On the Economical Uses of some species of Tesidcea. 57 



duces a beautiful and expensive luxury, but the shell is used in the 

 manufacture of various useful and ornamental articles, while the ani- 

 mal serves as food for the inhabitants of those countries where it is 

 most generally found ; and although pearls are produced by many 

 other bivalves, yet from their inferiority in color and size, this is the 

 only species which can now be said to be of any real importance for 

 this purpose. Anciently European pearls were extensively used, 

 though never considered equal to the oriental ; but as the trade be- 

 tween foreign countries has increased, so has the value of the former 

 gradually diminished, and they are now seldom sought for, and of 

 little comparative worth. 



Ancient history. — During the earliest periods of which we have 

 authentic history, the oriental pearl appears to have been known and 

 appreciated ; Job, who is supposed to have lived about B. C. 1520, 

 speaks of it as being in his time of high value, and much esteemed.* 

 Solomon frequently I'efers to them ;f and Jeretniah,^ speaking of 

 the Nazarites of Jerusalem, makes use of a beautiful simile in de- 

 scribing them as more ruddy than pearls. In the New Testament, 

 we frequently meet with them, as inferring great riches and splen- 

 dor. || 



In Rome pearls were extensively used, and of great value. Pliny 

 tells us that in his time the ladies were not content with using 

 them as ear drops and rings, but had them embroidered on their 

 dresses and their sandals ; they were not satisfied with solely wear- 

 ing them, but must walk on them, and among them. They were 

 obtained from the Red Sea, or brought to Rome by the Arabian 

 merchants, from the Indian Ocean. They were the most numerous 

 on the coast of Taprobane, (now Ceylon,) and Toidis, and round 

 the promontory and city of Perimula ; but those from the western 



* Job, xxviii. 18. Dr. Hales supposes that Job lived at a much earlier period, 

 and dates his trial, of which we have the account, B. C. 2130. He also appears 

 to have lived in the land of Idumea, and if so, may very naturally have been ac- 

 quainted with the pearls of the Persian Gulf, 



t Proverbs, iii. 15, viii. 11, xx. 15, xxxi. 10. 



t Lamentations, iv. 7. The Hebrew word is Penemin, and occurs only in the 

 above cited passages. The Septuagint and the Vulgate translate it as " things 

 hid, precious stones, or ivory." Our English version, with the one exception in 

 Job, always renders it " ruby." David, in his Psalms, makes no mention of it, and 

 as we do not hear of it till the time of Solomon, when riches from all parts of the 

 world were collected at Jerusalem, we may infer that previously, the Israelites 

 were not acquainted with it. — See CalmeVs Die. of Holy Bible, Art. Pearl. 



II Matthew, xiii. 45. Revelations, xxi. 21, &c. &c. 



Vol. XXXIL— No. 1, 8 



