Tlie ninth Bookedf 



iipontliefeJa. the manner of thcSealopsistoskip jandothcrwhilcs thcyviiill Icape forth of the 

 water. They alfo can find the mcancs tpmakeaboatof themfelvesaandfo flotc above and faik 

 handfomcly* 



^ The riches of theSea^ 



BVt whatmeanelallthis while to (land updnthcfe fmall trifling matters, when as in very 

 truth the overthrow of all honeftie, the ruine of good manners, and in lieu thereof all ryot 

 and fupcrfluitie^procecdeth from thefefhell-fifhes^j and from nothing fomuch ?For now 

 the world is grownc to this pafle, that there is nothing in it whaifocvcr, fo chargeable to man - 

 kind, nothingfo hurtful! and daungcrous3as is the very Sea, and that fo many waies t namely,in 

 fiirnifhing the tabic with fuchvarietic ofdifhes, in pleafing and contenting the taft withfo ma- 

 ny daintie and delicate fifties: and thofecarric the higheit price, that be gotten with the grea^ 

 teft hazard and daungerof thofc that take them :otherwife they be of no regard and value to 

 Ipcakcof* 



Chap. xxXV. 



^ Of Pearles : hotVydnd where thej hefottndi 



HOwbeitall that before-named is nothing in comparifon to the Purples, precious Co- 

 quils, and Pearls that come from thenee. It was not fufficient bdike to bring the feas into 

 the kitchiujto let them down the throat into the bellyjunlelfe men and women both car- J 

 tied them about in their hands and eares, upon their head, and all over their bodie. And yet 

 what (bcieiic and affinitie is there betweene the feaand apparell ? what proportion becwecne the 

 waves and furgingbillowes thereof, and wooll? For furely this Element naturally receiveth us 

 not into her bo(bme,unlefle we be ftarke naked. And fet the cafe that there were fo great good 

 fellowfbip with ir,and our bellies; How commeth our backe and fides to be acquainted with it ? 

 But we were not contented to feed with theperill of fo many men, unlelfe we be clad and arrai- 

 ed alfo therewith. Oh the folly of us men ! See how there is nothing that goethto the pampe- 

 ring and trimming of this ourcarcafle,of great price and accountjthatis not bought with the 

 utmoft hazard, and coftcth not the venture of g mans life ! But now to the purpofe . The richett 

 merchandife of all,and the mofi: foveraigne commoditie throughout the whole worId,are thefe K 

 Pearles.The Indian Ocean is chiefe for fending them : and yet to come by them, wee muft goe 

 andfearch amongft thole huge and terrible monftersof the fea, which we havefpokenot be- 

 fore. We mull pafle over lb nianyfeas, and faile into farre countries fo remote, and come into 

 thole parts where theheat of thefunne isfbexcclfiveandcxtreame:andwhen all is done, wee 

 may perhaps mifle of them : for even the Indians themfelves are glad to leeke among the Hands, 

 for tbemjand when they have done all they can,meet with very few.The greateft plentie of them 

 is to be found in thecoafi of T3probaneandToidis3as hath been faid before in ourCofmo- 

 graphie and deicription of the world : and likewife about Perimula , a promontorie andcitie of 

 India. But the moitperfedl and exquifiteofall others, be they that are gotten. about Arabia, £ 

 within the Perfian gulfe of the red lea . This fhell-filli which is the mother of Pearle, dilfereth 

 not much in the manner of breeding and generation, from the oyfters; for when the leafon of 

 the ycerc requireth that they fhould engender, they fceme to yawne and gapCjand fo doe open 

 wide; and then (by report) they conceive a ccrtainc moift dew asfeed, wherewith they fwelland 

 growbigge; and when time commeth,labour to be delivered hereof: and thefruit of thefe fliclP 

 fi{hes arc the pearles, better or worfe, great or fiiiall, according tothe qualitic and quantitie of 

 the dew which they received.Fot if the dew were pure and cleare which went into them, then are 

 the pearles whitc,faire,and orient ; if grofle and troubled, the pearles likewile are dimnie,foule, 

 and duskifh • pale(Ifay)they are,ifthe weather wereclofe,darke,and threatning rains in the time? 

 of their conception* Whereby no doubt it is apparent and plaine, that they participate more ^ 

 of the aire and skie, than of the water and the lea,* for according as the morning is faire,{Q are 

 they cleere : otherwi{e,ifit weremiftie and cloudiCjthey alio will be thicke and muddie in colouE . 

 If they may have theirfull time and feafon to feed, the pearles alfo will thrive and grow biggs 

 feat if inthGtime itchaunce tolighten^then they dole their ihcllstogitherjand for want of noac- 



liifhmesit 



