BAHRIN, or BADDREIN, or BALIAREM; a word signifying two seas, is the name of a group of small islands situated on the western side of the Persian gulf,, and long famous for their pearl fishery. The chief islands are Aval or Bahrin, Samahe, and Arad, or Ennebi Salehb. The Balirin islands once be longed to the Portuguese, but afterwards fell • into the hands of the Persians and Arabians, who obtained alternate possession of them. They now belong to the Schick of Bushcer ; but the revenue which lie derives from them has been much diminished by the obstinacy of the Hauls, a tribe of Arabs between Gombroon and Cape Bardistan, who refuse to pay duty for the privilege of fishing pearls. The unequal Pearls are sent to Constantinople, and other parts of Turkey, and the perfect ones are exported to Surat, from which they are diffused over the whole of Hin dostan. The fishing vessels, amounting according to some to 3000, and only to 300 according to others, pay several duties, one to the king of Persia, another
.to the sultan of Bahrin, and a third to the prince to whom the fishermen are subject. The pearls found here sometimes weigh 50 grains, but in general their weight is only 'about 10 or 12 grains. The inhabi tants of Balirin obtain from Surat their cloths and silks, by means of merchants.. A lack of rupees, the annual amount of the Schiek's revenue, is scarcely sufficient to support the fortifications of Bahrin, and maintain the garrison. We are informed by Niebuhr, that at some distance from these islands, at the depth of 21 fathoms, the fishermen have found good spring water, and are in the habit of diving to the bottom to fill their bottles. The whole group of islands contain about forty or fifty mean villages. The inhabitants are Shutes, and speak the Arabic language. E. Long. 48° 10', N. Lat. 26° 40'. See Niebuhr's Travels, sect. xxiii. chap. vi. and Peuchet's Did. de Gcograph. Connnerf. See also AvAt. (j)