No. 6(1921) COMMON MOLLUSCS OF SOUTH LNDLA 129 



proportion of wormed shells is so low as to be practically non- 

 existent. 



Among the chanks fished each year are usually a few left-handed 

 (sinistral) examples, in which the coil of the shell instead of 

 twisting clockwise from left to right if the shell be held with its 

 mouth (anterior end) pointing forwards, is reversed and twists from 

 left to right. It is noteworthy however that the terms used are 

 also reversed in Tamil, a sinistral or left-handed shell being called 

 vaJampuri or " right-hand shell " — the converse of the European 

 way of looking at it ! 



These abnormal shells on account of their great rarity are 

 accounted by Hindus and Buddhists of great religious value. A 

 valampuri chank is one of the emblems of Vishnu, and such shells 

 are amongst the most important of the treasures of the great Hindu 

 temples of the present day. Similarly in Tibet a few of the 

 Buddhist monasteries treasure similar objects. The Emperors of 

 China considered a sinistral chank the most valuable gift they 

 could present to one of their Viceroys. 



At one time the value of these shells is said to have been asses- 

 sed at their weight in gold. Good shells are still assessed accord- 

 ing to weight, the price per tola weight increasing greatly as the 

 shell becomes heavier. A shell under 30 tolas weight is valued at 

 from Rs. 5 to Rs. 20 per tola according to quality ; from 30 to lOO 

 tolas weight Rs. 50 to Rs. 40 per tola, while if above this, the 

 price will be not less than Rs. 50 per tola. A shell of IIO tolas 

 weight at this rate would be worth Rs. 5,500, by no means an 

 extravagant price if the shell be nearly perfect, and without 

 " worm-holes." - 



In one season, 1900-OI, twelve valampuri shells were obtained 

 from the beds in the south-west corner of Palk Bay, but nearly all 

 were small and badly " wormed " ; at auction they brought the 

 comparatively small sum of Rs. 601 for the lot. 



Among the ignorant in South India the belief is prevalent that 

 a valampuri chank blows of its own accord during the night, and 

 in China, the Viceroy of Fukhien, in the days when Formosa was 

 included in his jurisdiction, carried one in his State junk on the 

 occasion of his inspection of the island, as the blowing of a sinistral 

 chank is believed to have the effect of stilling the waves in stormy 

 weather. 



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