DIVING FOR PEARLS. 



277 



deep inspiration, he gives the signal, and is rapidly lowered 

 to grope among the " dark unfathomed caves " of ocean 

 for " many a gem of purest ray serene." Immediately he 

 fills his net or basket with oysters, pulls at the rope, and 

 is straightway hauled up to the light of day. The process 

 is necessarily rapid, for the best divers, according to 



PEARL-DIVER ATTACKED BY A SAW-FISH. 



Lieutenant Wellstead, cannot remain under water longer 

 than sixty or eighty seconds. The greatest depth to 

 which they descend is thirteen fathoms, and the usual 

 depth about nine. 



Their work is not without its dangers. Not infre- 

 quently the diver is attacked by shark or saw-fish, in 



