Pearls and the Pearl Fisheries. 423 



which that daring leader and his followers saw among the 

 Indians of the parts traversed by them. Pearls, however, 

 belonged to the things most desired by the Spaniards, and 

 the accounts relating to them, perhaps, may be somewhat 

 exaggerated. The following passage from Garcilasso de la 

 Vega is of particular interest : — 



" While De Soto sojourned in the province of Ichiaha, 

 the cacique visited him one day, and gave him a string of 

 pearls about two fathoms (deux brasses) long. This present 

 might have been considered a valuable one, if the pearls 

 had not been pierced ; for they were all of equal size and 

 as large as hazel nuts. Soto acknowledged this favour by 

 presenting the Indian with some pieces of velvet and cloth, 

 which were highly appreciated by the latter. He then 

 asked him concerning the pearl fishing, upon which he 

 replied that this was done in his province ; a great number 

 of pearls were stored in the temple of the town of Ichiaha, 

 where his ancestors were buried, and he might take as 

 many of them as he pleased. The general expressed his 

 obligation, but observed that he would take away nothing 

 from the temple, and that he had accepted his present only 

 to please him. He wished to learn, however, in what 

 manner the pearls were extracted from the shells. The 

 cacique replied that he would send people out to fish for 

 pearls all night, and on the following day at eight o'clock 

 (sic) his wish should be gratified. He ordered at once four 

 boats to be despatched for pearl fishing, which should be 

 back in the morning. In the mean time much wood was 

 burned on the bank, producing a large quantity of glowing 

 coals. When the boats had returned, the shells were placed 

 on the hot coals, and they opened in consequence of the 

 heat. In the very first, 10 or 12 pearls of the size of a pea 

 were found, and handed to the cacique and the general, 



