4>2 CATECHISM OF CONCHOLOGY. 



Q. By what means are pearls obtained ? 



A. Shells which contain them are fished up by 

 divers, who plunge into the water, and tear them 

 from the rocks to which they adhere. The 

 Muscles are then thrown together in heaps, and 

 when the animal inhabitant is decayed the pearls 

 are easily separated. They are then selected, 

 and sold to merchants, who disperse them 

 throughout Europe and the East. 



Q. Are not the finest pearls a perfect round ? 



A. Yes, and for this reason the Orientals term 

 it " Margion," or a globe of light. Marvarid is 

 also one of its Persian appellations, which signi- 

 fies the offspring of light. 



Q. Repeat the lines in which the poet Hafiz 

 notices this beautiful gem. 



A. " Learn from yon orient shell to lore thy foe, 



And store with pearls the wrist that works thee woe ; 

 Free like yon rock from base vindictive pride, 

 Emblaze with gems the hand that rends thy side. 

 All nature cries aloud, can man do less 

 Than heal the smiter, and the railer bless ?"* 



* Conchologist's Companion. 



