'Report on the Administration of the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Muscat Political Agency for the year 1877-78.' [‎253r] (51/165)

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. 29
It is almost unnecessary to add that the ' r tax was continued
under the altered circumstances, and that it is a source of considerable
profit to the rulers, being now levied however when the boats fit out and
leave for the fisheries.
If the “Nakhoda” or master of the smack has not the money to
* Or, a? written in Arabic, “Musa- pay before starting, he gives an order
kam, ” a word of unknown derivation. oil his Buillieah or “ MusaygUm*/ ,
who pays the amount and recovers afterwards from the proceeds of the
fishing, but I shall have occasion to recur again to this gentleman’s
manner of doing business.
8. This custom of levying “Nob” commended itself at once to
the unanimous appreciation of the Sheikhs of the Arab littoral, and
it is in full force from Has Mussendom to Koweit.
The proceeds derived from the tax at Bahrein and Guttur in 1872,
were supposed to amount to Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 3 0,000.
Whilst on the Arab Coast from Abu-Zhabi to Khassah the yield
was put down at Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 20,000.
In explanation of this difference I should mention that the heads
of the different tribes at Bahrein (as well as those on the Coast of Oman)
have the right to send out from 10 to 15 boats, duty free, according to
their rank and the number of their followers.
9. The “ Traz ” is a further tax, levied exclusively on the Arab
littoral, and is one “ Sebs’f” share, which being deducted from the
pearls brought in by each boat, is made over to the Chief.
The amount would thus of course vary according to the amount
of the take of each boat’s crew, it would be somewhere between four
and one hundred Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ; as a rule, not more than the latter sum, but
this uncertainty makes any estimate of the yearly revenue derived by
the maritime Sheikhs under this head an impossibility.
We may, however, fairly assume that the item is considerable.
Classes of men engaged in the Pearl Trade of the Gulf.
10. It has been noticed above that these fisheries are open to
all the inhabitants of the coasts of the Gulf and Oman, but it must
not be supposed for a moment that the trade is really in their hands.
It is the old story sic vos non vobis. They merely stand in the
relation of “ hewers of wood and drawers of water” to the “ Musaygum,”
the supplier. This is no other than our ubiquitous friend the Indian
Bunneah, whom we find equally at home here as in the wilds of the
northern ranges beyond the Indus, and carrying on a thriving trade
with far less risk to himself of personal annoyance. This immunity
is here due to the protection he receives as a British subject, whilst
there, an unnecessarily importunate creditors’ account is wiped out in
a manner characteristic of, and no doubt suiting to, the requirements
of the country.
f For value of shares and division sec below.