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XXIV. 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE PEARL FISHER \ 

 IN THE GULPH OF MANAR, 



IN MARCH AND APRIL 1797- 



BY HENRY J. LE BECK, ESQ. 



COMMUNICATED EY DOCTOR ROXBURG. 



FROM the accounts of the former pearl fiiherics 

 at Ceylon, it will be found, that none have ever 

 been fo productive as this year's. It was generally fup- 

 pofed that the renter would be infallibly ruined, as the 

 fum he paid for the prefent fUTiery was thought ex- 

 orbitant when compared with what had been formerly 

 given ; but this conjecture in the event appeared ill 

 founded, as it proved extremely profitable and lucrative, 



The farmer this time was a Tamul merchant, who 

 for the privilege of fifhing with more than the ufual 

 number of donies or boats, paid between two and 

 and three hundred thoufand Porto-novu pagodas, a 

 fum nearly double the ufual rent. 



Thefe boats he farmed out again to individuals in 

 the bell manner he could, but for want of a fufficient 

 number of divers fome of them could not be employed. 



The fifhing, which commonly began about the 

 middle of Febrnrary, if wind and weather allowed, 

 was this year, for various reafons, delayed till the end 

 of the month ; yet fo favourable was the weather, 

 that the renter was able to take advantage of the per- 

 million granted by the agreement, to fifh a little 

 longer than the ufual period of thirty days. 



Vol. V. B b The 



