Shell-Bearers 



anchors. The men, other than the tired - out divers, 

 occupy themselves nominally in picking over their oysters, 

 throwing away stones, shells and other useless things, 

 and in preparing the loads for easy transport from the 

 boats to the shore. But, as a matter of fact, it is well 

 known that this opportunity is seized to * pick ' the 

 oysters in another sense. Almost invariably the finest 

 pearls occur just inside the edge of the shells, and may 

 fall out at any moment. No doubt many of these round 

 and best-coloured pearls are picked out during the run 

 home and concealed about the persons of the boat's crew. 

 This is one reason why the government does not get its 

 fair share of the pearls. 



" The homeward race of a hundred or so ruddy-sailed 

 craft before a strong wind and over a tropical sea is a very 

 pretty sight. They are orientally fantastic in colour and 

 shape, and each deck is crowded with men and boys, with 

 shining brown skins and lightly coloured clothes wrapped 

 round them. Each crew strives to get in first, because 

 ' first come is first served,' and they who first dispose of 

 their loads are the first to be free to rest. The load is 

 counted and divided into three piles. An official selects 

 two piles for the government, whilst the other is divided 

 amongst the divers. On their way to their houses these 

 divers are besieged by a crowd of natives eager to buy 

 from them their oysters by the dozen, or the half-dozen, 

 or even singly. They may be observed stopping at 

 boutiques and paying their score with oysters, extremely 

 acceptable to the shopkeeper itching to try his luck. In 

 a small way oysters pass current here as the equivalent of 

 coin." 



The oysters belonging to the government are all sold 

 by auction, and the day's catch is usually sold the same 

 night. Failing this, the balance is disposed of privately 

 the next morning. 



" The washing of the pearls from the oyster is a 

 most tedious, primitive and somewhat disgusting process. 



284 



