2o6 Pearls. 



mentioned, containing several thousand of originally 

 sealed sacks from Silavatorrai, had been shipped 

 by the W. W. Co. to the harbour for putting on 

 board the steamer in order to be forwarded for 

 examination to the author in London ; but owing 

 to a few days' delay, decomposition proceeded so 

 rapidly, that a foul gas was generated, which burst 

 open the tin-lined cases, and polluted the atmosphere 

 for miles round. The inhabitants of the Fort district 

 of Colombo naturally complained to the authorities, 

 who thereupon seized the cases, and threatened con- 

 fiscation if they were not immediately removed. 

 But the difficulty was to dispose of them, as no 

 place could be found in which the authorities would 

 permit them to be buried. Ultimately they were 

 taken in bullock-carts to the bungalow of the agent, 

 who had been sent for in haste from the scene 

 of the washing operations, and he at once had pits 

 dug to receive them. In support of the view that 

 decaying matter does not injure the Pearl, the fact 

 may be stated that two months afterwards the pits 

 were opened, and Pearls were found equal in quality 

 to those which the earlier and less polluted oyster 

 had yielded. 



In all the more recent fisheries, great competition 

 has existed between local Ceylon native dealers, 

 chetties, and others who come over from India, 



