82 PEARLS [CH. 



wriggling mass of maggots floats up from the lower 

 recesses. The shells are rinsed, and the valves 

 separated and rubbed to remove any detritus in 

 which a pearl might lodge. The men scrutinize 

 the nacreous lining for attached or shell pearls ; 

 placing any found in a special basket. After the 

 quantity has been reduced somewhat the floating 

 maggots are skimmed off". Some of the water is 

 baled out through a sieve, any material that remains 

 therein being carefully returned to the ballam lest 

 a pearl may be contained or entangled in the dirt. 

 More water is then added and the process of washing 

 the shells is continued. Finally, after all the shells 

 have been removed a fresh supply of water is poured 

 into the ballam until it overflows. By this method 

 the lighter filth is got rid of. The remainder 

 of the water is decanted and the heavy debris in 

 which the pearls are mingled is exposed at the 

 bottom. More water is added and the detritus or 

 " sarraku " kneaded and turned, over and over again. 

 This "sarraku" is sorted and winnowed at leisure, 

 and examined till the smallest sized pearls have been 

 extracted. The final search is carried on by women, 

 and it is amazing to see what a large quantity of 

 small pearls their keen eyes and fine touch enable 

 them to obtain. 



After the pearls are picked out, it is customary 

 to oti*er the apparently exhausted dirt for sale, and 



