Hi 



iHi 



CHAPTER IV. 



Pearl Bearers ; 

 Marine and Fresh-water. 



"Rich honesty dwells like a miser, Sir, in a poor hruse ; as 

 your Pearl in your foul oyster. — As Yon Like It^ Act v.' Scene iv. 



IAVING shewn in the preceding chapters 

 how universal is the love of Pearls, 

 and what a prominent position they 

 occupy in the fashionable world for purposes of 

 decoration ; having alluded also to some of the 

 ideas that have at various times prevailed with 

 respect to their origin, virtues and significance, 

 we are now led naturally to the consideration of 

 the principal sources whence our supply of these 

 valuable gems is derived. 



Pearls may be defined, in scientific language, 

 as calcareous concretions, produced by certain shell- 



