172 LECTURE XL 



them for sale. The drawbacks against this 

 scene of entertaining confusion are, the offen- 

 sive atmosphere occasioned by the putrefac- 

 tion of the innumerable pearl-muscles lying in 

 heaps on the shores 5 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 bas- 

 ket, they collect, with as much expedition as pos- 

 sible, 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 added that each Diver will, in general, bring up 

 as many as one hundred pearl-shells of various sizes 

 in fas net$ and that, from long habit, some of these 



