THE OTSTEK. 89 



Vanity demands the aid of Cruelty, and for her grati- 

 fication human sacrifices are still made. 



In the Persian Gulf, at Ceylon, and in the Eed Sea, 

 the early sources of the Greeks and Eomans, we yet 

 find our supply. Pearls are also found in the Indian 

 Ocean along the Coromandel coast and elsewhere; as 

 also in the Gulf of California ; but the two grand head- 

 quarters are in Bahrein Island, in the Persian Gulf, 

 and in the Bay of Condalchy, in the Gulf of llanaar, 

 off the Island of Ceylon. 



The fishery at Ceylon is a monopoly of the British 

 Government, but, like many Government monopolies, it 

 is said to cost a great deal more than it produces. In 

 1804 Government leased it for £120,000 per annum; 

 in 1828 it only yielded £28,000.^ It is a desert and 

 barren spot ; no one can fall in love with it ; sands and 

 coral reefs are not picturesque; yet, in its season, it 

 attracts more to its shores than one of our best water- 

 ing-places. Divers, merchants, Arab-hawkers, drillers, 

 jewellers, and talkers; fish-sellers, butchers, boat- 

 caijlkers, and Hindoo Robinsons and "Walkers are aU 

 found there. The period is limited to six weeks, or 

 two months at most, from Pebruary to April; and 

 whilst they are making money these people are rather 

 eager, look you. But the fishers themselves, victims of 

 cruelty as they are, are also victims to their own super- 



* The pearl fisliery at Ceylon, however, has been very profitable 

 during the present year, the yield being sometimes worth from 

 10,000 dollars to 30,000 dollars per day. An attempt is being 

 made to re-establish the pearl fishery in the Gulf of California. 

 Some very fijie pearls were found there nearly a century ago. 



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