16 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



July 30, 1830. 



MISCELLANIES 



PEARLS. 

 Pearls are not as poets have feigned — 



' rain from the 8ky, 



Which turns into jn-aili as it falls in the sea ; 



but they are the morbid secretions of an oyster, a 

 native of the sea and of various coasts. It is singular 

 as remarked by Humboldt, that though eeveraf spe- 

 cies of this genus of oyster abound m the rivers of 

 South America no pearls are found in them. The 

 pearls are situated eitlier in the body of the oyster or 

 they lie loose between it and the .shell, or lastly, they 

 are fixed to the latter by a kind of neck, and it is 

 said they do not appear till the animal has reached 

 its fourth year. They are of a beautiful lu.^tre, but 

 there is nothing peculiar in their chemical compo- 

 sition, consisting merely of carbonate of lime. 



The Romans were' extravagantly fond of these 

 ornaments which claimed the first rank after the dia- 

 mond, and they gave almost Tncredible prices for 

 them. Julius Cajsar presented Servilia, the mother 

 of M. Brutus with a pearl worth 48,417/. lOj. and 

 Cleopatra, at a feast with Anthony of which Plinv 

 has given a long and interesting account, swallowed 

 one, dissolved in vii:egar of the value of 80,7^0/. 3s. 

 4rf. They were worn in great profusion, not only iri 

 the ears, and on the fingers, head and neck, but 

 strung over the whole body. The principal fisheries 

 of this people were in the Rod Sea, the Gulf of Per- 

 sia, and the Indian Ocean ; and it is a matter of his- 

 tory that Cffisar was induced to invade liritain from 

 some exaggerated accounts he had hoard of the 

 pearls of the coast, and rivers. Ceylon continues to 

 be as It was in the time of the Komans, tlie most 

 productive of those ornaments. The ancient fisheries 

 of the Red Sea, however, are either e.xhausted or 

 neglected, and cities of the greatest celebrity have in 

 consequence sunk into insignificance vr total ruin. 

 In the time of the Ptolemies the merchants of the 

 islands were princes, but they are now succeeded by 

 a race of miserable fishermen. 



In his tour to Scotland, Mr Pennant mentions a 

 considerable pearl fishery in the vicinity of Perth 

 from which 10,000 I. worth was sent to London from 

 1761, to 1799, bul by the indiscriminate destruction 

 of the muscles the fishery was soon exhausted. 



After the discovery of America the traffic in pearls 

 passed in a great measure from the East, to the 

 shores of the Western world. The first Spaniard- 



who landed in Terra Firma found the savages deck- 

 ed with pearl necklaces and bracelets, and amoiio- 

 the civilized people of Mexico and Peru, they f^aw 

 pearls of a beautiful form, as eagerly sought after 

 as in Europe. The stations ot the oyst'ers were 

 soughtout, and cities rose into splendor i.nd affluence 

 in their vicinity, all supported by the profits on these 

 sea-born gems. The first city which owed its rise 

 to this cause was New Cadiz, and the writers of that 

 period discourse eloquently of the riches of the first 

 planters, and the luxury they displayed— but now not 

 a vestige of the city remains, and clowns of shiftimr 

 sand cover the desolate island. The same fate 

 overtook the other cities, and towards the end of the 

 sixteenth century this traffic in pearls had dwindled 

 into insignificance. At present, Spanish America 

 5^''!V^"^1"° °^^'°'' P^"*^'^ '"'■ "■^'''•" 'han those of the 

 GuU of Panama and the mouth of the Rio de la 

 Hacha. 



The bulk of them are procured from the Bay of 

 Coudeatchy, in Ceylon, the Taprobaiio of the Ro- 

 mans. 



On all other stations the oysters have disappeared 

 while here they continue in undiminished numbers 

 though fished for cen.turies. The fishery has been 

 conducted with an eye to the future. The banks 

 which extend for several miles along the coast are 

 divided into three or four portions and fished in suc- 

 cession, a repose of three or four years beinrr thus 

 given to the animals to grow and propagate ° The 



only six or eight weeks: but from the number of 

 holidays observed by the divers of different sects 

 and nations the fishing days do not in reality much 

 exceed thirty. 



The fishing season commences in February and 

 continues till about the beginning of April. Durino- 

 its continuance there is no spectacle which Ceylon 

 affords, more striking to an European than the Bay 

 of Condeatchy. ' This desert and barren spot' says 

 an eye witness 'is converted into a scene which ex- 

 ceeds in variety and novelty almost everything I ever 

 saw; several thousand people of difl^erent^colors, 

 countries, casts, and occupations continually passing 

 and repassing in a busy crowd: the vast number of 

 huts and small tents erected on the shore, with the 

 bazaar or market-place before each ; the multitude 

 of boats returning in the afternoon from the pearl 

 banks, some laden with riches, the anxious and ex- 

 pecting countenances of the boat ov/ners while the 

 boats approach the shore and the eagerness with 

 whicli they run to them when arrived ; the vast num- 

 ber of jewellers, brokers, merchants of all colors and 

 descriptions, who are occupied with the pearls, some 

 separating and assorting them, others weighing and 

 ascertaining their number and value, while others 

 are liawking them about, or drilling or boring them 

 for future use— all these circumstances tend to im- 

 press the mind with the value and importance of that 

 object ' which can of itself create this scene.' 



The inference is just, and yet when we remember 

 in what manner and by whose means these vain or- 

 naments are procured, the impression which such a 

 gay scene conveys comes not unalloyed. Poor ne- 

 groes sold to slavery were compelled to dive for them; 

 and we cannot read of the cruel treatment they re- 

 ceived from the American Spaniards without feelings 

 of indignation and horror. Nor is it meihodistical, 

 but it is wholesome to view the desolation which 

 overtook their cities, and the departure of their 

 ' pomp and their strength' as the just punishment 

 of their wickedness. The divers I believe are not 

 slaves nor I hope are they maltreated: but they still 

 drive a laborious trade and one not void of danger, 

 for the ground shark prowls among the banks anil is 

 ever on the watch to devour them. 



Pearls are the toys of civilized nations; while shells 

 themselves become the pride and ornament of savage 

 tribes ; for it is in poetry only that we find damsels 

 who think themselves ' when unadorned, adorned the 

 most ;' a negro Venus with a large cowry for an ear 

 pendant, another for a nose jewel, and a string of vo 



lutes for a necklace, may in the opinion of your fair 

 lady have a ridiculous and childish taste, but the one 

 values her shells as highly as the other does her 

 pearls. Sir J. Banks could not by any presents in- 

 duce an Otaheitan girl to part with her native orna- 

 insnto. — Edin. Jour, of .Yal. Science. 



COBRA DA CAPELLO. 



The Cobra da Capello is a reptile of the most veno- 

 mous nature, found in various degrees of abundance 

 in different hot countries of the old continent, and in 

 the islands adjacent. When disturbed by the ap- 

 proach of an individual, or any noise, the cobra raises 

 the anterior part of his body, so as to appear td stand 

 erect, expands its hood, and is prepared to inflict a 

 deadly wound. So exceedingly poisonous is its bite, 

 that, in numerous instances which are well authen- 

 ticated, death has followed within a few minutes; 

 under ordinary circumstances, a few hours is the 

 longest term that intervenes from the infliction of 

 the bite till the death of the sufferer, where prompt 

 measures for his relief have not been resorted to. So 

 numerous are these dreadful vipers in some parts of 

 India and Africa, that they are frequently found in 

 dv.'elling-houses, and, in some instances, have taken 

 up their quarters in the beds. Death of necessity 

 must follow, under such circumstances, should the 

 animal be alarmed or irritated by any sudden motion. 

 In case a bite is received from this' (or indeed any 

 other) venomous creature, the first thing to be done 



lent experimentsof doctor Pennock, which have be 

 already referred to, prove that a sufficient degree 

 pressure thus kept up will prevent the poison i'n 

 affecting the system ; and this is rendered evident 

 the good effects derived from ligatures appli 

 around bitten limbs above the wound, by the nati\ 

 of India, though such ligatures generally act I 

 imperfectly. The good effects of pressure, combin 

 with the advantage of withdrawing the poison, w 

 be obtained by ajjplying a well exhausted cuppin 

 glass over the wound ; a substitute for which may . I 

 most always be made of a drinking glass, small bott 

 &c., if proper cups be not at hand. To heighten t 

 curiosity of the multitude, the jugglers of India self 

 these venomous reptiles for their exhibitions, ai 

 having extracted their fangs, keep them in cages 

 baskets, to exhibit as dancing snakes. When t 

 cage is opened, the juggler begins playing upor 

 pipe or other instrument; whereupon the vipers 

 sumes the erect attitude, distends its hood, and i 

 mains balancing itself in this position until the mui 

 is suspended. It is, however, most probable, that tl 

 viper, in common with lizards and other animals, 

 peculiarly affected by musical sounds. A friend, w 

 passed a considerable time in the kingdom of Ai 

 informed us, that a cobra entered a room while 

 gentleman was playing on the flute, and advanc 

 gently towards him so long as the music continue 

 whenever it was suspended, the animal halted, a 

 when it was entirely stopped, it gradually withdre 

 This circumstance induced them to spare the vipi 

 which uniformly made its appearance on several su 

 cessive days when the flute was played. 



The Galena Advertiser states that a roof of 12; 

 iquare feet may be covered with 765 pounds of she 

 lead, which at the present prices, would cost 53, 

 or about 20 dollars, less than the price of the nect 

 sary shingles at Baltimore. The lead covering it 

 supposed would last as long as the walls of the Lous 

 and when no longer wanted as a covering woi: 

 not be lost. A shingle roof needs repairs or rer 

 vation in twenty years. 



A short time since, in a churchyard in Herefor 

 shire, England, were written on a grave rail the i\ 

 lowing lines: — 



Remember me as you pass by. 

 As you are now, so once was 1 ; 

 As I am now so you must be, 

 Therefore prepare to follow ine. 

 Underneaih these lines some one wrote in bh 

 paint — 



To follow you J 'm not content, 

 Unless 1 liDow which way you went. 



Chloride of Lime. 



For sale by Ebenezcr Wight, Druggist, Milk Street, 0| 



posite Federal Street, Chloiide of Lime, well known f< 



its sxcellence in destroying noxious effluvia, and (or i 



use in the arte. 4t July 9. 



Bees and Honey. 

 For sale by Rufus Kowe, at (tie Garden of S. Dow 

 NEB, Dorchester — Fifteen Swarms of Bees, a part oli 

 but mostly new ones — a number in double Hives wit 

 Glass windows, others in large single ones — also Hone 

 of superior quality made from the blossoms of this yei 

 25 cts. per pound 4t July 2. 



beds are carefully surveyed before thev nre lotr>ri- * ' i 1^"~ -■-—•■-> -•-—■'' -"—s >^" "= "unc 



fanned, and the merchant is permitted to fish for the° I t ^ '^ ^"? ^"^. well-sustamed pressure beyond 



1 cfiiuucu to nstj tor them ! the wound, on the side nearest the heart. The excel 



Poblishcd every Friday, ai §3 per anmini, payable al ll 

 endoflhe year— bul Ihosewbo pay wiUiiu sixty days from it 

 lime of subscribing, are emit led to a deduct ion of fifry cents. 



O" No paper willbesenl lo a distance witliou I pay mentb 

 iiig made in advance. 



Primed for J. B. Ki'Ssr.Li,. by I. R. liuxTs— by whoi 

 all descriptions of Fiiiuing can be executed to meet the wisli< 

 ofcuslomers. Ordersfor printing received by J. B. Russeli 

 ailiie Agricollural Warcliousc No. .i2 Norib MartelSlree 



AGENTS. 



New York—(i . Thorburn & Son, C7 Liberly-streel. 

 Philadelphia— 1). & V Lanfiketh. !)5 Clioslnut-slreet. 

 Baltimore — G. H. Smith, Office ofihe American Farmer. 

 Albany — Hnu. Jesse Huel. l. 



Flushing, N. Y. Wm. Prince & Sons, Prop. Lia. Bot.Garde^J** 

 //ai(/br<i— Goodwin & Sons. 



Halifax, N. S.— P. J. Holland. Esq. Recorder Offico. 

 Montreal, L. C. — A. BowHiii, Bookseller. 



