142 THE OUT-STATION; OR, 



When the fishery was nearly over for the day, we 

 used to give prizes to the man who would remain 

 longest under water, and on one occasion I knew a 

 man to remain below for one minute and fifty -eight 

 seconds, but he was so exhausted when he reached 

 the top, that it was a long time before he could be 

 brought to. 



All these divers were Malabars, and brought up to 

 the habit of diving from their infancy, so I doubt if 

 they are to be surpassed anywhere, although I well 

 remember reading, in my younger days, in a standard 

 work which, I believe, was an " Encyclopedia" in 

 about thirty volumes, that it was usual for pearl divers 

 to remain twenty minutes under water without in- 

 convenience! an assertion that, for the benefit of 

 others who may be impressed with the same idea 

 imbibed from the same source, I should wish the pro- 

 mulgator to be requested to prove in his own person. 



What makes me so well remember the circum- 

 stance, was my standing out at the time, single- 

 handed, in all the obstinacy of ten summers, against 

 the " Encyclopedia," on the point ; a piece of temerity 

 that was chastised by a two hours' earlier dose of bed 

 than usual, to my utter disgust. 



As soon as the boats are sufficiently loaded with 

 oysters, a sailing match takes place for the shore 

 among them, and a very good idea of a monster 

 regatta it gives one. 



The troops on duty are now drawn out on the 



