Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. 191 



stone, speedily reaches the bottom. Then throwing 

 himself flat on the bottom, and relinquishing the 

 stone, the diver with much dexterity and all possible 

 dispatch, collects as many oysters as he can while 

 he is able to remain under water, which is usually 

 half-a-minute or a little longer. This done, he 

 resumes his former position, makes a signal to those 

 above by pulling the rope in his right hand, and is 

 immediately drawn up into the boat. 



The great dread of the divers is the ground 

 shark, a common inhabitant of the seas in those 

 latitudes. During the time of the fishery conjurors 

 stand on the shore till the boats return in the 

 afternoon, muttering prayers, twisting their bodies 

 into strange attitudes, and performing various cere- 

 monies in order to divert the sharks. All this time 

 they ought to abstain from food and drink, but they 

 occasionally regale themselves with toddy until they 

 are no longer able to stand at their devotions. 



If an alarm be given by one diver none of 

 the others will descend that day. The diving dress 

 has been occasionally adopted, and if brought into 

 general use would of course much diminish the 

 danger. 



On the return of the boats they are unloaded, 

 and the oysters deposited in sheds or " kottoos ; " 



