Bahraini.TV

Diving for pearls of wisdom…

by mahmood on 01/08/09 at 10:52 am · email  · print  

Up until 1929, pearl diving was the major industry in Bahrain as our grandfathers set out to sea for four months to collect treasures which would provide them with a source of income.

Leaving home for the pearling season between April and August, most were already in debt, forced to borrow money from their captains to ensure their families’ survival while they were away.

It meant the treasures they discovered were distributed among the boat owners, captains, divers and crew and were used to repay their arrears.

Times were hard for the divers, who would travel miles to search for pearls, and struggle to make a living.

The industry, which employed 90 per cent of Bahrainis, largely died out after 1929 when divers took up new jobs following the discovery of oil.

Eighty years later, a group of Kuwaiti sailors embarked on a pearl diving expedition in Bahrain aimed at reliving the experiences of their ancestors.

More than 40 sailors, aged between 15 to 19, set off from the shores of Kuwait City to Muharraq Harbour to be part of a seven-day celebration of the tradition.

The five dhows they used were a gift from Kuwaiti Amir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah.

Head of Fisheries Resources at the Public Commission for the Protection and Marine Resources Environment and Wildlife Anwar Al Mansoori said the co-operation between both countries had helped to bring back the pearl diving tradition.

“The brothers of Kuwait and Bahrain have finally joined together to celebrate the lives of our great grandfathers,” he said.

“The boys would have learned so much about the history of pearl diving and with this they will always know who they are and where they come from.

“This also applies to our children (Bahrainis) who participated and volunteered.”

The Kuwaiti sailors stayed in a tent at the Fishermen’s Port of Muharraq Harbour and enjoyed a breakfast of red rice, dates and fish before venturing to sea every morning.

Expedition supervisor Abdulrahman Al Mannai said there was a vast difference between pearling now and in the early 1900s.

“In the old days, pearl divers would have nothing to eat for breakfast,” he said.

“They would only eat one or two dates so it must have been very hard for them as a lot of energy is needed for pearl diving exercises.

“For the boys of this trip, it wouldn’t be fair to put them through everything the divers went through in the old days but it is important for them to appreciate things.”

Accompanying the sailors on their final day of pearl diving, they seemed genuinely happy to be part of the adventure.

And despite temperatures reaching nearly 40C, the two-hour journey out to sea didn’t seem to be an issue for them.

Captain Khalid Al Sagah regaled the crew with stories about how his father and grandfather had been involved in pearl diving industry.

“They used to do this for a living and it was hard for them,” he said.

“They would go out for four months without family in the hope of making a living.

“We’re just trying to understand and experience what they went through.”

The crew also sung traditional ghous (diving) songs as there forbearers had done almost a century ago.

For today’s youngsters, television programmes and Playstation games are among top leisure pursuits, but these sailors happily threw themselves into tying ropes and lifting heavy weights to ensure the dhow was running in perfect condition.

After reaching the destination where the pearl diving would take place, Captain Al Sabah explained the basic tools which were to be used.

“We give our divers the choice to wear protective netting from anything that is lurking about in the sea. However, we don’t give them the choice on using other equipment,” he said.

“This is so that they can learn about the history of pearl diving.

“They only use a nose plug and a rope, which they attach to their necks or waists.

“When they run out of breath, they can then pull at the rope which will help us indicate when to pull them out.”

The sailors kept to a depth of around four metres.

“The depth would be about 18 feet in the olden days but we are not trying to replicate this through the children,” said Mr Al Sabah.

“This is an experience for them, just so that they can at least think about the times their elders went through great strengths to make a living.

“They already know what it was like in the past, but this is just an opportunity for them to re-live it in a different way.”

The divers on the latest pearl diving expedition netted around 7,500 oysters from Bahrain’s seabed, including around 40 pearls.

But they did not hand them over to their captain like in the old days. Instead they plan to donate them to the Kuwaiti Amir as a gesture of thanks for his help.