THE PEARL OYSTER. 947 



peutic effects are not different from those of any other 

 calcareous earth. 



The " seed-pearls" procured at Kurrachee, on the 

 Bombay coast, are still used for such purpose by the Per- 

 sians and some of the Hakeems of India. 



The oysters producing the " seed-pearls in question 

 are washed up by the surf-waves to high-water mark, and 

 are left there as the tide falls. They are gathered by 

 Coolies employed for the occasion, put into boats, and 

 landed at Keamaree point. There the shells are broken 

 and the pearls extracted, under the superintendence of the 

 contractors, who pay the Julpore government forty thou- 

 sand rupees per annum for the pearl contract. Even the 

 gleaners who come after them pay for the right of sifting the 

 broken shells in search of any pearls that may remain." (;/) 



In concluding this highly interesting subject of the 

 pearl as a gem, combined with its value, I venture to quote 

 a most pleasing incident which occurred about forty years 

 since, in America : 



"A little orphan boy, about twelve years of age, while 

 fishing on the banks of the Tennessee, in the United 

 States, picked up a large pearl which he found lying 

 among the shells. Returning home, he accidentally exhi- 

 bited it while rummaging his pockets, filled with fish- 

 lines, baits, corks, shells, and coppers, when a gentleman 

 standing by, observing this costly treasure, asked him how 

 much he should give him for it ? The boy, unconscious of 

 its value, asked in return only one or two small coins. 

 ' No !' replied the gentleman, ' you must not sell it for a 

 trifle : it is worth a large sum. I will send it to Nashville 

 to be sold, and the proceeds of it shall be applied to your 

 (n) " Silver-shell; or, The Adventures of an Oyster." 



