Account of the Pearl Fijher^ in the Gulph of Manor, 83 



Every one of the divers, and even the mod expert, entertain a great dread of the (harks, 

 and will not, on any account, defcend until the conjurer has performed his ceremonies. 

 This prejudice is fo deeply rooted in their minds, that the government was obliged to keep 

 two fuch conjurers always In "their pay, to remove the fears of their divers. Thirteen of 

 thefe men were now at the fifliery from Ceylott and the coaft, to profit by the fuperftitious 

 folly of thefe deluded pcojde. They are called in Tamul, PillHl Kadtar, which fignifies 

 one who binds the fharks and prevents them from doing mifchief. 



The manner of enchanting confifts in a number of prayers learned by heart, that nobody, 

 probably not even the conjurer himfelf, underftands, which he, (landing on the (hore, 

 continues muttering and grumbling from fun rife until the boats return ; during this period, 

 they are obliged to abftain from food and fleep, otherwife their prayers would have no avail ; 

 they are, however, allowed to drink, which privilege they indulge in a high degree, and 

 are frequently fo giddy, as to be rendered very unfit for devotion. Some of the conjurers 

 accompany the divers in their boats, which pleafes them very much, as they have their pro- 

 te£lors near at hand. Neverthelefs, I was told, that in one of the preceding fifheries, a • 

 diver loft his leg by a (hark, and when the head conjurer war. called to an account for the 

 accident, he replied that an old witch had juft come from the coaft, who, from envy and 

 malice, had caufed this difafter, by a counter-conjuration, wliich made fruitlefs his (kill, 

 and of which he was informed too late ; but he afterwards (hewed his fuperiority by en- 

 chanting the poor (harks fo efFeftually, that though they appeared in the midft of the 

 divers, they were unable to open their mouths. During my ftay at Condatchey^ no accident 

 of this kind happened. If a (hark is feen, the divers immediately make a fignal, which, on 

 perceiving, all the boats return inftantly. A diver who trod upon a hammer oyfter, and 

 was fomewhat wounded, thought he was bit by a fliark, confequently made the ufual (ignal, 

 which caufed many boats to return -, for which miftake he was afterwards punifhed. 



The owners of the boats * fometimcs fell their oyfters, and at other times open thetti on 

 their own account. In the latter cafe fome put them on mats in a fquare, furrounded with 

 a fence ; others dig holes of almoft a foot deep, and throw them in till the animal dies j. , 

 after which they open the (hells and take out the pearls with mote eafe. Even thefe fquares 

 and holes are fold by au£tion after the fi(hery is fini(hed, as pearls often remain there, mixed 

 with the fand. 



In fpite of every care, tricks in picking out the pearls from the oyfters can hardly be pre- 

 vented. In this the natives are extremely dexterous. The following is one mode they put 

 in praftice to effect their purpofe : when a boat owner employs a number of hired people 

 to collect pearls, he places over them an infpedor of his own, in whom he can confide ; 

 thefe hirelings previoufly agree that one of them (hall play the part of a thief, and bear the 

 punifhment, to give his comrades an opportunity of pilfering. If one of the gang happens 



• Thefe aie the individuals which farm one or more boats from the renter; and though they are in pof- 

 feiTieq of them only dining the fifhery, they arc commonly called the owners of the boats. 



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