12 



CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



the few weeks of its existence. In the neighbourhood huge water-tanks are 

 constructed, some for the drinking supply, others for washing and for the divers to 



Fig. 4. Beachmaster's (Muttutamby) house, tom-tom beater and other natives. Pile of eadjans 

 (palm-leaf mats) for building in foreground. Photo, by Mr. Hornell. 



bathe in when they return from the day's work. At the same time the fleet of some 

 200 fishing boats assembles on the shore (fig. 5), and a port with the necessary officials is 

 constituted. The whole organisation is under the Government Agent of the province. 



Fig. 5. Part of the pearl-divers' fleet at Marichchukaddi. Photo, by Mr. Hornell. 



" Four distinct racial types were represented among the divers both at last year's 

 fishery and at this Coast Tamils, chiefly from the Madras Presidency ; Moormen, or 



