172 
lecture XI. 
them for sale. The dra’wCacks against this 
scene of entertaining confusion i^re, the offen- 
sive atmosjDhere occasioned by the putrefac- 
tion of the innumerable pearl-muscles lying in 
heaps on the shores , the badness of the water 
round the spot, which is so brackish as scarcely to 
be drinkable; the extreme heat of the weather 
during the day, and the coldness and heavy dews 
of the night. The pearl-fishery therefore of Ceylon 
is extremely injurious to the health of those who 
engage in it, and frequent it. The Ceylonese 
pearl-divers are said to make use of no particular 
precautions in exercising their occupation, but 
descend to the bottom at the depth of from five to 
ten fathoms by means of a large stone, fastened to 
them with a rope, and being furnished with a bas- 
ket, they collect, with as much expedition as pos- 
sible, such shells as happen to lie about the spot 
of their descent, continuing their search about 
two minutes, when, according to a signal which 
they make to the boat to which their cord is 
attached, they again ascend with their treasure. 
It is added that each Diver will, in general, bring up 
as many as one hundred pearl-shells of various sizes 
in his net; and that, from long habit, some of these 
