BAHRAIN STORIES -Natural Pearls of Bahrain...continued

Diving for Pearls                                                                                             

Because of the non-existence of scuba equipment and wet suits early on, the pearls of the Arabian Gulf were collected by hand -- collected between the toes, then placed in bottles, and fur pouches -- by divers adept at holding their breath for long periods of time at depths of 160 feet below the surface. Throughout centuries of pearl fishing, a greater part of the population -- roughly sixty percent of Bahraini males -- worked in the pearl business trade that dominated the local economy and maintained countless seafaring vessels employed full-time. Of the thousands of oysters inspected at great depths though, only a small portion would generate pearls.                                                                                                       

The opening of new schools and changes in social and communal structures signaled the advent of significant developments brought on by the prosperous pearling industry.    

Newly wealthy pearl merchants surfaced (pardon the pun) from Bahrain’s thriving oyster centers in the Arabian Sea showing off a most effective demonstration of their prosperity: fancy, newly built residences (such as Siyadi House) and charitable trusts.

The Pearling Trade                                                                             

Shipped to Bombay, pearls were later distributed throughout the Indian Sub-Continent, where colossal trade markets waited them.  Accordingly, Bahraini pearl merchants returned from their Indian business journeys loaded with bags of silver and gold.The pearl fisheries of Bahrain kept boat manufacturers employed year round, even though the main pearling season lasted four months - from May to November.Two-mast or single sail Jalibuts (sambukas) and mahailas -- the pearling boats of choice -- were strongly sewn together with heavy cord much before iron nails materialized in these parts. Extremely seaworthy, these boats spent up to six months in the gusty Arabian Seas and the monsoon winds of the Indian Ocean.                                                                                                       

Diving for Pearls implicated patient endurance, as the method to collect the gems from the Gulf’s floor was a grueling one.

Documents from early 18th Century British colonists report that pearling boats “are propelled by heavy oars, each pulled by two men, who sing the song of the 'pearlers' as they row. Often the fleet returns at night when the moon and the tide are full. The sound of the sailors’ chanting and the splash of the oars carrying across the still waters overland. The sight of hundreds of white sails, some of them colored orange by the light of the fires burning on the decks, is one of the most picturesque in the world".

Advances and Endurance

Pearl divers from the 19th century developed a rather more advanced and interesting technique for collecting oysters at a faster pace.  Using bone nose clips to press their nostrils, thin leather gloves, cotton wool for their ears, plus a basket or pouch tied to their necks -- to place the collected shells in -- they found that their speed improved significantly. A heavy line (attached to a rock) was tied to one of their feet, allowing for a swift descent to the sea bottom, while another line held them at the waist.  After a typical 90 second dive -- with maybe a dozen, well-selected shells in the pouch -- the diver would signal the rope ‘puller’ in the boat above to hoist him up.  A full day may have consisted of an average of 30 to 40 such dives.  It’s needless to point out the strain these frequent dives may have had on their health, or the perils encountered in the submarine world.  ‘Pearlers’ received no daily earnings; however, the season’s profits were split equally among them; on good spells, divers worked 6 months out of the year; the pearling business being very profitable indeed.   Heaps of oyster shells were opened at sea and the pearls deposited in a coffer vigilantly guarded by the ship’s skipper. Oyster remains were thrown overboard. Pearl divers sang and played music as they sailed the waters of the Gulf for the six-month-long pearling season. A lead singer would keep motivation high among them; specific melodies marked the phases of their work, such as leaving port, their approach to the oyster banks, dropping anchor, diving in, etc.  A full meal in the early morning, and a supper of rice, dates and fish after sunset completed their exhausting day.                                                                          

About Pearls                                                                                                               

To untrained eyes, all pearls may look quite the same. There is, to the contrary, a complex pecking order to pearls, and some factors exist that determine their value.   Luster and size are generally considered the two key factors to look for. Luster, depends on the fineness and evenness of the nacre layers. Expert personnel in the bazaars and jeweler salons at two different malls explained to me that natural pearls have become so rare and expensive that for the vast majority of people they are off bounds. Natural pearls are very special and pricey indeed                                                      

Natural vs. Culture                                                                     

Natural pearls are formed by Mother Nature, an accident of life and without any human assistance. The Gulf’s pearls’ luster, color, shape, size and lack of imperfections are internationally distinguished.                                                                                                     Environmentally controlled cultured pearls form just the same as natural ones with the exception that the irritant that eventually forms them, is introduced into the oyster shells by humans; cultured pearls are raised in man-made oyster farms. Much the same way farmers plant seeds and await their growth, the pearl farmer cares for his oysters assisting nature in the creation of a crop of pearls. Even though it takes years to grow them, Chinese pearl farmers have recently fashioned a system that permits them to supply more pearls in a shorter time period. In the past few years, China’s cultured pearl farming has grown considerably, while Japan’s industry has stalled due to polluted waters, and higher wage expectations.Natural pearls can form in salt or fresh water; fresh water pearls generally grow within mussel, abalone or clam shells while salt water pearls grow inside oysters.       Salt water pearls seem to be usually larger than fresh water ones, being generally found       in oceans and other bodies of saltwater around the world; fresh water pearls however, grow inside mussels and other mollusks.  Lagoons, rivers and streams are potential breeding grounds for them.These gems tend to be smaller and less expensive than cultured salt water pearls.When cared for properly, pearls will last a lifetime and beyond. Because of their organic nature, all pearls require more specialized care than most other precious jewels. They are particularly subject to deterioration when in contact with chemicals, including components in perfumes, cosmetics and hair care products.  

Pearls throughout History                                                                             

Natural pearls possess intrinsic powers, allure and an enduring history that even their very fortunate owners fail to appreciate. Throughout much of recorded history, a necklace consisting of perfectly matched natural pearls was a treasure of almost incomparable value; the most expensive jewelry in the world.                                                                                                                               

Pearls, in fact, played a pivotal role in combination with other precious gems, becoming synonymous with power and wealth while routinely worn by men and women of the royal courts of European nobility and Asian empires. Marcus Aurelius of Rome, Queen Isabella of Spain, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom as well as King Mongkut of Siam -to name just a few- were all clad in pearls.                                                                                              

Pearls whether natural, cultured, or fresh water remain a classic jewel today, sensible and elegant simultaneously, they blend with any type of clothing or event. Some women are never seen without their pearls as they denote prosperity and represent a lifetime investment. Pearls are timeless and made by Mother Nature; even the intrusive cultured pearl boasts prized importance.

It is significant to remember that the wealthy waters along the Arabian Gulf generated the world’s leading natural oyster beds. In fact, most pearls in trade until the late 19th century had originally been collected from these waters with unprecedented labor and adversity. The social and educational resources gained by Bahrain and other Gulf nations during that time contributed to today’s spirit of venture and expansion. Their economic power long since diminished, natural pearls, remain a national Bahraini symbol. Japan altered the world of pearling by enticing oysters to produce perfectly rounded pearls on demand, by manually changing the course of nature and creating the cultured pearl.                                                Pearls are valued throughout the world, regardless of origin; from the early producing oysters obtained by divers to the cultured and synthetic gems of today.

Interesting trivia from Bahrain MICE (Meetings Incentives Conferences & Exhibitions): Crowns of British monarchs from Henry VIII to Queen Elizabeth II, for instance, have contained at least one shining Bahraini pearl, while the Emperor of Japan, where cultured pearls are more commonplace, boasts a Bahraini pearl in his crown’.