WHAT IS AN OYSTER ? 69 



on the sea-shore, or the river bank, are accustomed to lop 

 off a branch from a mangrove laden with well-filled shells, 

 obtaining by one stroke of the axe a bounteous and valu- 

 able supply. A branch that has many offsets is a sufficient 

 burden for any one man to carry ; and Adamson states, 

 that the oysters they yield are as delicate in taste as our 

 own. (e] 



Oysters abound in other parts of the world, as in the 

 islands of the East Indian Archipelago, having on the 

 east the Pacific, on the west the Indian Ocean, on the 

 north the Indo-Chinese countries and China, and on the 

 south New Holland and New Guinea. A bay on the 

 south-west of New Holland, and north of King George's 

 Sound, discovered by Vancouver, is called Oyster Harbour, 

 from the number of these creatures that are found there. 

 Another spot, of a similar kind, is situated in the Bay of 

 Bengal, and called Oyster Island ; it is surrounded by 

 rocks, and is extremely dangerous to vessels from its rising 

 very little above the level of the sea. The island abounds 

 with small rock oysters, which the natives of the opposite 

 coast detach with hammers, and then carry to Chittagong, 

 from whence they are conveyed to Dacca and Calcutta. 



But where, and how, it may be asked, is the oyster 

 born ? This inquiry, then, I proceed to answer in the 

 next chapter. 



(e) "Adventures of an Oyster." 



