The Maritime Heritage Museum is a unique destination for visitors to Darb Al Saai

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

The Ministry of Culture reports that the museum contains various tools and methods used in the past. It is a distinguished destination for learning about the secrets of the diving and fishing profession, and the secrets and challenges faced by parents and grandparents.

Mohammad, the son of the father, Jassim Abdul Rahman Al-Mannai, documented the methods of pearl diving and fishing that were prevalent at the time, in a museum that preserves the popular heritage of this profession from extinction, to make it a legacy that extends to future generations.

For his part, Mohammad Abd al-Rahman al-Mannai, who is in charge of the museum in succession to his father, referred to the most important holdings, including: “Al-Qallaf”, which is the maker of traditional wooden ships that were used in the stages of pearl diving. Carrying and supervising the formulation of the ship in order to maintain its balance according to the type of bearing to be manufactured.

Al-Mannai explained that “Al-Sakuni” is the sailor in charge of the affairs of the ship’s rudder, as the function of “Al-Sakuni” is very important, and he must be characterized by full vigilance because his lack of vigilance may lead to the destruction of the ship and the sailors. We take the ship and inform him of what is going on during the course, and he must be fully aware of the directions, the stars, and the roads that he takes during the course in order to avoid any accident that the ship may collide with and lead to the destruction of the ship and the sailors.

Mohammad Abd Al-Rahman Al-Mannai, who is in charge of the museum, indicated that the “Seeb” is one of the fishing methods, and it is the sailor who holds the rope of the Ghais while he descends on the donkey, and it is stipulated that he be a prophet and strong in concentration and not lose sight of a moment from following what is happening on the Ghais. “He is the person who dives to the bottom of the sea to collect the shellfish, and he is the main sailor in the diving trip and totally dependent on him.

He said that the fishing methods have different and specialized names, including “Al-Hadrah”, which is a means of catching fish of various kinds near the shallow waters. The Hudrah is made of palm leaves and is placed close to the shore. It is linked with the tides for the ease of its owner (the fisherman) frequenting it at all times of the tides.

He added that the “gargoor” is a means of catching fish, and it is in the form of a semi-circle made of palm fronds (leaf) after it is cut into several parts as it must be moist for ease of manufacturing, then the second part is made which is the bottom of the gargoor in a circular shape with the size of the gargoire. Then it is tied with ropes of palm fibers and fixed, then transported after processing to the sea and placed in rocky places near these places to fish pastures, and the method of placing the gargoor is opposite to the direction of the wave movement.

He explained that “Yarov Mosaddegh” is one of the fishing methods, which is a means of catching fish made of yarn (nets) and the length of the spinning does not exceed 90 meters, and it is erected close to the shore towards the opposite of the current and fixed to the pension, and it is in the form of a box towards the shore.

He pointed out that Al “balad” is a piece of lead that is placed at the bottom of a depth-measuring rope. At the bottom of Al balad (lead) there is an opening in the form of a circular shape or scratches throughout the country to catch and attract the soil through which the type of bottom is known and thrown until it reaches the bottom of the sea, then Pulling up and examining the type of soil or mud stuck in the bottom of the country to find out the location.

The museum is witnessing a mass turnout, translated by the knowledge momentum of the ancient hunting methods and methods that distinguished our ancestors and will remain for us an eternal legacy in our customs and traditions, especially for our generations.