-21)1 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Ceylon. 



the pearl itself ; the outside is smooth, unless when covered with corals, 

 sponges, and other marine productions. 



The pearls are commonly contained in the thickest and most fleshy part 

 of the oyster, contiguous to one of the angles of the shcD, close to the hinge. 

 An oyster frequently contains several pearls : one lias been known to pro- 

 duce 150, including the seed or dust pearls; and 100 oysters have been 

 opened without yielding one pearl large enough to be of any estimation. 



The pearl oyster is said to attain its maturity at the age of seven or 

 eight years ; after which its existence soon terminates, and its contents are 

 washed away by the waves. 



The fishery generally begins about the 20th of February. Sometimes 

 Government fishes the banks at its own risk ; sometimes the boats are let to 

 many speculators; but most frequently the right of fishing is sold to one indi- 

 vidual, who sub-rents boats to others. Although the contractor is condi- 

 tioned to take the contract with all risks, yet if the speculation fail, 

 Government is obliged to remit a full proportion of the rent. 



The boats with their crews and divers come from Manar, JafTnapatam, 

 Nagore, Tuticorin, Travancore, and other parts of the Coast of Coroman del. 

 They arrive completely equipped, and are open boats of one ton burthen, 

 about 45 feet long, 7 or 8 broad, and 3 feet deep, having but one mast and 

 one sail ; and unless when heavily laden, do not draw more than 8 or 10 

 inches water. The crew generally consists of 23 persons, 10 of whom are 

 divers, 10 munducs, or men to haul up the divers; 1 tindal, I steersman, a 

 boy to bale out water, and a man to take care of the boat. To these is 

 added a peon on the part of the renter, to guard against fraud. 



The period the divers continue under water, in the depth of seven 

 fathoms, seldom exceeds a minute, sometimes a minute and a half; but other 

 persons, who are willing to allow the greatest latitude, say they never knew 

 a diver remain under water more than two minutes. In ground richly 

 clothed with oysters, a diver often brings up in his basket 150 oysters at a 

 dip ; but when they are thinly scattered, he frequently collects no more than 

 five. One boat has been known to land in one day 33,000 oysters, and 

 another not more than 300. 



The oysters are generally allowed to remain in heaps for ten days after 

 they are brought on shore, that time being necessary to render them putrid. 

 They are not esteemed good to eat, being of a much fatter nnd more glu- 

 tinous substance than the common oyster. When they are opened fresh, 

 they are sometimes dried in the sun, and eaten by the lower classes of people. 



After the pearls are separated from the sand, washed with salt water, 

 dried, and rendered perfectly clean, they are sorted into classes, according to 



o 



