CEYLON. 



701 



Teylon. unless when covered with corals, sponges, and other 

 ^*"*V"^ marine productions ; the inside in brighter and more 

 "itiful than tlu- pearl itself; the body of the animal 

 N hite, fleshy, and glutinous. The pearls an- com- 

 monly contained in the thickest and most fleshy part 

 of the oyster ; they are composed of successive lay. 

 . of a substance similar to the shell, and are sup- 

 posed to be the effect of a disease to which the ani- 

 mal is subject. In general, they are of a bright shi 

 iiing white; but come are occasionally found of a 

 beautiful pink, others of the colour of gold, and a 

 few of a jet black. An oyster commonly contains 

 several pearls ; and one has been known to produce 

 150, including the seed or dust pearls : but, on the 

 contrary, an hundred oysters have been opened with- 

 out yielding a single pearl which was discernible. 

 The oysters are supposed to attain a complete state 

 of maturity in seven years; after which, it is said, 

 the pearl becomes so large and inconvenient to the 

 fish, that it throws it out of the shell. 



Owing to certain disputes in which the Dutch 

 were engaged, this fishery was neglected by them 

 from 1768; but it was resumed by the British go- 

 vernment in 1796, after they obtained possession of 

 the coast. The produce of it has varied in different 

 seasons. In 1797, the net proceeds amounted to 

 about L. 144,000, and in 1798 it produced a clear 

 revenue of no hss than L. 192,000; but the banks 

 having been exhausted by the three preceding fish- 

 eries, it yielded only L. 30,000 the following season. 

 The fishery for 1804 'was let by government to a 

 native of Jaffanapatam, who, for thirty days fishing 

 with 150 boats, came under an obligation to pay 

 L. 120,000; but, as the fishery was very unsuccess- 

 ful that season, about one-third of the rent was after- 

 wards remitted him. 



The fishing season commences in February, and, 

 allowing for interruptions of various kinds, commonly 

 lasts about 30 days. During this time, all the boats 

 regularly sail and return together, with the land and 

 the sea breeze. In each of the boats there are ten 

 divers, who go down into the sea by five at a time, 

 and by their diving alternately, they have time to re- 

 cruit in the interval. These people are accustomed 

 to dive from their infancy. When one is about to 

 descend, he seizes a rope, to which a large stone is 

 attached, with the toes of his right foot, while he 

 takes hold of a bag of net work with those of his 

 left. Having done this, he seizes another rope with 

 his right hand, and holding his nostrils shut with his 

 left, plunges into the water, and speedily reaches the 

 bottom of the sea, where he collects as many oysters 

 as he can, while he is able to remain under water, 

 which is usually about two minutes. He then makes 

 a signal to the rowers in the boat, by pulling the 

 rope in his right hand, and is immediately drawn up, 

 leaving the stone to be afterwards pulled up by the 

 rope attached to it. The exertion of the divers in 

 this process is so violent, that, on getting into the 

 boat, they discharge water from their mouths, ears, 

 and nostrils, and frequently even blood. But this 

 does not prevent them from diving again in their 

 turn. In the course of one day, they often make 

 from 40'to 50 plunges, and at each time bring up 

 about a hundred oysters. Some rub their bodies 

 over with oil, and stuff their ears and noses to pre- 

 vent the water from entering them, while others use 



no precaution whatever. They re in general, in- 

 deed, under dreadful apprehensions of the shark*, 

 an'! in order to quiet their fears, the employment of 

 conjurors is a necessary part of the establishment. Two 

 of them are regularly engaged by government. The 

 onegoes out in the head pilot's boat, while the othcff 

 performs certain ceremonies on shore. In these the di- 

 vers place unlimited confidence ; and indeed accident* 

 from sharks rarely occur. Although the usual time 

 of remaining under water does not much exceed two 

 minutes, yet there are instances of some who could 

 remain four and even five minutes : and Mr Beck in- 

 forms us, in the Asiatic Researchct, that he saw a 

 Caffn- boy remain no less than seven minutes. 



Though every precaution is taken to prevent any 

 of the pearls being secreted, the Indians are ex- 

 ceedingly dextrous in making depredations on them. 

 As the boatrf return to the bay, the oysters frequent- 

 ly open their shells of their own accord ; a pearl 

 may thus be easily discovered, and the animal pre- 

 vented, by the interposition of borne small subbtauce, 

 from closing the shell, until a favourable opportunity 

 occurs of secreting the prize. Those fellows who 

 are employed in searching the fish also commit many 

 depredations, and even h wallow the pearls to conceal 

 them. When this is subpected, the merchants lock 

 up the rogues, and give them strong emetics or pur- 

 gatives, which have frequently the effect of discover- 

 ing the stolen goods. Sometimes also those employ- 

 ed in collecting the pearls agree that one of their 

 number shall act the part of a thief, and bear the 

 punishment of his crime, in order to afford his com- 

 rades an opportunity of pilfering. If one of them hap- 

 pens to meet with a large pearl, he makes a sign to 

 his accomplice, who instantly conveys away one of 

 small value, in such a manner as to attract notice. 

 On this the pearl is taken from him, and he is pu- 

 nished for his crime. In the mean time, while he it 

 making a dreadful uproar, his accomplice secures the 

 valuable pearl, and they afterwards share the booty 

 between them. 



The pearls found at this fishery are of a whiter 

 colour than those from the Gulf of Ormus, on the 

 Arabian coast ; but in other respects they are not ac- 

 counted of so excellent a quality. The various kinds 

 are sent to different markets. Those of the largest 

 dimensions being most costly, and esteemed emblems 

 of greatness, find a ready sale among the rich natives 

 of the Nizam's dominions, the country of Guzerat, 

 and other parts of India. Those of smaller size are 

 chiefly in demand in England, France, Germany, and 

 Russia, while the refuse find a ready market in 

 China. 



The variety of characters, and the display of cu- 

 rioub manners, which are seen at this fishery, furuisk 

 one of the most interesting scenes which Ceylon pre 

 sents. Parties of strolling jugglers, tumblers, dan- 

 cers, mendicant*, mechanic* < f ivery description, re. 

 tailers in every branch of commerce, even from the 

 remotest parts of India, resort to Condatchy, during 

 the season of the pearl fishery, in the hope of ac- 

 quiring -some share of the transient stream of wealth 

 which flows periodically through its barren plains. 

 See Asiatic Researches, vol. v. 393 til. Cordiner, 

 vol. ii. Pcrcival. 



With regard to the popjlition of this country, we 

 do not possess any authentic accounts, but as it is so taut*. 



