'File 10/6 Pearl diving and pearl trade: Correspondence re:' [‎20r] (39/44)

accounts are aupsrvlatju by Govermtient diTln^/, clerics,
Intereot ia by ■.Qorermnmt order.
Th i recruits wera onliated a. ^©w days before the
ditlag began aM many of them had received Teaquan
a
advance, the aakbudas protested to bli© Bahrain Govern
ment aaici i v { ! for the return of the divers who had talc en
their advances. The Bahrain Govermaont decided that it
waa reasonable and fair to refund to the nakiiudas the
Taaquam which they had actually and recently advanced to
the mn. This was dona ana a statement showing the sua
returned to the aakhudaa is attached.
Tills amount should be recovered from the levies by
monthly deductions of fi$. 5/- per month during tea months
of tee year, no deductions are mada during Ramadhan and
Shawal.
Apart from the Tesquaa, which the Govarnaant has
refunded in cash to the naichudaa, most of the divers are
indebted to the nakhudas on account of back advances.
These debts have to be repaid by the divara as long as
they fail to dive for the nakhudaa to whoithey are indebted.
The debts vary in amount. A list of the awn and amounts
is attached.
It is the practice of the Bahrain Govemmant to
deduct from all employees, State Police, Special Police,
Hatura etc., and enployaes in the Bai-rain j-atrcleum Company
fis. 5/- per fiioath if ther are divers indebted to nakhudas.
H
i
Many of those
pay off their debts in a short tjjre and
in some cases the Government is able to persuade the nakhu
das to reduce the debt on the condition that the lis. 5/- is
collected and paid monthly to the nakhuda.
It therefore results in all diver recruits having to