20O Pearls, 



agent, and threatened confiscation of the whole 

 cargo, if not immediately removed. On receipt of 

 this communication from the police, the agent 

 immediately prepared four large tin-lined cases, in 

 which were packed a sample of 10,000 oysters. 

 These were to be shipped at once to England, in 

 order to ascertain by personal knowledge, the most 

 satisfactory method of securing the Pearls. It Was 

 intended that the washing should take place at 

 Buxted, on the river Ouse, near the Crowborough 

 Hills, in Sussex, where plenty of running water could 

 be obtained for the purpose. 



In the meantime the boats had been arriving at 

 Colombo with fresh lots of oysters, and it became 

 imperatively necessary to provide a suitable place 

 wherein to warehouse them, especially as they were 

 fast decomposing. A second place was therefore, 

 engaged, about nine miles from Colombo, in a very 

 sparsely - populated native village. Here, whilst 

 erecting temporary huts and buildings for ware- 

 housing the oysters, and making the necessary 

 arrangements for washing them, a second notice 

 from the police arrived, forbidding any attempt 

 to commence operations. The inhabitants refused 

 to allow the erection of buildings to proceed, and 

 after considerable delay, the authorities suggested 

 a district several miles away from the village, in the 



