1922] MADRAS PEARL FISHERIES 71 



alive were, as is usual on sandy ground, embedded deeply in the 

 sand. Both dead and living bore quantities of large barnacles 

 {Balanus sp.). 



The rock is of somewhat variable composition, varying from a 

 compact brown limestone, similar to that of the Tolayiram Par, to 

 rock of a distinctly quartzose nature; the angular quartz grains 

 were embedded in a brown calcareous matrix — a quartzose lime- 

 stone. The sand of the chank-bed is similar to the component 

 material of the par, but containing an appreciably greater amount 

 of recognizable shell fragments. 



After completion of the inspection of the Uti Par region, we 

 proceeded south on the afternoon of May 4th in the face of a stiff 

 breeze and heavy sea, anchoring at 5-30 p.m. off Pinnakayal in 

 the shelter afforded by the reef off Kayalpattanam point. 



Pinnakayal is one of the headquarters of the Parava caste and 

 a noted Roman Catholic centre. Here St. Francis Xavier laboured 

 with great effect and of the four churches which render the town 

 conspicuous from the sea one is connected by legend with this 

 great missionary's ministrations. It is of Pinnakayal that de Faria 

 y Souza records that {circa A.D. 1560) the Viceroy of India "sailed 

 to the Island Mannar, where he built a fort and translated thither 

 the inhabitants of Punicale to redeem them from the tyranny of 

 the Nayque, who would fleece them there — Emmanuel Rodrigues 

 Coutinho was left to command there and with him some Francis- 

 cans and Jesuits, all satisfied with the equal distribution the 

 Viceroy made of all things." * 



A Casuarina-tope is a conspicuous feature of the landscape 

 about two miles south of the town and were its position fixed with 

 accuracy upon the chart it would form a useful and much-needed 

 landmark during the inspection of the pearl banks. 



The Jathi Talaivan lias informed me that an old pearl fishery 

 camp at one time was situated just south of the trees of the tope 

 as evidenced by this place being now called Silavaturai kadu 

 (jungle), the site having now reverted to jungle. 



KARUWAL GROUP. — The next morning an oily calm prevailed 

 with current running from the north. We steamed south-east with 

 the intention of examining the group of banks lying off Trichen- 

 dur and of which the Velangu and Karai Karuwal Pars are the 



* " History of the Discovery and Conquest of India *' translated by J. Stevens, 1695, 

 and quoted in the Ceylon Monthly Literary Register, Volume III, N.S., p. 199. 



