344 _ An Account of the Pearl Fifbery at Ceylon, 
always in their pay, to remove the fears of their divers. 
Thirteen of thefe men were now at the fithery from Ceylon 
and the coaft, to profit by the fuperftitious folly of thefe 
deluded people. They are called in Tamul Pillal Kadtir, 
which fignifies one who binds the fharks, and prevents them 
from doing mifchief. 
The manner of enchanting confifts in a number of prayers 
learned by heart, that nobody, probably not even the con- 
jurer himfelf, underftands, which he, ftanding on the fhore, 
continues muttering and grumbling from fun-rife until the 
boats return: during this period they are obliged to ab{tain 
from fvod and fleep, otherwile their prayers would have no 
avail; they are, however, allowed to drink, which privilege 
they indulge in a high degree, and are frequently fo giddy 
as to be rendered very untit for devotion. Some of the con- 
jurers acccmpany the divers in their boats; which pleafes 
them very much, as they have their protectors near at hand. 
Neverthelefs, I was told, that in one of the preceding fifheries _ 
a diver loft his leg by a fhark; and when the head conjurer 
was called to an account for the accident, he replied, that an 
old witch had juft come from the coaft, who, from envy arid 
malice, had caufed this difafter by a counter-conjuration, 
which made fruitlefs his fkill, and of which he was informed 
too late: but he afterwards fhewed his fuperiority by en- 
chanting the poor fharks fo effeCtually, that, though they ap- 
peared in the midft of the divers, they were unable to open 
their mouths. During my ftay at Condatchey, no accident . 
of this kind happened. If a fhark is feen, the divers imme- 
diately make a figna!, which on perceiving, all the boats re- 
turn infiantly. A diver who trod upon a hammer-oytter, 
and was fomewhat wounded, thought he was bit by a thark, 
confequently made the utual fignal; which caufed many boats 
.to return; for which miftake he was afterwards punifhed. 
The owners of the boats * fometimes {ell their oyfters, and 
at other times open them on their own account. -In the latter 
eafe, fome put them on mats in a {quare, furrounded witha _ 
* Thefe are the individuals which farm one or more boats from the 
renter; and though they are in poffeflion of them-only during the ee 
they are conimonly called the owners of the boats. ' 
j fue ; 
