MYTILUS. 177 



taken out singly from the shells with the fingers and put 

 into a tub, into which one of the fishers goes barefooted, 

 and stamps upon them until they are reduced into a sort of 

 pulp. They next pour in water to separate the fishy sub- 

 stance, which they call solach, from the more heavy parts, 

 consisting of sand, small pebbles, and the pearls which 

 settle at the bottom. After numerous washings, until the 

 fishy part is entirely removed, the sediment, if I may so 

 term it, is put out to dry, and each pearl separated on a 

 large wooden platter, one at a time with a feather ; and 

 when a sufficient quantity is obtained, they are taken to 

 the overseer, who pays the fisher so much an ounce for 

 them. The price varies from Is. 6d. to 4s. ; there are a 

 number of persons who live by this alone, and where there 

 is a small family to gather the shells and pick out the fish, 

 it is preferable to any other daily labour. The pearls are 

 generally a dirty white, sometimes blue, but never I believe 

 green or reddish. I cannot with accuracy say how many 

 ounces are taken to the overseer each week, though I might 

 say there are some scores. But what makes this fishery 

 the more singular is the mystery which hangs over it. At 

 present it is a perfect monopoly, and there is but the one 

 who buys them up that knows what becomes of them after- 

 wards. It has been carried on in this manner for many 

 years, and as such a thing, if made public, might prove 

 more beneficial to the neighbouring poor, by causing a 

 higher price to be given for the pearls, it would be more 

 so, if any of your numerous correspondents could throw 

 some light on this interesting subject. There have been 

 some curious and fanciful surmises, which may not be 

 thought worth mentioning. Some suppose that the pearls 

 are sent abroad to be manufactured into seed pearls ; others 

 more gravely, that they are exported to India to be dis- 



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