Mother- of- Pearl and its Uses. 



385 



prosecuted on the southern coast. Immense quantities 

 of pearl shells are at present used in the United States in 

 the manufacture of buttons, card-cases, portmonnaies, and 

 other fancy articles. Many of the islands about the Cali- 

 fornia coast are literally covered with the finest shells for 

 this purpose found in the world. On the shores of Anacapa, 

 off Santa Cruz, a few men easily load a schooner. 



Shells for ornament are equally appreciated by the 

 aboriginal races, and some of their modes of application 

 for decorative purposes are effective and curious. Many 

 of the Dyaks of Borneo wear a large polished pearl shell 

 appended in front to their corslet, and their shields are 

 ornamented with these shells. In the ethnological room 

 of the British Museum many examples of the uses of pearl 

 shell by the Pacific Islanders may be seen. There is espe- 

 cially worthy of notice an elaborate corslet from Polynesia, 

 studded with mother-of-pearl shells, and beautifully orna- 

 mented with a kind of deep swinging fringe made of 

 minute pieces of pearl shell, skilfully cut and threaded 

 together, evidencing great skill and ingenuity in the absence 

 of European tools and appHances. The Pacific Islander 

 plunges beneath the waves to seek the joints of his simple 

 necklace, or to supply his brothers of the Western World 

 with highly prized material for more elaborate ornaments. 

 The glittering ear-shell and mother-of-pearl furnish the 

 New Zealanders and Fijians with attractive fish-hooks to 

 ensnare their prey. 



The export of mother-of-pearl from Manila was, in 1874, 

 1035 piculs of 133 lbs. each; and in 1875, 1378 piculs. 

 Bold white shells from Manila realized at the London sales 

 in January, 1876, £\2 to £\2 5^-. ; bold and medium kinds, 

 ^11 ^js. 6d.) chicken, £7 ^s. to £^ lys. 6d.; defective 

 wormy, £6 2s. 6d. to £y lys. 6d. 



