JAUNTS IN THE JUNGLE. 141 



the oysters are found, a long rope is woven round a 

 pulley at each boat's cross-trees, to the end of which 

 is attached a large stone, weighing two or three hun- 

 dred weight ; this stone is poised over the side of the 

 boat, and the diver standing upon it, and taking with 

 him a basket (also attached on board by a rope), gives 

 the word to " let go," and at once sinks with the 

 stone to the bottom. 



This is again wound up, and the diver is left below 

 to scrape as many oysters as he can into the basket 

 during his submarine sojourn. 



When this is accomplished, he loosens his hold of 

 the rock or sea- weed that he clings on to below with 

 one hand whilst he fills the hamper with the other, 

 and immediately shooting up to the surface is again 

 taken on board, the hamper or basket full of oysters 

 being hauled up at the same time. Then the second 

 diver goes down, and so it goes on till 4 o'clock P.M., 

 when the boats return with their freights. 



Being personally acquainted with the gentleman 

 who had the management of the fishery in the year I 

 was stationed there, I used, when off duty, to go out 

 in the government boat, which was fitted up with 

 every convenience in the way of awnings, &c., and 

 taking every necessary luxury with me, in addition to 

 a diver, I divided the day between feasting and hunt- 

 ing for pearls in the oysters which were brought up 

 by this man especially for my own use, and many a 

 lucky prize I sometimes came across. 



