an island in the Persian gulf, situated in E. Long. 50. o. N. Lat. 26. o. This island is chiefly remarkable for its pearl-fishery, and has often changed its masters. It fell with Ormus under the dominion of the Portuguese, was again restored to Persia by Thamas Kouli Khan; and after his death the confusion into which his empire was thrown, gave an opportunity to an enterprising and ambitious Arab of taking possession of the island, where he still maintains his authority. Baharen was famous for its pearl-fishery even at the time when pearls were found at Ormus, Karek, Kahly, and other places in the Persian gulf; but it is now become of much greater consequence; all the other banks having been exhausted, while this has suffered no sensible diminution. The time of fishing begins in April, and ends in October. It is confined to a tract four or five leagues in breadth. The pearls taken at Baharen, though not so white as those of Ceylon or Japan, are much larger than those of the former place, and more regularly shaped than those of the latter. They have a yellowish colour; but have also this good quality, that they preserve their golden hue, whereas the whiter kind lose much of their lustre by keeping, especially in hot countries. The annual revenue from the Baharen pearl fishery is computed at about 157,500l. The greatest part of the pearls that are uneven are carried to Constantinople and other ports of Turkey, where the larger go to compose ornaments for head-dresses, and the smaller are used in embroideries. The perfect pearls must be reserved for Surat, whence they are distributed through all Indostan.