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4-7. Pattt.—-This is the generic name for “live” 
shells fished off the north and north-western coasts of 
Ceylon. There are several recognized grades of patti. 
4. Novakhad Patti or standard Patti is the best 
grade. The shells so distinguished are of good working 
size, thick in substance, and of good colour ; the best of 
them approach closely the Ramésvaram quality and fetch 
wholesale from Rs. 70 to Rs. 100 per 1,000 in the Calcutta 
market. ‘he name is said to be the Bengal equivalent of 
Neduntivu, otherwise Delft, an island near Jaffna, where 
the majority are fished. Some shells of the same good 
quality also come from the waters immediately north of 
Mannar Island. 
Other qualities are— 
5. Small Patti of same quality as grade 4, but of in- 
ferior size and sometimes inferior colour. Worth Rs. 30 
to 45 per 1,000 in Calcutta. 
6. Thin Patt:.—Shellsof inferior thickness obtained 
from certain Jaffna waters. Worthabout Rs. 25 per 1,000. 
7. Mixed Patti.—Neither this nor the preceding 
grade has come actually under my observation. The 
present quality is said by the dealers to consist of mixed 
shells of inferior quality and colour imported from Singa- 
pore vid Jaffna. The valueranges from Rs, 4oto Rs. 50 
per 1,000 in Calcutta. 
8. Dhola.— Dead, sub-fossil chanks from the shallow 
muddy lagoons in the neighbourhoodof Jaffna, Ceylon. 
These are found by probing with an iron rod in the soft 
mud. They are chalky and lustreless and are used for 
the cheapest and most inferior grades of bracelets. A 
considerable proportion of the large sizes are found and 
these sell for Rs. 5 to 6 per 100 in Calcutta; the small 
sizes from Rs. 3 to 4 per 100. 
This quality is the one principally employed in 
making the compound bracelets or gauntlets of 10 to 
12 rings affected by low-caste Hindu women in Northern 
Bengal—Paliya caste very largely. 
9. Gharbakt.—A class of squat shells badly adapted 
for economical cutting coming from the Carnatic coast, 
from Point Calimere in the south to Madras in the north. 
To the defect of shape, they add that of colour, these 
shells being frequently distinguished by a marked redness 
of the inner surface. They are also said to be more 
