82 FISHERIES OP THE ORIENTAL REGION, 



contains pearls which, although individually of no great value, are 

 so numerous as amply to repay the labour of collection. Pearls 

 of sufficient size to undergo the process of boring are sometimes 

 found, but the greater portion are what go by the name of sea- 

 pearls, and are only marketable in China, where they are much 

 valued when pounded and mixed with some liquid, as a medicine." 



The Sooloo Archipelago has, for some hundreds of years, enjoyed 

 a reputation for its pearl-fisheries. Barbosa, who wrote in Lisbon 

 in 1516, referring to a time about five years earlier, says " Leaving 

 Cipit to the east we saw to the west two islands called Zolo and 

 Taghima. Near these islands grow pearls. The two pearls of the 

 King of Borneo, of which I have spoken, were found here." 

 (Primo Viaggio, p. 125). 



When in Sulu in November, 1885, I had an opportunity of 

 seeing something of the pearl-fisheries. The principal dealers are 

 the Chinese, who sometimes have some fine specimens to offer for 

 sale. All that I saw were beautifully round, and of fine golden 

 colour, for which a fair price was asked. The island may be said to 

 be an emporium for pearl-shells and pearls. The stores where they 

 were offered for sale were those of general dealers, a combination 

 of grocers and provision merchants, while seemingly ready to buy 

 and sell everything like all Chinese shopkeepers, who are traders 

 to the manner born. They had large stocks of shell, which they 

 were ready to retail by weight at a price which would make a pair 

 cost about a dollar and a half. The pearl oysters of this region 

 may be known by the peculiar rich golden color of the nacre. 

 The island is used as a convict station by the Spaniards for 

 Indians and Mestizos. Many of these gain a livelihood by 

 painting or carving upon them rough representations of the Last 

 Supper, the Crucifixion, and other Scriptural subjects. As the 

 waters round the island are unusually deep, the fishery requires 

 divers of astonishing powers of endurance. I will not venture to 

 repeat the stories that I have heard on this subject. A diver will 

 frequently bring up about 301b. of shell. I need not describe the 

 methods adopted, which are well known. From the Island of 

 Labuan, also, pearls are sometimes sent to Singapore to the value 



