370 PEARL MUSCLE. 



different periods, in a semilunar bay called the bay of Comlatchyj, 

 surrounded by a waste, sandy district : during the fishing-season 

 this bay is said to offer a scene equally novel and astonishing ; being 

 frequented by a heterogeneous mixture of thousands of people of 

 different nations, casts, and colours, residing in tents and huts erect- 

 ed on the surrounding shores : you here meet with brokers, jewel- 

 lers, and merchants of all descriptions, as well as dealers in all 

 kinds of provisions; but by far the greater number are engaged in 

 the pearl-business itself ; in drilling, sorting, and otherwise preparing 

 them for sale. The drawbacks against this scene of entertaining 

 confusion are, the offensive atmosphere occasioned by the putrefac- 

 tion of the innumerable pearl-muscles lying in heaps on the shores ; 

 the badness of the water round the spot, which is so brackish as 

 scarcely to be drinkable ; the extreme heat of the weather during 

 the day, and the coldness and heavy dews of the night. The pearl- 

 fishery therefore of Ceylon is extremely injurious to the health of 

 those who engage in it, and frequent it. The Ceylonese pearl- 

 divers are said to make use of no particular precautions in exercising 

 their occupation, but descend to the bottom at the depth of from 

 five to ten fathoms by means of a large stone, fastened to them with 

 a rope ; and being furnished with a basket, they collect, with as much 

 expedition as possible, such shells as happen to lie about the spot 

 of their descent, continuing their search about two minutes, when, 

 according to a signal which they make to the boat to which their 

 cord is attached, they again ascend with their treasure. It is ad- 

 ded that each diver will, in general, bring up as many as one hun- 

 dred pearl-shells of various sizes in his net ; and that, from long ha- 

 bit, some of these Indian divers become so expert as to be able to 

 continue under water for the space of six or seven minutes. 



This reminds us of the famous Sicilian diver mentioned by Kir- 

 cher and others, who could remain so long under water, that he ob- 

 tained the popular title of Fish. Frederic, King of Sicily, un- 

 thinkingly tempted him by the offer of a golden cup thrown into 

 the sea, to dive near the gulph of Charybdis: he made two at- 

 tempts, and each time astonished the spectators by the time he re- 

 mained under water ; but in the third attempt he was, as is sup. 

 posed, caught in the eddy of the whirlpool, and never again ap 

 peared. An ingenious French naturalist is of opinion that he was 

 caught by a colossal cuttle-fish ! ! The accounts, however, of the Si- 

 cilian writers are against this supposition, since they affirm that his body 



