70 



Pearls. 



the ** nibbled end " of the rice particle may give 



colour to the idea. Yet the author can testify that 

 after having kept some rice and some Pearls together 

 in a box for a long time, the grains of rice, though 

 originally perfect, have suffered some change, whereby 

 they present all the appearance of having been 

 nibbled. While unable to explain this phenomenon, 

 he does not for a moment believe — although the 

 belief is entertained by many intelligent Europeans 

 resident in the East — that it has any connexion with 

 the reputed re-production of the Pearls : indeed, it 

 need hardly be added that the Pearls placed with 

 the rice have not increased either in number or in 

 magnitude. 



