434 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



Leghorn, of a captain of an East India ship. This splendid 

 pearl, which has been named the Pellegrina, is one of the 

 objects of a visit to Moscow. 



In the French crown jewels there are some very fine 

 pearls. Among others, a collection of 408 pearls, each 

 weighing 16 grammes, of a perfect white, round, and of a 

 magnificent orient. They are valued at ^ 20,000. Also a 

 pearl as large as a pigeon's egg, of a very beautiful quality, 

 valued at ^"1600, and others of less value. 



" As this admiration for fine pearls has been the common 



weakness of man in all ages and in all countries, we need 



not wonder at their playing a prominent part in religious 



writings. The Talmud has a pretty story, teaching us that 



those who believe in it esteemed but one object in nature 



of higher value than pearls. When Abraham approached 



Egypt, the book tells us, he locked Sara in a chest that 



none might behold her dangerous beauty. But when he 



was come to the place of paying custom, the officer said, 



' Pay custom.' And he said, ' I will pay the custom.' 



They said to him, ' Thou earnest clothes.' And he said, 



' I will pay for clothes. Then they said to him, ' Thou 



earnest gold.' And he answered them, ' I will pay for 



gold.' On this they further said, ' Surely, thou bearest 



the fine silk.' He replied, ' I will pay custom for the 



finest silk.' Then they said, ' Surely, it must be pearls 



that thou takest with thee.' And he only answered, ' I will 



pay for pearls." Seeing that they could name nothing of 



value for which the patriarch was not willing to pay 



custom, they said, " It cannot be but thou open the box 



and let us see what is within." So they opened the box, 



and the whole land of Egypt was illumined by the lustre of 



Sara's beauty far exceeding even that of pearls. 



"Hence pearls are repeatedly used in Holy Writ also for 



