2o8 Pearls. 



each derives from his oysters. This has been proved 

 by personal experience. The government agent, in 

 payment of the boatmen and divers who engage in 

 the fishery, allot one fourth of the yield of each 

 boatful of oysters to them ; and these lots are 

 allowed to be put up separately, and in many 

 cases are sold in small and convenient quantities to 

 suit all purchasers. 



In some instances the boatmen wash the oysters 

 themselves, but in either case a good judge of Pearls 

 can with much greater safety buy the gems them- 

 selves than venture upon large quantities of^oysters, 

 with their attendant trouble and expense, and the 

 chance of perhaps after all realizing an insufficient 

 quantity of Pearls to reimburse him for the outlay. 



Most of the Pearls from these fisheries are 

 secured by the Indian chetties, as Bombay is 

 considered a much better market for them than 

 Ceylon or even London ; much higher prices are 

 paid by the wealthy Rajahs of India direct to the 

 Pearl merchants, than could ever be got from 

 London dealers. Notwithstanding the frequent 

 fisheries and finds of Pearls, it is nearly impossible 

 to buy any really fine ones in Ceylon. 



Immediately after the famous Pearl fishery of 

 1880, scarcely a Pearl of any size or value was 



