Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-08-19
miscellaneous.
From the United Service Magazine.
II III T. JOH A S M T. E {:
THE PEARL-DIVER OF BAHREIN.

He will drown. He is dead Sheah
There goes his boat, drifting out to sea-
But how well the dog swlms 7
Yes, but observe, he knows nothing of
the surf. Look, how he keeps in the hollow
of the sea ?
Such were the remarks addressed to one
another by a small party of Arabs OH the
sea-shore near the harbor of Muscat, as they
watched the movements of swimmer strug-
Cling in the surf which rolled in at their feet
The most complete Indifference was evident
in their tones and attitudes Some were
crouching on the sand, others stood erect
in their nantes. While they gazed upon
the unhappy wretch, they speculated on his
probable fate with less interest than would
have been shown by Europeans, or even by
themselves, in the escape of dog. The
person who was the OBJ ect of their remarks
was evidently in the greatest danger. His
boat had swamped in the breakers, and had
been swept from his grasp, leaving him de-
pendent for his life on his own exertions,
and the slight support of an oar which he
had been fortunate enough to grasp. I'm
luckily, as was remarked by one of the
spectators, though good swimmer, he was
unaccustomed to the surf, and by keeping
constantly in the hollow between two waves,
exposed himself to be frequently buried by
a topping surge. From every such SUBJ
mersion he rose manitestly more confused,
and weakened in his power of struggling.
His fate would have soon verified the pre-
dictions of the Arabs, but for the appear
ance of another individual, who joined the
party on the beach. He was mere youth,
Of aio ar Ic arh
and features bespoke him an Arab, but il
was evident that he was of different class
from the others, who were all Muscatys, OF
inhabitants of the neghborhood of Muscat
The lighter complexion of the new conner
his bold aquiline features, the sternness, APP
preaching to gloom, of his handsome coun-
tenance, not less than the striped shawl Of
cotton and silk which formed his turban
and the long matchbox which he bore on
his shoulder, proclaimed him one of the
tribe of Johassam, the far-famed pirates o
the Persian Gulf-or, as the Arabs term it
the Sea of Bahrein. He was wrapped from
head to foot in a long mantle of black clotl
woven from the hair of the camel and be
meath this the clash of arms was heard "a
he walked He advanced with the hasty
imperious step of one who had never know
what it was to stand in the presence of
superior, his black, deep-set eyes flashing
from side to side beneath the shade of hi
thick shawl turban. When his glance fel
on the swimmer, whose feeble exertions be
trayed his exhausted condition, he exclaimed
in quick, sharp tones
'Ye Muscatys, why do you not save you
brother 2
The question excited a general laugh.
Our brother = said one when in tn
name of Allah was dog our father an
the son of dog our brother 2
He is a Persian, hereto Sheah,' sal
another; let him perish; let his father
grave be dehled'
Let him call on Ali, his Imaum, adde
third perhaps he will come from Kel
belah, and save him
He is a pearl merchant exclaimed
fourth who was kind of wag no dout
he is seeking for pearls Look, he is goin
TO dive
Another laugh followed this wittcism, fc
such it was considered. The Johasmee
lone did not join in the merriment. ii
stood for moment, as if irresolute, mute
ing to himself 1t is better to save life tina
TO destroy. have disobeyed thee, o IN
father | have taken life. Shall not say
life Life for life A Persian for Nj
hassanee' Then turning suddenly to on