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'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [567] (611/733)
The record is made up of 1 volume (364 folios). It was created in 1856. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
GULF OF PERSIA.
doned in 1800 for want of a sheltered port, and the inhabitants trans
ferred to Muharag.
Off the islands, and mostly on the reefs, are situated springs of fresh
water rising out of the sea ; some are in two, three, four, and I have
heard five, fathoms water. They obtain the water by holding a Mussuk
over the mouth of a jar fixed over the spring.
The pearl fishery generally commences about the beginning of June,
and is carried on with the greatest activity until October. Durir^g the
period of the fishing, frequently pearls to the amount of from sixteen to
twenty
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of dollars are obtained, and are exported in the manner
mentioned in the account of the trade of the island. The Shaikh
receives a small tax from every boat employed, besides having a
number employed on his own account during the pearl fishery. It is
all hurry, and the pearl bank exhibits an interesting sight; several
thousand boats being seen at the same time, some sailing about, others
at anchor, but all briskly employed.
The people of the island are much divided : those who are termed
Arabs, and are not engaged in trade, are attached to the SJiaikh and
his Government ; the other part, consisting of all those engaged in
mercantile pursuits, and by far the most wealthy, are much dissatis
fied, and it was by no means uncommon during the survey of the
island for the people, when they thought themselves safe from being
overheard, asking whether the English were not going to take posses
sion of the island, and appearing both incredulous and disappointed
when replied to in the negative.
The Shaikh also suspects such to be our view, as he cannot conceive
why we should be at the expense and trouble of making these surveys,
if we had no ulterior view. Bahrein is capable, under good govern
ment, of being very valuable, as the whole trade of the Arabian side of
the Gulf might be centred in the island, which in itself is capable of
the greatest improvement, and might be made to produce large quan
tities of wheat and barley, which grow in some few places, where
cultivated, to the greatest perfection.
The soil of about one-fourth of the island is very rich, and, in proper
hands, would be much improved, as the greater part, with the exception
of the date plantations, a few barley, wheat, and clover fields, lies
entirely waste. Much more of the island might be brought into culti
vation by conveying the water by an aqueduct to those parts of the
island now without it, and the springs at the reservoirs are fully equal
to the supply. With the exception of the hills, and some small portions
bordering on the sea, I do not think there is a part but what is capable
of cultivation; but this is not ever likely to take place while the island
remains under the present Government, as for want of encouragement
I
About this item
- Content
The volume is Selections from the records of the Bombay Government , compiled and edited by Robert Hughes Thomas, Assistant Secretary, Political Department, New Series: 24 (Bombay: Printed for Government at the Bombay Education Society's Press, 1856).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (364 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume contains an abstract of contents on p. iii, a detailed list of contents on pp. vii-xx, an alphabetical index on pp. xxi-xxvii, and a list of maps etc on p. xviii.
- Physical characteristics
Pagination: two separate pagination sequences are present in the volume. The first sequence (pp. i-xviii) commences at the first page and terminates at the list of maps (p. xviii). A second pagination sequence then takes over (pp. 1-688), commencing at the title page and terminating at the final page. Both these pagination sequences are printed, with additions in pencil, and the numbers are found at the top (left, right or centre) of each page.
The fold-outs in this volume were not paginated by the publisher. As a result, these have been foliated using the nearest page number. For example, the fold-out attached to p.51 has been numbered as 51A.
Pagination anomalies: pp. 15, 15A; 45, 45A; 49, 49A; 51, 51A; 531, 531A.
The following pages need to be folded out to be read: 15A, 45A, 51A, 327-328, 531A.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [567] (611/733), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/732, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100022870194.0x00000c> [accessed 19 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/732
- Title
- 'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1:28, 1:48, 50:688, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence