'Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1877-78.' [‎252r] (49/165)

AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. FOR THE YEAR 1877*78.
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Appendix A to Part II.
Notes on the Pearl Fisheries of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , prepared by Captain E. L. Duband,
1st Assistant Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
The origin of the fisheries in the Gulf of Oman is lost in the
mists of a pre-historic period when no doubt the beauties of Niniveh and
Babylon were wont to deck their hair with gems drawn from the same
pregnant shoals that to this day largely supply the markets of the old
world.
2. We see from the accounts of travellers and historians that as
time went on a high value was set upon the pearls of Oman on account
of their peculiar beauty and lustre.
Pliny says distinctly “Those are most highly valued which are
found in the vicinity of Arabia in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , ” but here Ids
geography is at fault as he goes on “ which forms a part of the
lied Sea”.
3. If we are to judge by the number of times that the Islands
of Bahrain have been taken and retaken, their importance as the heart
of the fisheries has never been undervalued. Even from the time when
Tylos* and Arathos were Phoenician colonies. These islands have
changed hands more often than the Koh-i-Noor and are now in equally
safe-keeping.
4. It is a matter of great difficulty to arrive at anything approach
ing to a correct estimate of the amount and value of the pearls that
are now yearly harvested, as they are carried to many different markets to
suit the varying tastes of the nations.
* Some go to the Courts of Europe, whilst others, failing in this
“purpose of their high creation,” are reduced into aphrodisiacs that
may stimulate the energies of the worn out Sybarites of Hindustan.
These latter are however usually small, or at any rate are of no
intrinsic value, as it would fall to few to be able to concoct as rare a love
potion as the one in which the Egyptian Queen pledged her Imperial
Lover. This heirloomf from the Kings of the East was so large that
its fellow was deemed worthy to deck the Venus of the Roman Pantheon.
Between these best and worst there are many varieties which will be
separately noticed hereafter.
* The ancient names Tylos is still preserved in the name of a village (against the
statement of Rawlinson). Vincent had thrown doubt upon the very derivation of the
names which Rawlinson upholds.
These islands have been claimed as the birth place itself of the Phoenician race;
that they had colonies there is certain. Itrabo, who wrote before A.D. 20, quotes Eratos
thenes, (one of Alexander’s Historians) who says that Tyrus and Aradus are occupied
by Phoenicians. Uosselin says they first moved from Sidm, or Sidodona, a city visited by
March us to people Bahrein, and from thence established themselves on the shores of the
Mediterranean. Hureu in 1854 states positively that traces of Phoenician workmanship
and buildings have been found, and is himself convinced of Phoenician occupancy, and
Rawlinson, in his most critical 2nd essay on Phoenician emigration, in the 7th chapter
of Herodotus, gives all the arguments for and against the supposition. A comparison of
most of the authors quoted, and the belief of Political Officers now serving in the Gulf,
would lead one to the conclusion that there had most certainly been a Phoenician occupa
tion though there is only a possibility of these islands having been the cradle of the founders
of Tyre and Sidon. Herodotus himself however records his belief and the grounds of it.
f It was supposed to be worth 10 million Sesterces.