1 90 Pearls. 



down into the sea five at a time ; when the first 

 five come up the other five go down, and by this 

 method of alternately diving, they give each other 

 time to recruit themselves for a fresh plunge. 



In order to accelerate the descent of the divers, 

 large stones are employed, five of these being taken 

 in each boat for the purpose ; they are of a reddish 

 granite, common in the country, and of a pyramidal 

 shape, round at the top and bottom, with a hole 

 in the smaller end, sufficient to admit a rope. Some 

 of the divers use a stone shaped like a half moon, 

 which they fasten round their middle when they 

 wish to descend, and thus keep their feet free. The 

 stones generally weigh from 20 to 25 lbs. each. 

 The diver, when he is about to plunge, seizes the 

 rope to which one of" the stones previously described 

 is attached, with the toes of his right foot, while he 

 takes hold of a bag of network with those of his 

 left, it being customary with all the natives to use 

 their toes as well as their fingers in working or 

 holding, and such is the power of habit, that they 

 can pick up even the smallest object from the 

 ground with their toes, almost as nimbly as a 

 European can do so with his fingers. The diver 

 thus prepared, seizes another rope with his right 

 hand, and holding his nostrils shut with the left, 

 plunges into the water, and by the assistance of the 



