70 THE HALL OP SHELLS". 



seems highly probable that the regions of Cali- 

 fornia and Panama were known to the ancient 

 inhabitants of America as rich fisheries. The 

 hearts of Cortes and his followers were fired 

 with anticipation and with envy when they 

 saw the wealth of gems, many of them pearls, 

 with which the draperies of the wealthy Aztecs 

 were embroidered and fringed, and their gold 

 and feather work sprinkled with Jewels. By 

 the conquests of the Spaniards in Mexico and 

 Peru great quantities of pearls were obtained. 

 Old Spanish historians have recorded wonder- 

 ful stories of the wealth of the Aztec kings in 

 pearls, immense numbers of which were exceed- 

 ingly fine. They also affirm the familiarity of 

 these people with the localities from which 

 they were obtained." 



