86 THE BOOK OF THE PEARL
(Book VI, ch. 25) that Catifa (El Katiff), on the Arabian coast opposite Bahrein, was the center of an important fishery.
In the ninth century these fisheries were noted by Massoudi, one of the earliest Arabian geographers.1
In the latter part of the twelfth century they were visited and
described by the Spanish-Hebrew traveler, Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela.2 The Arabian traveler, Ibn Batuta, wrote of them about 1336.3 In 1508 they were noted in the account of Lodovico Barthema's expedition to the Island of Ormus. According to him :
At
three days' journey from this island they fished the largest pearls
which are found in the world ; and whoever wishes to know about it,
behold ! There are certain fishermen who go there in small boats and
cast into the water two large stones attached to ropes, one at the bow,
the other at the stern of each boat to stay it in place. Then one of
the fishermen hangs a sack from his neck, attaches a large stone to his
feet, and descends to the bottom—about fifteen paces under water, where
he remains as long as he can, searching for oysters which bear pearls,
and puts as many as he finds into his sack. When he can remain no
longer, he casts off the stone attached to his feet, and ascends by one
of the ropes fastened to the boat. There are so many connected with the
business that you will often see 300 of these little boats which come
from many countries.4
Shortly
following the visit of Barthema, the Portuguese under Albuquerque took
possession of the principal ports of the Persian Gulf, and they imposed
heavy taxes on the pearl fishery throughout the century of their
retention. While under their jurisdiction, the fisheries were visited
and described by J. H. van Linschoten in 1596, who wrote :
The
principall and the best that are found in all the Orientall Countries,
and the right Orientall pearles, are between Ormus and Bassora in the
straights, or Sinus Persicus, in the places called Bareyn, Catiffa,
Julfar, Camaron, and other places in the said Sinus Persicus, from
whence they are brought into Ormus. The king of Portingale hath also
his factor in Bareyn, that stayeth there onlie for the fishing of
pearles. There is great trafficke used with them, as well in Ormus as
in Goa.5
This
was the Ormus where the treasures of the Orient were gathered in
abundance, the half-way house between the East and the West, making it
one of the greatest emporia of the world. So renowned was its wealth
and commerce that it was a saying among the Portu-
1 Reinaud, "Memoire sur l'Inde," Paris, i " The Travels of Lodovico di Barthema, 1849.
1503 to 1508," London, 1863, p. 95.
2 " Travels of Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela," 5 " Discours of Voyages into ye Easte and London, 1783.
West Indies," London, 1598, folio, ch. 84.
3Lee, "Ibn Batuta," 1829, p. 65.
