'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎67] (232/524)

A HOUND THE SHORE LINE OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . 67
should favour the expression of the oil on the spot, a larger quantity of
oil might be thrown into the European markets from a reduced
tonnage. It is surmised that a salad and olive oil of good repute is
refined from the Zanzibar cocoanuts. When in Africa, I suspected the
salt-fish trade with Arabia to be a ruse for running a return cargo of
slaves ; it is possible some of Her Majesty s Naval GlFiceis sail think
so. The salt-fish trade is however a bond fide one; and not only so,
but it is, pearls alone excepted, the sole export of these Maritime Arabs.
Men must export what they can produce and spare, or else they must
go without imports. If men, situate like these Arabs, do not export
salt-fish and pearls, they must either turn pirates or starve.
111. So long ago as 182o, Captain McLeod, reporting on the
Joasmee tribe (being then at Ras-ul-khyma and Shargah), described
them as possessing £C no articles of export, since their pearls aie
generally purchased by merchants on the spot, and the produce of
their country is not even sufficient tor their maintenance, aheir only
employment is fishing, diving for pearls, and importing dates, grain, and
other necessaries of life, which they purchase with the price of those
pearls. Their dates are chiefly brought from Bahrein and Busreh ;
grain and cloth from Muscat and the Persian ports. They are very
poor, and perhaps can never find much employment in commerce,
unless in carrying for others, although it is said they at one time
possessed a very extensive trade. The Joasmees procure all their
materials for building, as well as their warlike stores fiom Muscat,
Bahrein, and the Persian Ports in the lower part of the Gulf.”
112. Colonel Kemball, writing in 1845, remarked
“ Upon the success of the Pearl fishing, and the profits of the carrying
trade which it brings into operation, must depend the means of obtain
ing the positive necessaries of life, and those trifling luxuries desirable
to an Arab. It is needless to observe how materially their own
condition, and by an easily deduced corollary, the safety of the Gulf
might be affected by the failure of a single season.” Hence <c the
anxiety and care, attended with great expense, which has been devoted
by our Government a to the maintenance of perfect tranquillity and
security on the Pearl banks.”
113. The Maritime resources of the Arab (or Piratical) ports are
stated to be as follows :■—