Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ix. (191 6), No. \% 37 



pricking mussels? " In view of the fact that the Chinese 

 retain, with few alterations, the arts and customs of their 

 ancestors, these suggestions are not at all improbable. 

 In this connection it will be of interest to notice the 

 particular skill possessed by the Chinese in drilling holes 

 in pearls. This, as pointed out by Lacouperie [pp. cit., 

 p. 241, note 1037"), they may have learned from the pearl- 

 traders of Hormuz who were celebrated for their ability 

 in this respect, and to whom Ceylon pearls were sent for 

 that purpose. 



At what period pearls were first appreciated in Japan 

 is not known. The occurrence of pearls on the coasts of 

 that country is repeatedly alluded to in ancient works 

 relating to Japan. According to Kunz and Stevenson, 97 

 they are mentioned in the Nihonki, of the eighth century, 

 the oldest Japanese history. Dr. T. Nishikawa also states 

 they were used in Japan for ornamental purposes more 

 than a thousand years ago. Large pearls derived from 

 the abalone, or Haliotis, are found in images of Buddha 

 made in 300 A.D. Freshwater pearls, from Dipsas and 

 Unto, appear to have been also used. 98 In Marco Polo's 

 time these people still carried on the Chinese custom of 

 placing pearls in the mouth of the dead. We learn from 

 this famous traveller that " in the island of Chipan-gu 

 (the kingdom of Japan), the Chinese Jih-pan-Kwe, rose- 

 coloured pearls were abundant, and quite as valuable as 

 the white ones," that " some of the dead were buried and 

 others were burnt," and "when a body was burnt they put 

 one of the rose-coloured pearls in the mouth, for such is 

 their custom." 99 These coloured pearls were doubtless 

 derived from conch-shells. 



97 Kunz and Stevenson, op. cit., p. 147. 



9S Ibid., p. 414. 



99 Colonel Henry Yule, C.B., " The Book of Ser Marco Polo" (Book 

 iii., ch. ii.), vol. ii., p. 200. 



