Distribution of Poails n/id I\uii /-s/w//. 89 



tingent of divers emploNcd for the pearl and chank 

 tislieries of the i;;ulf of Mauaar. 



In the first ccntnr\- A.D. .Ari^alus, in the ncis^hbour- 

 hood of Ivmkai, appears to liave been a station where 

 the Gulf of Manaar ))carls were perforated. Here also 

 were to be purchased fine muslins sprinkled with [)earls.''" 



According to Kunz and Stexcnson {op. cit., j). 131), 

 two other species of pearl-producing nioUusks are collected 

 in the Madras Presidenc\-. One of these is a species of 

 mussel bright green in colour, known as Mytilus smarog- 

 diniis, collected from the estuary of the Sonnapore River, 

 near Eerhampore. Small pearls of inferior qualitx' are 

 found therein, and are sold chiefly for clnnuim' and for 

 placing in the mouths of deceased Hindus. The (jthcr 

 species is \.\\q P lacuna placenta — the so-called " window- 

 glass "shell — which is abundant from Karachi, near the 

 Baluchistan border, to the Kanara district south of l^om- 

 bay. It is fountl also in Pulicat Lake, and in the vicinity 

 of Tuticorin. Where it occurs in any abundance it is 

 collected for the sake of the small pearls found therein. 

 These pearls arc highly valued by the Hindus, in calcined 

 or powdered form, for medicinal purposes, and especiall)' 

 for mixing with the betel-nut ; the)' are also in ct^isider- 

 able demand for placing in the mouths of deceased Hindus 

 of the middle class, instead of the sea pearls which are 

 used by the wealth)-, or the rice employed in a similar 

 manner b)' persons of poorer rank. The practice of 

 placing pearls in the mouth of the dead is an (jld one 

 in India and was noted b)- Marccj Polo more than 600 

 years ago.''' As we shall see later on in this thaiHer, 



■•" \ incent, "The Commcice and Navigaiioii of llic .Xncic-iiis in llu- 

 Itidian Ocean,'' London, 1S07, vol. ii.. p. 519. 



"' Cliunam : lime prepared from burnt sliells, eic, used for buildinj; 

 irp.^ses, and Ijy uatives for nii.xing wilh Itetel for cliewini;. 

 ''- Kunz and Stevenson, op. li/., p. 310. 



