Pearling in the Arabian Gulf : Kuwaiti memoir / by Saif Marzooq al-Shamlan ; translated from the Arabic by Peter Clark.

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Translation of : تاريخ الغوص على اللؤلؤ في الكويت و الخليج العربي.‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪‪

Includes index.

Chapter 1. Kuwait : Geography and Population - Historical Summary -- Chapter 2. The Pearl in the Qur'an and Literature : The Pearl in the Glorious Qur'an - The Pearl in the Traditions of the Prophet - Pearls in Ancient Arab Medicine - The Arabs and Pearl - fishing Before Islam and in the Early Days of Islam - The Arabs and Pearl Decoration Before Islam and in the Early Years of Islam -- Chapter 3. The Nature of Pearls : How Pearls are Formed - Natural Pearls - The Pearl Oyster - Types of Oyster-shell - Names of the Parts of the Pearl Oyster- shell and the Pearl - Cultured Pearls -- Chapter 4. Kuwait and the Sea : Maritime Origins - The Islands of Kuwait - Jetties Built by Kuwaitis at their Own Expense - The Sea in the Life of Kuwait - Navigation and the Boats -The Invention of Sails and the Story of Ghailan and Mai - Power-driven Vessels - Boat Construction in Kuwait : The Qalalif - The Impact of Oil - A Plea to the Government to Make Two Films -- Chapter 5. Kuwait and Pearling : The Growth of Pearling - The Divers' Amir - The Divers' Boats - The Crew of a Pearling Boat - The Number of Crew on Board - The Larger Pearling Vessels - Phases of the Pearl-fishing Season - The Merchants and the Way They Operated - Risks Facing the Pearl Merchants - The Merchants' Expertise in Pearls - Categories of Pearls Unique Single Pearls - Taxes on the Pearl-fishers - Some Statistics - Accounts - The Law on Pearl-fishing - The Pearling Log - Official Notices about Pearl-fishing in Kuwait until 1959 -- Chapter 6. The Merchants and Shipmasters : Merchants of the Eastern Quarter - Merchants of the Western Quarter - Migration of Merchants from Kuwait in 1910 -- Chapter 7. The Work of the Divers : The Daily Routine - Pearl-divers and Fishing - Food - Water - The Closing of the Season - Pearl-diving Equipment - The Wizar - The Bedu as Divers - Keeping the Tally of Divers - Characteristics of the Diver - The Songs of the Sailors - Death and Drowning - The Killing of Saif bin Saif in 1913 - The Sinking of Khalid bin Isfaih's Boat in 1916 - Dangers from Sea Creatures - Cold Water and Currents - Diseases and Ailments - Treatment - Discomforts and Other Hazards - Pearl-diving in Ceylon - The Ports - The Touch of a Jinn -- Chapter 8. The Pearl-banks : The Pearl-banks of the Gulf - Inshore along the Coast of 'Adan - Pearls Found by Majna -- Chapter 9. The End of Pearl-fishing : The Slump of the 1930s - Pearl-diving in 1955 - The End of Diving - Pearl-fishing in the 1970s -- Chapter 10. Films about Pearl-diving : The First Film about the Sea, 1939 - The First Film about Pearl - fishing, 1955 - The Second Film about Pearl-fishing, 1961 - The Third Film about Pearl-fishing, 1965 - The Film Bass... Ya Bahr: a Travesty - The Shipmasters and the Film -- Chapter 11. The International Pearling Business Through Gulf Eyes : The Arab Pearl Merchants of Bombay - The First Kuwaiti Pearl Merchants in Paris, 1930 - The Journey of 'Ali bin Husain Al Saif to Paris in 1930 - The Journey of Husain bin 'Ali Al Saif and His Son Yusuf to Paris in 1931 - The Journey of Husain bin 'Ali Al Saif to Paris in 1932 - The Journey of Muhammad bin Shamlan Al Saif to Paris in 1932 -- Chapter 12. Conclusion.