I20 S//('//s as cvidoicc of the Mignitiojis. 



inhabitants wcjie pearl shells upon their foreheads." 

 These facts are of interest as recalling the identical use of 

 pearl shell in some of the I'acific Islands — Torres Straits 

 Islands, Solomon Islands, etc., — and in Ancient Kg\-pt 

 {supra p 74 1. 



According" to the reports of travellers, the natives of 

 Mexico, in the i8th century, still appreciated pearls, using 

 them along with other jewels to adorn their noses, lips, 

 ears, necks and arms.''" 



On the coast of Venezuela extensive pearl fisheries 

 have been carried on since before the time of Columbus. On 

 entering the Gulf of Paria, in 1498, this voyager found the 

 natives in possession of numerous pearls which they were 

 wearing on their necks and wrists. They were also seen 

 engaged in pearl fishing by the Spaniards, and it is curious 

 to note that the views of the Indians regarding the origin 

 of the gems were identical with those which obtained for 

 ages in the Old World. They regarded them as congealed 

 dewdrops, which had been caught by the gaping o)-sters.'''" 



Another famous American i)earl fishery is that of the 

 Gulf of Tanama, referred to by many early Spanish 

 writers. The pearl resources of this region were first 

 made known by Halboa's immortal journe)- in 15 13 

 across the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific. ! laving 

 reached the Pacific, l^alboa proceeded along the coast 

 and found the Indians in possession of gold and pearls, 

 the latter being used to decorate their paddles. The 

 l^earl fishery appeared to be the principal source of income 

 and wealth of the Indian chiefs.'^" 



Among the pre-Columbian antiquities found in Ecua- 

 dor associated with burials was a little box or receptacle 



^*"' G. A. Cooke, op. <i/., ii., \>. 141. 



'•'■' .Strecter, of. lii., p. 223. 



'^" Kunz and Stevenson, op. tit., p. 235. 



