icnow nothing regarding the value of their catches.
It was proposed tnat the former practice of leaving the sale
wholly in the hands of the 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 wnolesale cheating
of the crews. I suggested as an alternative that the right of
veto should be cancelled but that no sale should be valid unless
made in the presence / or ; with the knowledge,, of 4 men elected by
the crew, who should sign or impress their thumb impressions as
witnesses of the sale. I explained that the object of this was
to ensure that all the proceeds reached the persons who were
entitled to them instead of sticKing to the palms of tne Nakhoda.
Belgrave came back the day after I sent Shaikh Hamad this
CLrrvourV-t
reply but still the question of of Tisqam hung fire.
About a fortnight ago Shaikh Hamaa sent me a further commu
nication which contained a list of articles which the Najchodas
■ i