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is fathomless. This statement is contrary to the belief that the nacreous
shell is not to be found in the stormy sea. If this is true, the dead molluscs must have been brought by the waves from the more pacific regions of the ocean! It is quite possible that the turbid colour of these pearls is due to the locality, soil, water and food of the animal, just as leadenness dominates the pearl from the Red Sea. This colour is also to be found in the Dahd pearls, although the pearls are recovered through plunges in the sea, not picked from the coast. But they show the leaden colour of the Red Sea pearls, as their characteristics resemble each other both by way of the sea and the soil. The island of Dihlak is in the first part of the bay. It later joins the Indian Ocean after passing the different defiles. The land of this bay being marshy, it is fairly possible that it might have caused change in it, and, because of its putrefaction, might have caused this "eating away". It is said that the quhurni shells reek of an odour similar to that of castoreum, but those found in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf possess a pleasant odour. Al-Kindi has mentioned Tlah and Suwis while describing the Red Sea.
This sea is called the Sea of Tlah and Qulzum at times and at others is spoken of in singular. Tlah is situated towards the Red Sea from Jar and Suwis is situated towards Aden from Jeddah. Al-Kindi also says that the bulbul from Tlah is like the bulbul from
Suwis, as the pearls from Suwis are sticky and look artificially made. The shells of both are disgorged by the waves from the sea. The best maghasat are in Persian Gulf. The maghasat of Bahrayn are
especially of high quality, as they promise more profit and less loss, and are superior to the others. Next are those maghasat that are close to them, and are situated between them and Siraf. Their pearls are known as qatari. This name is not derived from rain-drops nor because of their resemblance with them, but because of a locality in Bahrayn, which includes a ship as well. Ra'i says:
Is it a fleet-moving Yamani or Qatari? It has a shroud of dust.
They will have taken the Bahrayn pearls from the shells once they
have thrown away the dust of the path.
Nabighah says: Has the pearls captivated thy heart that thou hadst been constantly
speaking of it like a lover in travail.
The pearl that hast been brought to thee from the sea of Yaman by
a respectable Habashi emissary.
Having youths carrying spears in company, who were the servants of
Caesar.
He comes from Alexandria every year as a depu on Udulay.
The whole of the coast of the Persian Gulf serves as maghasat, ex-
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