388 Voyage of the Novara. 



the singular appearance of which would, at the first glance, 

 tend to make the observer suspect that the pearl had been 

 fastened to the mussel by some adhesive substance. But 

 we had so frequently an opportunity of satisfying ourselves 

 by actually witnessing the entire process, that we could no 

 longer doubt that the carved figures are with the utmost 

 care introduced into the animal, and, after remaining a few 

 days in the water, become attached to the mussel by a dis- 

 tinct membrane. This, their membrane, afterwards becomes 

 interpermeated by the calcareous matter, till, finally, layers 

 of mother-of-pearl are deposited all around the nucleus, the 

 whole formation corresponding with the chalk-like concre- 

 tions occurring in other creatures. 



Besides the pearl-shells, the northern shores of Ceylon, 

 especially between the Island of Manaar and Karativoe, are 

 especially rich in beds of a volute mussel {Turhinella rapa, 

 or noluta gravis), which are exported in great numbers to 

 India, where the Hindoo women saw them into rings of all 

 sizes, to be worn as ornaments on the arms, legs, fingers and 

 toes. The chank-shell is likewise a chief instrument of the 

 Buddhists, who, amongst other devout customs, blow three 

 times a day on this sacred shell, to summon believers to 

 worship.* It is also used as a festive ornament of the Indian 



490 B.C., which resembled Buddha, and apparently must have been produced by tliis 

 same method ; although likewise the priests of Buddha, at that early epoch, might 

 not have objected, in the interests of tlieir rehgion, to make capital out of such a 

 specimen of artistic skill. 



* According to the most ancient annals of the Cingalese, the chank-shell is sounded 



