163 
two in number, now on exhibit in the Madras Museum, 
are respectively about 25 and 3 inches in diameter ; in 
both there is a small central perforation. They appear 
to have been cut from the belly of large shells as the 
convexity 1s not great. The convex surface in each 
case is ornamented with geometrical patterns (different 
in each case) of much delicacy. One is illustrated on 
Pl. xxxiii of the report for 1908-09 of the Director- 
General of Archeology. 
The shape and size of these ornaments and the 
character of the incised patterns suggest that they have 
been used as boss ornaments for the back hair in the 
manner affected by native women of the higher castes in 
South India. Until I had seen these ancient chank 
ornaments I had never heard of the chank shell being 
used for this purpose but subsequently I have been told 
that tne custom still survives in Travancore and that 
when the wearers cannot afford gold these boss orna- 
ments for the back hair may also be made from ivory, 
bone, horn and even coconut-shell. These are usually 
richly carved and frequently mounted in gold. The 
central hole in the chank disc would in such cases be 
used to secure the head of the spiral wire necdful to 
secure the ornament to the hair. 
Beads made from chank-shells do not seem to be used 
except to form bracelet and necklace amulets. I have 
seen no carefully worked and polished beads su'table for 
purely ornamental use. It is possible, however, that 
necklaces have been made from the pearls which are 
occasionally, but very rarely, found in the flesh (mantle) 
of the chank. Such pearls are not uncommon in the 
West Indian conch which produces them in sufficient 
frequency to constitute them regular items in the 
jewellery trade. These ‘‘pink pearls” as they are 
called, are usually made up into necklaces. The Indian 
chank is a much smaller shell, and although fished in far 
ereater numbers than the West Indian shell, it is exceed- 
ingly rare for apearltobe found. The colour of the few 
found varies from porcela‘n white to pale pink, and while 
it would be a matter of the greatest difficulty to obtain 
enough during many years’ search to make a_ necklace, 
matching the colour and grading the size of the pearls 
to make the ornament a thing of beauty, is well nigh an 
