CHAPTER X. 



Pearling Life at the Present Day. 



" Ocean's gem the purest 

 Of Nature's works ! What days of weary journey ings, 

 What sleepless nights, what toils on land and sea, 

 Are borne by men to gain thee ! " 



HIS chapter is written in order to give 

 our readers some little idea of an in- 

 dustry which is carried on in remote 

 places, until recently out of the track of ordinary 

 shipping, away from all centres of civilization, and 

 under circumstances of no ordinary danger. 



The finest and most complete pearling vessel 

 afloat is the " Sree Pas-Sair," (" The Belle of 

 Pas-Sair," a district in Borneo), a brigantine of 

 112 tons, bought and equipped by the late Mr. E. C. 

 Chippindall, R.N., at the expense of the author 



