Pearls and the Pea^d Fisheries, 413 



down simultaneously for one more haul, and then every 

 hand is employed in making sail, and each boat has her 

 head to the shore. When they reach the beach, in an 

 instant the divers are in the water, and each pair carries 

 the results of a day's work to the shed. Then they divide 

 the oysters into four heaps. In two hours the whole of the 

 boats are unloaded, unless delayed by contrary winds. The 

 divers' share is removed, and the three-fourths belonging 

 to Government left in the shed, divided into heaps of 1000 

 each, the doors are locked, guards stationed, and everything 

 is in readiness for the public sale. 



This system appears peculiarly well suited to the 

 country, and to the objects in view, by bringing to bear 

 upon the daily results of the fishery the largest amount of 

 private interests and the smallest amount of Government 

 control. No man could be forced into doing what the 

 divers do voluntarily. No fixed payment would induce 

 them to dive so often in the day, or to unload their boats 

 with equal despatch." 



The market is a curious sight, always full of people 

 bargaining, purchasing and selling a variety of things. 

 Spectacled Moormen from the coasts of India, with tiny 

 scales and weights before them, and brass pans for sizing 

 the pearls, looking at one strangely from their little huts as 

 he passes by, with that expression of cunning and clever- 

 ness at driving a bargain so characteristic amongst their 

 class. Money-changers and petty shopkeepers, with their 

 money and wares spread out on white cloth, line the 

 streets. 



The Tuticorin fishery, on the Madras side of the Strait, 

 yielded, in 1861, about 10,000 revenue. In the middle of 

 the last century the fishery here brought in to the Dutch 

 East India Company a yearly tribute of ^20,000. On the 



