620 Observations on Divers. 



in this respect at least, they have not degenerated. As long 

 as the Turks remained masters of the Morea, little pains 

 were taken to clear the roadstead of the several wrecks which 

 the "untoward event" of Oct. 20., 1827, had left there. 

 Shortly after the arrival of the French expedition, a course 

 of salvage was set on foot ; and a company of Greek divers 

 had the privilege of raising the remains of the Turco-Egyptian 

 fleet. As often as they retrieved from the water a bronze 

 cannon, an anchor, or any other article of moderate value, 

 they were bound to give notice of it to the commandant of 

 the roads. It was forthwith sold to the merchants of Mar- 

 seilles : one third of the produce was given up to the divers, 

 and the remaining two thirds to the sailors of the squadron. 

 Having thus obtained an admirable opportunity of ascertain- 

 ing a fact respecting which no precise information could be 

 gathered from books, I took frequent occasion to observe the 

 labour of these industrious submarines. Almost all whom I 

 saw were born in the islands of the Archipelago ; for the 

 most part of a robust constitution. They had the muscular 

 system fully developed ; and their skin, of a ruddy brown 

 colour, offered, in this respect, some resemblance to that of 

 the Caribbees. 



From their youth they are habituated to dive, and to re- 

 main a long time under water. I have seen them bring up 

 cannons, and anchors ; and tear the sheets of copper from 

 wrecks lying at the depth of 100 or 120 ft. At a like depth, 

 they will penetrate into the interior of sunken vessels, and 

 bring away articles of small size, such as pistols and yatagans. 

 One of them returned with a volume of the Koran, richly 

 bound, and still covered with a linen wrapper ; and another 

 presented himself with a chibouque, or pipe, tipped with 

 amber. 



With respect to the manner in which they prepare for the 

 plunge, they first squat themselves down for a few seconds on 

 the edge of the boat, which conveys them above the spot where 

 they have to make their search. Then, in this position, rest- 

 ing their elbows upon their knees, they make frequent and 

 short inspirations, which they repeat a great number of times, 

 interrupted, at intervals, by signs of the cross, which form an 

 essential part of their preliminary movements. At the mo- 

 ment when they are about to dive, they make one last and 

 deep inspiration, and throw themselves into the water head 

 foremost. If the object of their search is at a great depth, 

 they pass the thumb of the right hand through a noose in the 

 extremity of a small rope ; which enables those who are in the 

 boat to facilitate the return of the diver to the surface of the 

 water, when he can no longer sustain the want of respiration ; 



