Black Pearls. 267 



tinctorial power, and if shed near a Pearl-oyster, might 

 determine the colour of the carbonate of lime, which 

 the mollusc was secreting. The organic pigment 

 would be decomposed by heat, and this would agree 

 with the behaviour of the black Pearl when exposed 

 to a high temperature. 



When the palace at Alexandria was burnt 

 down during the bombardment a few years ago, 

 many of the Khedive's jewels were utterly destroyed. 

 When the English had landed, and the fires were 

 extinguished, the debris was examined, and among 

 the rubbish were found two black Pearls, so burnt 

 as to be scarcely recognizable. One of these was 

 a round black Pearl, worth when perfect, about 

 ;^2O0O; the other being a smaller one of the value 

 of about ^200, The author bought these two burnt 

 Pearls as a curiosity, from a Paris merchant for a 

 sovereign ! This shews how readily valuable Pearls 

 are lost or rendered useless by a conflagration, and 

 may in some measure account for the disappearance 

 of many historical Pearls. It is known for instance, 

 that vast numbers of Pearls once existed in the posses- 

 sion of the great families of Italy, and in the treasures 

 of the Church, of which no trace now remains. Many 

 ancient Eastern cities, which, in the vicissitudes of 

 time, have been destroyed by fire and revolution, 

 must have contained, when in a flourishing condition. 



