Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. 189 



some of them laden with riches ; the anxious ex- 

 pecting countenances of the boat-owners while the 

 boats are approaching the shore ; the eagerness 

 and avidity with which they run to them when 

 arrived, in hopes of a rich cargo ; the vast numbers 

 of jewellers, brokers, merchants of all colours and 

 all descriptions, both natives and foreigners, who 

 are occupied in some way or other with the Pearls, 

 some separating and assorting them, others weighing 

 and ascertaining their number and value, while 

 others are hawking them about, or drilling or 

 boring them for future use, — all these circumstances 

 tend to impress the mind with the value and im- 

 portance of that object which can of itself create 

 the same." 



The mode of fishing is described as follows : — 

 A fleet of boats, sometimes as many as 150, put 

 out, but not before they have gone through num- 

 berless ceremonies, which the natives will on no 

 account forego. Under the command of the ^' ada- 

 naparl' or head pilot, each boat is manned with twenty 

 men and a steersman, ten being rowers and ten 

 divers, besides a '^ pillal barras" or shark charmer. 

 The government keep the charmers in regular pay, 

 as no diver would descend without their presence. 

 Other conjurors remain on the shore, mumbling in- 

 cantations until the boat returns. The men go 



