Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-09
OF PEARLS
BAHREIN, OFF ARABIAN COAST,
HOME OF RARE JEWEL.
Superstition Of the Natives as to
Formation Of Precious
Stone.

Bahrefn Is the beautiful island which
| gives its name to a little archipelago lying
| twenty miles of the Arabian coast, brought
| into prominent note Of late through the stir
| about Koweft. This last city is 800 miles
north Of the Bahrein Isles, which lies In the
lap OF that bay formed by the jutting out
| OF the great triangular projection called
katar. The pearl paradise spreads all
along that Arabian side of the Persian gulf
for go miles of the shore. The ocean water
Is shallow for thirty miles from the coast,
and thus a magnificent pearl-oyster bed Is
provided. In which 5000 boats all through
the summer are rowed about by their Arab
crews
Bahrein, properly so called, Is an island
thlrty miles long and ten WIDE lying direct
ly north by south. All the northern half is
exquisitely bea utiful. for 1t is one great
garden of pomegranate. citron, lemon and
ounce trees, together with magnificent date
palms. In the very center of the island is
a long cluster of hills, 400 feet in height,
known as Jebel Dokhan C'Mountan of
Smokey. Around this Is barren table,
land The fertility and beauty of the north
ern portions are easily accounted for. Hun
dredS of copious, warm freSh-water springs
gush up.
Origin Of Gems.
The islets of Moharrek, Sitrah and Nissan
complete the group. These are mere satel-
lites of the larger members of the archi-
pelago. The population of the whole group
numbers 10000, Of whom about 10000 in
habit that town of mat-hut dwellings, Me-
hannah which constitutes the capital. 1t
Is situated on the northern apex of the
main island All Bahrein lives on pearls.
NO subject possesses any mundane interest
for the islanders but pearls, pearls pearls.
The Arabs know nothing of the scientific
doctrune that the pearl has It's genesis in
some abnormal development caused by
disease of the bivalve fish. The native no
ton Is much more poeticaL If a raindrop
during the monsoons finds it's way into the
opened mouth Of an oyster It Is supposed
that a gem "of purest ray serene is formed
the size of the resultant pearl which is thus
distilled being dependent on the size of the
drop. The idea is beautiful for it ascribes
a heavenly birth to the lovely product
From June to October all is busy on that
western section of the Persian gulf. No
feWer than $4,000 fishermen and divers work
the long shallow shores. A Bahrein boat is
singular sight. 1t is long, deep craft,
holding from twenty to forty men, of whom
about one-third will usually be divers the
rest oarsmen. OF the latter one is curiously
named Ell Mussully, or ''he who prays," on
account of some Of his peculiar functions.
He holds the diving ropes If another breaks
ON his duty to pray or to eat.
The Pearl Fishers.
The sailors and divers live away on the
water for three weeks at a time, or even
longer II their supplies Of fresh water hold
out or can be renewed at the nearest spot.
They live chiefly rice, dates and fish
caught daily and cooked over a little char
coal stove. generally by the lone who
prays. The diver Is the victim of a hard
and cruel fate. His costume is scanty in
deed, for he knows nothing of diving dresses
OF the scientific kind. His apparatus Is a
very simple outfit, yet it is curious for it is
peculiar to his avocation. Three objects |
only are included. The first is the stone
with which he Is weighted for the descent !
This Is fastened to rope passing between |
MS toes He can generally remain under |
the surface for about two minutes when |
ne must be promptly pulled up He Is al |
ways half dead. often bleeds violently at
the nose. and may be brought UP in a con- |
oltlon OF unconsciousness from which it Is |
difficult to restore him.
Every season the pearls need to he sought |
further out in the gulf and, of course the |
waters being deeper the peril is greater
PROBABLY science will sooner or later devise
some dress and apparatus which may OBJ
waite some of the fearful difficulties of this
dread calling ~ ~
The second item of the outfit is the
r. ntaam. or nostrl -clasp, made of horn
It's purpose Is to keep the water from
entering the nose. The third is the 'kha-
oaat' or fnger-shield, a long leather Thin
Die winch protects the fingers during the |
process OF picking up the Shells The pearl
oysters are left on deck all night, and are
opened in the morning with formidable
knlves, the "miflaket,' Of which the blade
measures SIX inches The pearls vary i'm
IN size. In color, in weight, and in
usser. They are rising steadily in value,
ana american ladies especially are begin
lins TO prefer them to diamonds