Ancient Ideas on their Origin and Virtues. 59 



Myrobalan, heavy, and more yellow, but not more 

 lustrous than the other kinds." Persons who have 

 studied the elephant with particular attention, have 

 divided it into four classes, after the names of the 

 four cardinal divisions of the Hindoos ; accordingl}' 

 Pearls derived from elephants are classed under 

 four heads, " and were believed to produce good 

 fortune." 



Pearls which originate in the head of the Boar 

 are generally white, like the tusks of that animal, 

 and " as boars are divided into four orders, after 

 the four cardinal castes, even so are the Pearls 

 which are produced by them." " A Boar-begotten 

 Pearl is not to be obtained by a meritless individual." 



A Pearl derived from the Conch-shell is of large 

 dimensions, has the same colour as the inner sur- 

 face of that shell-fish, and is productive of good 

 fortune to its possessor. '* There are twenty-seven 

 kinds of Conch-shells ; accordingly, Pearls gene- 

 rated in them, being marked out by distinctive 

 qualities, are divided into twenty-seven orders." 



Pearls attained from the mouth of Sea-fish 

 are singularly round, small, and light. Those which 

 originate in whales are " agreeably round, but not 

 highly lustrous," Fishes are divided into seven 



