Op. XIX, c Ihe Caribby-lflands. 



they become a kind of mufical Inftrument which makes a fharp 

 and piercing found,- and forc'd through the windings of the 

 fhell, may be heard at as great diftance as the fmalleft kind of 

 Trumpet might be: But there is agreatfecret in the found- 

 ing of it. 



MOTHER of PEARL. 



S Hells do not only afford a pleafant diver tifement which may 

 excite men by a consideration of thofe fmall, but admira- 

 ble works of Nature, toblefs the Author thereof } but having 

 cloy'dtheeye, they find fbmewhat to fatisfie the tafte, and en- 

 creafe wealth : For Ojijlers, and other fhell-fifh are welcome to 

 the greateft Tables 5 and the Naker or Mother of rear I is big 

 with that Pearl which enriches the Crowns of Kings. 3 Tis 

 true, there is feen only the feeds of thefe Pearls in the Carib- 

 b/es 0 and that they are to be had in perfection only at S. Mar- 

 garets Ifland, and the South-part of America : But though this 

 feed is not hardned into great Pearls in the Cartbbies, yet are 

 not the fhells wherein It is found without their advantages 5 

 for the meat within them is for food, and the two parts of the 

 filver fhell make fo many Spoons 3 which may creditably appear 

 upon the Table. 



It is not eafie to determine whether the dew which falls in 

 the Caribbus be not fruitful enough to makethe Mother-Pearl 

 produce its fruit in perfection 5 or whether after it hath re- 

 ceiv'd that feed from the Heavens they mifcarry, and have not 

 natural force enough to retain it : But not to enquire whence 

 the defect proceeds, it is moft certain they have as ftrong an in- 

 clination to avoid the reproach of fterility, as thofe fifri'd for on 

 the Coafts of S. Margarets 1 For he who will be at the curiofity 

 to obferve their fecret Loves from the rocks, at the foot where- 

 of they moft delight to be, fhallfind, that at the break of day 

 they ftart up feveral times to the furface of the water, as it were 

 to do homage to the Riiing-Sun, then of a fudden they open 

 themfelves upon that foft bed, expecting the firft beams of that 

 all-enlivening Star : If they be fo happy as to receive fome 

 drops of the dew he caufes to diftill from the Heavens at his 

 rifing, they immediately clofe their fhells, left any touch of 

 fait- water come in, and corrupt that celeftial fperm : And then 

 they cheerfully return to their deep cells. 



A certain Author named Fragofm conceives, that the Pearls 

 ingenderin the meat of the Oyfter, as theftone does in fome 

 living creatures, of a thick and vifcous moifture which remains 

 of the aliment. Some learned Phyficians who are alfo of the 

 lame opinion, fortifie it with what is affirmed by Jofephue Aco~ 

 fia 3 a very creditable Writer, to wit, that the Slaves who fifh 

 for Pearls, dive fometimes twelve fathom deep in the Sea to 



R 2 take 



