214 Pearls. 



jumping into the sea to the depth of twenty fathoms, 

 bring up two shells at a time." Then follows a 

 fanciful story about the influence of thunderstorms 

 on the breeding of Pearls ; and much importance 

 is attached to the depth at which the Pearl- 

 producing mollusc lives, as a factor in determining 

 the character of its secretion. " The pinna of the 

 deep water produces the most lustrous and dear 

 and large Pearl ; that which swims near the surface, 

 is spoilt by the rays of the sun, and gives those 

 of bad colour and smaller size." 



An interesting account of the Pearl-fisheries of 

 the Persian Gulf, as carried on two centuries ago, 

 may be found in a curious anonymous work, entitled 

 "The History of Jewels," printed at the sign of 

 **The Ship," in the Upper Walk of the New Ex- 

 change, A.D. 1 67 1 : — 



" Before we speak of the manner how they 

 fish for Pearl, and of their different qualities" says 

 our unknown author, " we must make report of the 

 divers places of the world where they are found. 



" First of all they have discovered four fishing 

 places for Pearl in the East, the most consider- 

 able is performed in the isle of Bahren, in the 

 Persian Gulph ; the which appertains to the Sophy 

 of Persia, who receives thence a great revenue. 



