70 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 
seems highly probable that the regions of Call- 
fornia and Panama were known to the ancient 
inhabitants of America as rich fisheries. The 
hearts of Cortes and his followers were fired 
with anticipation and with envy when they 
saw the wealth of gems, many of them pearls, 
with which the draperies of the wealthy Aztecs 
were embroidered and fringed, and their gold 
and feather work sprinkled with jewels. By 
the conquests of the Spaniards in Mexico and 
Peru great quantities of pearls were obtained. 
Old Spanish historians have recorded wonder- 
ful stories of the wealth of the Aztec kings in 
pearls, immense numbers of which were exceed- 
ingly fine. They also affirm the familiarity of 
these people with the localities from which 
they were obtained.” 
