TURBINELLA. f>9 



from having the epidermis on, are most in demand. The white 

 chanks, or dead shells thrown upon the beach by strong tides, 

 having lost their enamel, are scarcely worth the cost of freight 

 to Calcutta. The number obtained varies considerably in differ- 

 ent years, according to the weather and the success attending the 

 divers. Frequently four or five millions of these shells are 

 shipped in a year from the Gulf of Manaar. In some years the 

 value of the rough shells, as imported into Madras and Calcutta, 

 reaches ten to fifteen thousand pounds sterling. A few hundreds 

 are occasionally imported into Calcutta from the Arabian and 

 Persian Gulfs. The chank fishery of Ceylon at one time employed 

 six hundred divers, and yielded a revenue to the island govern- 

 ment of 4000 per annum for licenses. The fishery is now free. 



These shells are often used as oil vessels or lamps in Indian 

 temples, for which purpose they are carved and sculptured or 

 otherwise ornamented. A reversed chank is so highly prized for 

 its rarity as sometimes to sell in Calcutta for its weight in gold, 

 or at from forty to fifty pounds sterling. In Ceylon, also, the 

 reversed variety is held sacred by the priests, who administer 

 medicine by it. This shell, from its weight and smoothness, is 

 used in Dacca for calendering or glazing cotton, and in Xepal 

 for giving a polished surface to paper. 



The principal demand for these shells is for making bangles 

 or armlets and anklets, and the manufacture is still almost con- 

 fined to Dacca. The shell is cut or sliced into segments of 

 circles, or narrow rings of various sizes, by a rude semicircular 

 saw, the hands and toes being both actively employed in the 

 operation (PI. 3, fig. 34.). Some of these bangles, worn by the 

 Hindoo women, are beautifully painted, gilded and ornamented 

 with gems. 



The shell rings are coated inside with plaster to smooth the 

 roughness. Filagree-bordered edges of plaster are also added ; 

 patterns and devices of red, blue and gold are figured on them, and 

 they are further ornamented with silver or gold tinsel, spangles, 

 small colored glass beads, etc. The larger bracelets, formed 

 of many segments, are made to open to admit the hand, by 

 two spiral pins, which unscrew and let out the piece (PI. 3, 

 fig. 33). These bangles are not removed at death, and hence 



