Ceylon.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



sink in a lump to the bottom, but if adulterated, part only will sink, and 

 will leave an oil on the top of the brandy. Water and sugar mixed toge- 

 ther are the strongest proof ; one drop in a glass will make the glass above 

 the liquor turn blue, which is a good sign. 



Crank Shells, or the common conch shell, is an article of trade from 

 Ceylon to the Coast of Coromandel and Bengal, where they are used in 

 beetling the finer cloths manufactured there, and as wrist ornaments for the 

 women, when sawed into narrow rings, and the edges polished. They are 

 also met with at Chittagcig and Aracan. 



These shells are fished up by divers in the Gulph of Manar, in about 

 two fathoms water. They are of a spiral form, and are chiefly exported 

 to Bengal, where they are sawed into rings of various sizes, and worn on 

 the arms, legs, fingers, and toes of the Hindoos. A chank opening to the 

 right hand is highly valued by the natives of India, and being rarely found, 

 sells for its weight in gold. 



Pearls are found in the Mytilu« Margaritiferm, a testaceous fish of 

 the oyster kind ; they are formed of the nature of the shell, and consist of 

 a number of coats spread with perfect regularity one over another, in the 

 same manner as the several coats of an onion, or like the several strata of 

 stones found in the bladders or stomachs of animals, only much thinner. 



Pearls are generally divided into oriental and occidental, more from 

 their qualities than their place of produce, the oriental being reckoned the 

 best. The principal oriental pearl fisheries are in the Gulph of Manar, the 

 Persian Gulph, Sooloo Archipelago, and on some of the Japan Islands. 



The Ceylon oyster banks are scattered over a space at the bottom of 

 the G ulph of Manar, extending about 30 miles from N. to S., and 24 from 

 E. to W. There are 1 4 beds ; but they are not all productive, and not 

 more than two or three can be fished in one season : the largest is ten miles 

 in length, and two miles in breadth ; the others are much smaller. The 

 depth of water over the different banks varies from 3 to 15 fathoms, but 

 the best fishing is found in from <» to 8 fathoms. The pearl banks are 

 about fifteen miles from the shore of Condatchy. 



The pearl oysters in these banks are all of one species, and of the same 

 regular form, but of different qualities and denominations, from the nature 

 of the ground to which they arc attached. The shape of the oyster is an 

 imperfect oval, pretty nearly the same as that of the cockle, about 9$ inches 

 in circumference, with a segment cut off by a straight line at the hinge, or 

 point of union of the two valves. The body of the oyster is white, fleshy, 

 and glutinous. The inside of the shell is brighter and more beautiful than 



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