On the Pearls of the Ythan. 395 



highly prized than it used to be, that some one, more favour- 

 ably situated than I am, may perhaps be induced to follow out 

 my experiment, and establish a colony of natives for the 

 manufacture of pearls. The Scottish pearl very seldom 

 has the peculiar colour which is so much prized in those 

 that come from the East. The Ythan pearls, when I used 

 to gather them, were generally of a silvery- white, with 

 what we may describe as a slight shade of blue. Some- 

 times they had a yellowish tinge, and I have seen some 

 with a faint but very beautiful trace of purple. When 

 pearls lying together in the same shell are found, some white 

 and some brown, when we find them with one side white and 

 the other dark, it is evidently very difficult to determine 

 the circumstances on which their colour depends. I cannot 

 leave the subject without adverting to the fact, that if we 

 may trust tradition, an Ythan pearl is one of the gems that 

 now adorns the British crown. Many years ago, before the 

 coinage of Scotland was assimilated to that of England, two 

 farmers were returning from market. When they came to 

 the banks of the Ythan, one of them dismounted, the other 

 retained his seat, and holding the bridle in his hand stooped 

 forward to let his horse drink. While in this position, he 

 observed near the place where his companion was standing 

 a very large mussel, and called to him, " I say, Tarn, rax 

 in the crucket end o' your stick, and get me that muckle 

 clam-shell ; it will be a famous thing for our Kate, whan 

 she scrapes her sowans' pot." The comrade did as he had been 

 requested, and the clam was consigned to the farmer's capa- 

 cious pocket. On opening it when he got home, he found 

 that it contained a large and beautiful pearl. This he care- 

 fully preserved, until an opportunity should occur of getting 

 it disposed off to advantage. Some time after he had occa- 

 sion to go to London, and took the pearl with him. While 

 there, he went to one of the principal jewellers in the city, 

 and showing him the gem, he asked what he thought of it. 

 4 6 It is very beautiful; it is one of the finest pearls I have ever 

 seen. Is it for sale ?" " Ow aye, if you will gie me a lang 

 eneuch price." After some further talk, the farmer said, 



