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 w^e 
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 neaT the place where his companion was standing 
a very large mussel, and called to him, " I say, Tam, 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. 
"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, 
