276 THE PEARL-FISHERY. 



early in February, and lasts about three months. To 

 prevent the young pearl-oysters from being destroyed, the 

 bank is divided into several sections, one of which is 

 worked every year. The Singalese believe that the 

 avicula attains maturity in seven years, after which it 

 expels from its valves the pearls which prove inconvenient 

 through their numbers. 



The boats licensed by the Ceylon Government to carry 

 on the fishery are open, and vary in size from ten to 

 fifteen tons burden. At ten o'clock every evening a 

 gun fires : it is the signal for them to put out to sea ; and 

 immediately the dusky -winged flotilla makes for the 

 Government vessel, moored on the bank, which answers 

 the double purpose of a guard and light ship. Each bark 

 carries a crew of about twenty men, of whom ten are 

 rowers and ten are divers. The latter, under the direc- 

 tion of an adapanaar, are chiefly Tamils and Moors from 

 Colung, the Malabar coast, and Manaar. 



They are now divided into two gangs, five men in each ; 

 one remaining on board the boats to rest, while the others 

 descend. For several days previously they have pre- 

 pared themselves by feeding on the most nutritious food, 

 and rubbing their body with oil. They also take care to 

 secure a talisman, consisting of three leaves of the wild 

 medlar, covered with strange characters ; this, they believe, 

 is an effectual safeguard against the monsters of the deep. 



Each diver is provided with a small net, or basket, 

 slung round his neck, to receive the products of his labour ; 

 and of a diving-stone, of about thirty pounds weight, 

 fastened to the end of a stout rope, which is of sufficient 

 length to reach the bottom. Placing his foot in the loop 

 attached to the stone, and filling his lungs with air by a 



