BREEDING PEARLS. 35 



The evidence against the existence of " Breeding" Pearls" may 

 be classed under two heads, viz ; the results of positive experi- 

 ment; and a scientific demonstration of the absolute impos- 

 sibility of Pearls breeding* Pearls. As regards the former, Dr. 

 Robertson, well known to ail members of this Society, allows me 

 to use his name in stating* the following facts. Having been 

 informed that not only would pearls breed, but that a resident 

 in Singapore had actually added to her income by selling the 

 pearls thus produced, he obtained four or five specimens which 

 were carefully sealed up at the Singapore Dispensary in a box, 

 with grains of rice, as directed by the donor. This operation 

 was performed by Dr. Robertson in the presence of Dr. R. Little 

 and Mr. Jamie and the box was then put away. At the expi- 

 ration of the period directed, the box was opened in presence of 

 those gentlemen (the seal being intact) and the result was — nil. 

 No trace appeared either of pearls, or of anything which could 

 form a nucleus around which a pearly growth might in time 

 take place. So far as it went, that experiment was conclusive 

 and others have related to me a similar experience. Mr. C. K. E. 

 Woods, Solicitor to whom I had written for a book supposed to 

 contain a notice of these pearls answered as follows: — 



" I have not found the book you want, but I have heard from 

 " several natives and also from a few Europeans that pearls do 

 " breed when packed in a box or bottle. I tried the experiment 

 " once but did not succeed in increasing the stock." 



So far as we have yet got then we have the positive testimo- 

 ny of residents, whose words are beyond cavil, that these pearls 

 %6 breed. I have seen with my own eyes a collection of pearls 

 which either "grew," or were put where they are by human 

 lands. To say nothing of the fact that none of my witnesses 

 would invent a gratuitous falsehood, I am able to cite six cases, in 

 three of which the parties, without any previous communication 

 on the subject, certify to the same occurrence. Against this we 

 have the equally reliable testimony of others that in their own 

 cases attempts to " breed" such pearls have been downright fai- 

 lures. Negative evidence is, however, always weaker than posi- 

 tive. Some year or two ago, for instance, I and some other 

 friends imported a selection of English flower seeds. Not one of 

 32 varieties in my own case (and in the majority of others) came 

 up, but one recipient was more fortunate. Now all our negative 

 evidence that the seeds would not grow was of course set aside by 

 the simple fact that in one case they did grow. Flower seeds 

 are of course supposed to grow, and it may be urged that flower- 

 seeds and pearls can hardly be classed together as regards re- 

 productive qualities. But the incident may serve as an illustra- 



