Author
Cyril Barrett)
Publication Date
4 Aug 1895-12 Feb 1930 (CE, Gregorian)
Subject
1
Type
Document
Language
ara,eng
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Pages Count
207
Library
Qatar Digital Library
Library Asset ID
IOR/R/15/2/132
Record ID
vdc_100000000193.0x000363
Library Location
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.
Date
4 Aug 1895-12 Feb 1930 (CE, Gregorian)
Notes
The volume contains correspondence and reports relating to proposed reforms of the pearling industry in Bahrain. The majority of the correspondence takes place between the Bahrain
Political Agent
A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency.
(Clive Day, who was the principle architect of the pearling industry reforms, and served from 1921 to 1926, superseded by Cyril Barrett), the
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
or his secretary, and the advisor to the Bahrain Government, Charles Belgrave.
The reforms proposed, and which are discussed at length throughout the volume include:
Economic reforms, with particular attention given to shares of the profits paid to divers, and the allowances paid to divers, and interest on their debts, through the
Salifeh
court. This aspect of the reforms was designed to reduce the state of debt slavery that many divers existed in towards their boat masters (
nakhudas
);
The introduction of accounts books for all pearl divers;
Boat registration and pearl fishing licenses;
The introduction of a hospital boat intended to patrol the pearling banks, with medical staff on board who are capable of providing medical attention to pearl divers as required;
The advantages and disadvantages of permitting pearl merchants to use motor launches to reach the pearling boats, the use of which would place some merchants at an advantage over those travelling under sail power.
Items of note in the file include:
A report entitled 'The Pearl Industry. Bahrain', written by Charles Belgrave, undated but probably 1928 (folios 3-23);
Letters from the Director of the Bahrain Customs House to the Political
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
(1924), giving figures for the numbers of boats registered and pearling licenses issued, and the income generated (folios 51, 71, 84);
A original petition in Arabic, signed by numerous
nakhudas
, complaining of the reforms, dated 26 September 1925 (folio 123, English translation on folios 124-26);
A letter written by Barrett to Horner (the Secretary to the
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
), dated 1 January 1927, writing of disturbances in Manama, caused by a crowd of two-hundred pearl divers who are unhappy with reductions in their allowances (folios 149-52);
Erişim Koşulları
Unrestricted
Düzenleme
The items in the volume have been arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest items at the front of the volume, to the latest at the end.
Eski Harici Referans(lar)
Confidential Files: File 9/5
