THE INDIAN OCEAN. S51 



people believe that they possess an inviolable defence 

 in the charms sold to them by pretended conjurors, 

 whose impudence and address secure their hold on 

 their deluded votaries, even in spite of the frequent 

 evidence of their fallibility. It is probable, the 

 constant bustle and noise, and the frequent splash- 

 ings of the divers, deter the sharks in a great 

 measure from approaching the scene. 



"As soon as the oysters are landed, they are 

 placed in pits on the shore, and left to undergo 

 decomposition ; in which state they diffuse an into- 

 lerable odour, but to which habit speedily recon- 

 ciles the people. When the flesh is decayed under 

 that burning sun, the shells are opened with ease 

 and minutely examined for pearls : some, however, 

 elude the utmost vigilance, to obtain which numbers 

 of people continue to search the sands for months 

 after the merchants have departed, and they are now 

 and then rewarded by a pearl of value. In 1797 

 a common fellow, of the lowest class, thus got by 

 accident the most valuable pearl seen that season, 

 and sold it for a larcre sum." 



In the Straits of Sunda and the adjacent seas, 

 there are found several floating sea-weeds, which 

 have a general resemblance to the Gulf-weed of the 

 Atlantic, but possess a much more striking similarity 

 to ten-estrial plants. Two species in particular, 

 named from this resemblance Sargassum aqurfolium 

 and S. ilici'folhim, so closely imitate our common 

 holly in their branches, berries, and twisted spinous 

 leaves, as to induce a belief, at the first glance, that 

 they are no other than sprigs of that familiar plant. 



