PEATlIi FISHERIES OF CEYLON 
(St k SOVINS COERESPONDENT.) 
The fishing grounds are reached by steamer from 
Colombo, which conveys the visitor to the northern 
parts of the island. All the luxuriant foliage, the leafy 
janes, the wonderful growth of palms, creepers, and 
gorgeons flowers are left behind. The home of the 
pnarl oTster is off a flat low-lying coast of barren Band 
Fov mile=i inward towards the interior, the oonrtry is 
sterile oricI repulsive ; the only wood that thrives here 
Bre the umbrella plant, the cruel prickly buffalo thorn, 
anil thfi noo'nfitrouB <«boabab " tree, whose short-stunted 
(?rowt>i find rugged branches can withstand the strong 
(justs of winr! which sweep over the desolate sand. This 
tree was mysteriously imported from the West Coast 
of Africa in distant days — a husfe shapeless mass of 
wood from twenty to thirtv feet in circumference, 
and very little more in height. The long sweep of 
desolate shore has a dreary appearance, and seems a 
fitting nborle for great crabs, tortoises, and snakes. 
On those sands, where the sea-turtle ba^ks in peace, 
and the solitude is only broken by the wild orv of the 
seafowl, crowd? assemble as soon as the pearl fisheries 
begin, and the drearv waste becomes enlivened by 
numbers who congregate from the distant parts of 
India. The shore is raised in many parts to the 
height nf several feet, by enormoaa mounds of shells, 
the aocumnlations of ages. Here the millions of oyster 
shells, robbed of their pearls, have been year after 
year flung into heaps that extend a distance of miles. 
These heaps shining bright on the beach add to the 
glare, while the burning heat of the sand under a 
noondav snn is almost unsupportable. The flat shore 
all round is riddled with holes by a large ociypeid, 
who must be terribly surprised at the invasion of his 
territory. These huge creatures suifer from the 
general barrenness ; their food is scant, for if one of 
their number is killed and left on the shore, his fellow- 
creatures promptly carry him away into a burrow and 
doubtless devour him. 
The only inhabitants are a few fishermen, who 
find a modest living by curing sharks and other bony 
fishes, finding a market for their poor stock in the 
forlorn peninsula of Jaffna.* Hope is kept alive in 
their breai^ts by washing out the forsaken " Kottus," 
in seare'i for pearls, lost by the gleaners of other 
days. The mhospitablo shore is further haunted by 
sharks, sea-eagles, and black and yellow snakes that 
frequently dot the surface of the water over the 
oyster banks. A pitiless sun flings down burning rays 
on the shifting sands, and over its surface sweep 
clouds cf big red-eyed blue-bottle flies, helping the 
process of putrefaction, as the pearls are not re- 
moved till after the fish has decayed. At Mavrecha 
Khiidi I found hundreds of half-naked Arabs, yellow- 
skinned Moors, Afghans, Malays, Tamils, and Sinha- 
lese divf rs, traders, pedlers, /aiws, conjurors, a hetero- 
geneous mixture of thonsands of different colours, 
countries, castes, and occupations. On the shore, a large 
town had sprung up, consisting of tents, cadjan huts, 
bazaars, and the rudest edifices. The roofs of these 
temporary dwellings presented an unusual spectacle, 
evtry imaginable article of clothing was spread there- 
on to dry cloths, turbans, and jackets of every pos- 
sible shaps and colour met the eye in every direction. 
Til the front of the huts were mats, on which were 
hflaps of black-looking earth. Watching these care- 
fully, were seated greasy Chetties with massive bed- 
curtain rinizs of gold in their ears, and sleek Moors, 
with cold calculating eyes, almost wide, [nude ? ] whose 
attention could not be distracted from the operations 
going 0)1 before them. This \Tork was being under- 
taken by women and children, who were busy sifting 
th<> heaps consisting of shells, sand, and all the filth 
that n>m«incd after washing the putrid flesh of the 
oysters On their removal from the shells, in search of 
any of the remaining precious pearls. The pestilential 
~/t"A7iiobt inaccurate" description of a scene of excep- 
lioual fettility, by means of well and garden culti- 
vation, and densely populated.— Ed. T, A, 
I smell bt putrefying fish poisoned the air, and became 
most offensive when thn wind blew from the eouth. 
The putrefaction of millions of ovsters generates an 
immense amount of worms, flies, mosquitoes and vermin 
of all sorts. To guard against disease, a hospit»l nni 
medical men were provided, and a rigid scrntiny is made 
of all the arrivals to guard against infection. Every 
precaution to prevent cholera or small-pox patients 
coming from other rarts of the island is also adopted, 
m ^^-^'"^ present ha« not a clean bill of health. 
The divers are mostly Moormen and Tamils, with 
a few Arabs from the Persian Gulf, a brave hardy race 
of men. of a speculative turn, who betake themselves 
year after year to this hazardous occupation. They 
usually come in common lighters, eight or ten tons in 
burden, such as commonly convey cargo to ships, using 
both sails and oars ; each boat has a complement 
generally of twenty-one men, with five diving stones 
for ten divers. The usual equipment is very simple, an 
open scaffolding to each boat from which the 
tackle is suspended, and pine-shaped Btones of 
coarse granite, from 30 to 50 lb. in weight, with a 
loop attached to each for receiving the foot : some 
divers use half-moon stones to bind round their waists 
that the feet may be free. The diver is also provided 
with a small basket, or bag, woven like a net, which 
he takes down to the bottom, and filled with the oysters 
as be collects them ; and the rope is attached to his 
body, the end of which is held by the men in the boat 
This rope he jerks when he wishes to be drnwn up.* 
While five divers are coming up, five are prepiiring to 
go down. When the diver reaches the bottom, he 
throws himself on his face and collects all he can. If 
the bank is rich, about 150 oysters can be taken in each 
dip; if, however, the oysters are scattered, not more 
than five to ten. The Arab can remain submerged for 
about ninety seconds, while the Moor or Tamil rarely 
exceeds seventy seconds. The former wears a nose com- 
pressor, but the others scorn the use of any such helps. 
The diving generally begins at sunrise, and continues till 
the sea breezes or west winds set in. The hours of work 
do not exceed six. The men enjoy the labour as a 
pleasant pastime, and never murmur or complain. The 
noise of going down from the several boats continues 
without interruption. From a little distance it resembles 
the dashing of a cataract. 
_ When the day advances and s»a breezes set in, the 
signal is made for the boats to set sail for the shore. 
It is a lovely sight to witnefs a flotilla of about 200 
boats, with white sails set to catch the breeze, lightly 
skimming the blue waters in the dazzling sunlight. 
The oyster banks are some distance from the shore. 
As soon as the keels touch the sand, eager enquiries 
are made from all sides as to the results of the day's 
fishing. The fishing grounds are marked by buoys over 
the spots, ornamented with flags of different colours, 
giving the waters the festive appearance of a re- 
gatta. In the olden times the Governor visited 
the scene accompanied by a military guard armed 
to the teeth, to resist any raid from the Kandyan 
Chiefs bent on plunder. The beach from Condatohy 
Bay to the old fortress cf Areppo is very convenient 
for boats, the water being deep close to the beach, 
and not agitated by any surf. When the signal for 
work is given at early dawn, the noise and shouts 
from those embarking is deafening in its clamour. 
Strange prayers ore recited, hasty ablutions per- 
formed, and the solemn pall of night is pierced with 
a conglomerate shout of voices, which to European 
ears makes a din, strange and unearthly. The divers 
are a superstitious class given to charms and extra- 
ordinary ceremonies. No diver will go under water 
till the shark conjuror has performed his incantations.f 
Once the Government had to keep two of these 
functionaries in its pay, to remove the fear of the 
divers from their enemies, the sharks. The conjuror 
is stripped naked and shut up in a room, where he 
* AVhen he wants the basket haultd up. The diver 
floats to the surface. — Ed. 2'. A. 
t This statement raises a suspicion that the account is. 
not first-hand. For many years back the shark char" 
mers have ceased to be employed,— Ed. T, A. 
