CHAPTER III. 



The Geographical Distribution of the use of 

 Pearls and Pearl-shell. 



For many centuries pearls have been objects of 

 commerce between nations, and from their peculiar 

 beauty and splendour they have been held in high esti- 

 mation among- many peoples, civilised and barbarian. 

 Superstitious reverence in one form or another has also 

 been accorded them, and they have been considered as 

 symbols of purity, beauty, and nobility, besides being 

 regarded as emblematical of conjugal bonds. More 

 curious still is the fact that for ages pearls or pearl- 

 shells have been supposed to possess valuable medicinal 

 qualities, and have been used in medicine, either as a 

 powder or as one of the chief ingredients of pills, es- 

 pecially in Oriental countries. 



Regarding the origin of pearls many wild and ex- 

 travagant ideas have been advanced in the past by 

 different peoples, one of the most curious of these notions 

 being the belief that they were formed from drops of rain 

 j falling into the gaping valves of the pearl-shell. This 

 \ " congealed dew-drop " theory is remarkable for its wide 

 distribution. It was current among the ancient people of 



