812 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



the coast. Before the beginning of the fishery, the govern- 

 ment causes the banks to be explored, and then lets them to- 

 the highest bidder, very wisely allowing only a part of them to 

 be fished every year. The fishing begins in February, and 

 ceases by the beginning of April. The boats employed for this 

 purpose assemble in the bay, set off at night at the firing of a 

 signal-gun, and reach the banks after sunrise, where fishing goes 

 on till noon, when the sea-breeze which arises about that time 

 warns them to return to the bay. As soon as they appear 

 within sight, another gur. is fired, to- 

 inform the anxious owners of their 

 return. Each boat carries twenty men 

 and a chief; ten of them row and 

 hoist up the divers, who are let down 

 by fives, — and thus alternately diving, 

 and resting keep their strength to the 

 end of their day's work. The diver, 



Ceylon Pearl-Oyster. n , . , , , , 



when he is about to plunge, com- 

 presses his nostrils tightly with a small piece of horn, which 

 keeps the water out, and stuffs his ears with bees'-wax for the 

 same purpose. He then seizes with the toes of his right foot a 

 rope to which a stone is attached, to accelerate the descent, 

 while the other foot grasps a bag of network. With his right 

 hand he lays hold of another rope, and in this manner rapidly 

 reaches the bottom. He then hangs the net round his neck, 

 and with much dexterity and all possible despatch collects as 

 many oysters as he can while he is able to remain under water, 

 which is usually about two minutes. He then resumes his 

 former position, makes a signal to those above by pulling the 

 rope in his right hand, and is immediately by this means hauled 

 up into the boat, leaving the stone to be pulled up afterwards 

 by the rope attached to it. Accustomed from infancy to their 

 work, these divers do not fear descending repeatedly to depths 

 of fifty or sixty feet. They plunge more than fifty times in a 

 morning, and collect each time about a hundred shells. Some- 

 times, however, the exertion is so great that, upon being brought 

 into the boat, they discharge blood from their mouth, ears, and 

 nostrils. 



While the fishing goes on, a number of conjurors and priests 



