CHINESE METHOD OF PROCURING PEARLS. 117 



for the pearl in the shell, small rounded portions are formed 

 in the lining, which are supposed to be the result of ac- 

 cident, such as grains of sand or other substances getting 

 into the shell, and, irritating the animal inside, causes it, by 

 an instinct of nature, to cover the cause of offence, not hav- 

 ing the power to remove it. As the fluid goes on regularly 

 to supply the growth and wear of the shell, the prominences 

 continue to increase, and being more brilliant than the rest 

 of the shell, they become a pearl, a composition of carbon- 

 ate of lime and a little animal matter. 



If a pearl is cut tranversely and observed through a mi- 

 croscope, it will be found to consist of minute layers, 

 resembling the rings which denote the ages of certain trees 

 when cut in a similar manner. 



The Chinese, who are never at a loss for expedients, are 

 in the habit of laying a string with five or six small pearls, 

 separated by knots, inside the shells, when the fish are ex- 

 posing themselves to the sun. These, after some years, are 

 taken out, and found to be very large fine pearls. The same 

 ingenious people also introduce into the shell of a mussel 

 different substances such as mother of pearl, the beautiful 

 white enamel which forms the greater part of the substance 

 of most oyster shells, fixed to wires, which thus become 

 coated with a more brilliant material. Another practice 

 among the Chinese is to serve the purpose of a deception 

 upon the credulous. They place small metal images of 

 their god Buddha in the shells, which are soon covered with 

 a pearly secretion, and become united to the shells. These 

 are sold as miraculous proofs of the truth of their worship. 

 The Chinese are also said to employ a means of procuring 

 pearls artificially by the introduction of shot between the 

 mouth of the animal and its shell. 



The pearl-oyster is not the only mollusk which produces 

 pearls : an oyster with a thin transparent shell, which is 

 used in China and elsewhere as a substitute for glass win- 



