1 63 



two in number, now on exhibit in the Madras Museum, 

 are respectively about 2^ and 3 inches in diameter ; in 

 both there is a small central perforation. They appear 

 to have been cut from the belly of large shells as the 

 convexity is not great. The convex surface in each 

 case is ornamented with geometrical patterns (different 

 in each case) of much delicacy. One is illustrated on 

 PI. xxxiii of the report for 1908-09 of the Director- 

 General of Archceology. 



The shape and size of these ornaments and the 

 character of the incised patterns suggest that they have 

 been used as boss ornaments for the back hair in the 

 manner affected by native women of the higher castes in 

 South India. Until I had seen these ancient chank 

 ornaments I had never heard of the chank shell being 

 used for this purpose but subsequently I have been told 

 that tiie custom still survives in Travancore and that 

 when the wearers cannot afford gold these boss orna- 

 ments for the back hair may also be made from ivory, 

 bone, horn and even coconut-shell. These are usually 

 richly carved and frequently mounted in gold. The 

 central hole in the chank disc would in such cases be 

 used to secure the head of the spiral wire needful to 

 secure the ornament to the hair. 



Beads made from chank-shells do not seem to be used 

 except to form bracelet and necklace amulets. I have 

 seen no carefully worked and polished beads su'table for 

 purely ornamental use. It is possible, however, that 

 necklaces have been made from the pearls which are 

 occasionally, but very rarely, found in the flesh (mantle) 

 of the chank. Such pearls are not uncommon in the 

 West Indian conch which produces them in sufficient 

 frequency to constitute them regular items in the 

 jewellery trade. These "pink pearls" as they are 

 called, are usually made up into necklaces. The Indian 

 chank is a much smaller shell, and although fished in far 

 greater numbers than the West Indian shell, it is exceed- 

 ino-lv rare for a pearl to be found. The colour of the few 

 found varies from porcelain white to pale pink, and while 

 it would be a matter of the greatest difficulty to obtain 

 enough during many years' search to make a necklace, 

 matching the colour and grading the size of the pearls 

 to make the ornament a thing of beauty, is well nigh an 



