Travels in India (Tavernier) 98.2

98.2

While the Portuguese held Hormuz and Muscat, each terate or boat which went to fish was obliged to take out a licence from them, which cost 15 abassis, and many brigantines were maintained there, to sink those who were unwilling to take out licences. But since the Arabs have retaken Muscat, and the Portuguese are no longer supreme in the Gulf, every man who fishes pays to the King of Persia only 5 abassis, whether his fishing is successful or not. The merchant also pays the King something small for every 1000 oysters. The second pearl-fishery is opposite Bahren, on the coast of Arabia-Felix, close to the town of El Katif, which, with all the neighbouring country, belongs to an Arab Prince. The pearls fished in these places are for the most part sold in India, because the Indians are not so particular as we are. All pass easily, the baroques as well as the round; each has its price, all being saleable. Some of them are taken also to Bassora. Those which go to Persia and Russia are sold at Bandar-Congo, two days’ distance from Hormuz. In all the places which I have named, and in other parts of Asia, the water tending slightly to yellow is preferred to the white, because it is said that pearls the water of which is slightly golden retain their vivacity and never change, but that when they are white they do not last for thirty years without losing their vivacity, and, both on account of the heat of the country and the perspiration of the body, they assume a vile yellow colour.