CRI听力:Bahrain Looks to Preserve Its Pearling Past

The photo shows the beautiful scene of Bahrain. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

The Gulf kingdom of Bahrain has been known for its oil production and a robust financial industry.

However, before oil was discovered there about 80 years ago, the country's economy was supported by pearl diving.

CRI's Victor Ning has more on Bahrain's efforts to preserve this aspect of its heritage.
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Tourist boats take visitors from Bahrain's capital Manama to the island of Muharraq. As the modern skyscrapers move out of view, an altogether different Bahrain reminds people of the country's past.

Diving for oysters, supplying and fitting boats, sorting and selling pearls were all done on this island.

Long before a modern economy was developed, Brahain's pearl divers would depart from Muharraq for months away at sea, going down into the depths of the ocean in search of rare pearls.

Moana Sybille Meaves is a German tour guide on a cruise ship. She says the tour gives visitors a different perspective on the now wealthy nation.

"I do think it changes the whole perception you have of the country and the place when you know a bit more about the history before the oil. So pearl diving was the main economy and that was very important for the people especially for the people here in Muharraq in the older part of the island."

The lives of the pearl divers were anything but easy. Their lives were at stake as they plunged down to the oyster beds for minutes at a time, without any breathing equipment.

Now to honor history, UNESCO has listed a number of buildings related to the pearl trade in Muharraq as heritage sites.

The houses have been restored to reflect every aspect of the pearling way of life.

Lead architect with the heritage sites Nourah Al Sayeh says a strategically selected path has been laid out to give visitors a comprehensive introduction to the local pearl trade.

"That starts in the south at the Bu Maher coastline and fort which is the only remaining natural coastline of the island of Muharraq and was previously the point of departure of all the pearling expeditions from the island of Muharraq in the south. And to the north of Majlis Al Siyadi which was the house of one of the most prominent pearl merchants in Muharraq. Between these two sites the pearl path snakes through the old neighbourhood of Muharraq and includes 18 monuments that each relate directly to the industry and the economy of pearling."

The UNESCO project also includes three oyster beds, and underwater scuba diving will be allowed again to the beds. However, Al Sayeh says diving will be controlled to protect marine life.

"These oyster beds are going to be preserved, diving is going to be regulated there in order to sustain sustainable fishing and pearl diving activities. The idea behind the whole project is also to make pearling a sustainable economy for Bahrain once again."

Beyond official preservation efforts, some individual and corporate players have also been working to protect the past in Bahrain.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.