16 



from the account given above that the Moorish stones sold for 5 pardaos more than 

 those of the Christians, the rate of market valuation being as. 12 to 7. Strangely 

 enough the Hindu stones ooeupied an intermediate value, being 9~ pardaos per stone.* 



At the Ceylon fishery of 1694, a similar disparity is noticeable there being then 



sold : — 



1,290 Christian stones at 6^ Rixdollars. 



204 Gentoo (Hindu) at 9~ do. 

 1,268 Moorish ,, ' at 11| do. 



In the accounts of this last fishery, I notice an entry of tC 13| ammonams of 

 concealed arrack found in the bushes and out of the way places, sold at 6 Rixdollars 

 the ammona = 82i_ Bixdollars," from which I fear we have to infer that the Parawas 

 -were as greatly addicted to this indulgence 200 years ago as they are now ! 



No further fishery appears to have taken place between 1708 and the date of the 

 relinquishment of the Governorship of Ceylon by Baron Van Imhoff in 1740. 



Such a lengthy intermittence in productiveness had been a source of continual 

 regret to his predecessors, so that when Van Imhoff wrote his valedictory memoir in 

 1740 for the information and guidance of his successor, he urged a departure from the 

 policy of conducting the fishery in auinany or directly on behalf of Government. 

 Under such conditions the Government had made its profit by the sale of the right to 

 use diving stones at the fishery (amounting virtually to the taxation of the divers 

 employed) and of the sundry duties levied in the fishing camp (" Exchange," Bazaar 

 and cloths). 



This memoir is perhaps the most valuable and statesmanlike administrative record 

 left by any Dutch Governor. Therefore it is well if I give verbatim the portion 

 relating to the condition of the Pearl Banks at this time and to the alternative policy 

 of administration advocated here for the first time. 



Extract from the Memoir of His Excellency G. W. Baron Van Imhoff on his departure 

 from the Government of Ceylon, left for the instruction of Ms successor. His 

 Excellency William Mauri ts Bruyninlc. 



"The Aripo and Tutucoryn Pearl Fisheries are certainly to be reckoned among 

 " the sources of produce to this island or rather of revenue for the profit which the 

 " Company derives from the holding of a fishpry must rather be classed under the latter 

 " head than under the former, as it consists in different duties which are paid for diving 

 " those banks, and clivers sums paid for the stones used in catching the oysters, and 

 " some part in oysters themselves paid as taxes, which are sold wheD the fishery is at 

 " an end ; duties are also paid on what is called the exchange, and on cloths which are 

 " brought to the bazaar, but the Company does not in fact obtain any pearls, nor is 

 " there even a chance for the Company to purchase any pearls there, although the 

 " highest authorities have so often endeavoured to do so, for at the fishery pearls are 

 " sold at so high a price that the Moors are cunning enough to rub up even old pearls 

 " and to bring them there for sale, with a certainty of taking in the unwary, and 

 " deriving more profit from it. 



" But it is not so much a matter of concern whether the fishery is to be called a 

 " source of reveuue or of produce, as whether it can in reality be looked upon as a 

 " source of advantage and profit derived from Ceylon, or whether it is more glitter than 

 " gold, as many things are which belong to the Company, which shine uncommonly, 

 u but have no real substance. This question is neither tf novel nor unfounded one, 

 "■ and to properly answer it, we must weigh- against the advantages which we have just 

 " detailed, the inconveniences, discomforts, noise, expenses, the risks of the Commission- 

 " ers, the employment of the Militia, the consumption of provisions, the dangers of 

 " ships, etc.; we must also mention the hazards run by a few hundred men sent to keep 

 " immense crowds in order, and their exposure to sickness and death as well after the 

 " fishery as during its continuance from the stench of the oysters ; the price of provi- 

 " sions is also enormously increased ; the Company's trade in cloth is discontinued for 

 " a long time from the prevalence of smuggling which is occasioned by the immense 

 " numbers of persons resorting to those parts of the island ; we may also add that 



« Ante. 



