ill 
mutters his spells in secret from the time of sailing 
until the boats return. While this is going On, the 
natives believe that the sharks cannot open their 
mouthsi The waters if Ceylon abound with these 
remorseless pirates of the deep. Yet strange say to 
that the number of accidents m the fishing grounds 
are very few. If a shark is t.^en, the divers make 
a aigtial, when all the boats return ; it is not often, 
however, this occurs, for, whether, it may be the charm 
or the multitudes or the noisp, tew of those monsters 
approach the scene during the diving operations 
While at work no food is taken by the divers accord' 
ing to the instructions of the conjuror, else the charm 
for their protection ia broken, They are, however, 
allowed unlimited privileges in drink. This permission 
is rarely abused by the divers, who are for the most 
part abstemious men. 
On reaching the shore the boats are made fast, 
while the oysters are carried on the heads of 
boatmen to the " Kottus " or palisade enclosures 
on the sand, where they are thrown into heaps. 
Some boats land as many as 30,000, while others 
only five or six hundred. When all the shells are 
huded under the careful eyes of the overseers, the 
whole is divided into heaps, two-thirds going to the 
Government, and oue-third to the divers. The diving 
operations of the present year have proved a great 
success, exceeding the expectations of the official in- 
spector. It was estimated that about 10,000,000 oysters 
cnuld be available, whereas the actual number hshed 
has reached 37,810,55'2, the Government share of whiih 
has realised R8,27,08l, at an average price of K32-14 
per thousand. The highest price obtained has been 
R50, and the lowest H2S. The largest number of 
boats out on any one day has been 206, and the lowest 
35. A further Rl.OO.OOO should be realised by the 
Government, if the monsoon will only hold off, as the 
banks are not nearly exhausted. This is, I think, the 
largest sum that the fisheries have ever yielded, and is 
all clear gain to the revenue, I notice from the official 
statement showing the estimated reyenue and expendi- 
ture for the year 1891 that the Pearl Fisheries are shown 
as yielding ouly RSOO I At t iO close of last year's opera- 
tions, it was authoritatively asserted that there could be 
no operations this year, and the estimate of 10,000,000 
oysters above alluded to was only an after-thought, 
j^jtrely, the Government can be better served in a 
matil^"^ of this sort, by haviug the banks more care- 
fully su^'^^y®'^ * competent official. Oysters do 
not form ^.^'-a^ls in the space of n day or two. It is 
to be hoped other estimated figures of 
the budget will "i"' 6° away, or there may be a defi- 
cit of some sam thtT''' will act disas rously. 
The representative of the Government promptly 
holds an auction duly s^irommed by tom-tom, when 
its share of oysters in lois pf hOOO each are put 
up for sale, being knocked do>-u t j i,he highest bidder. 
The brokers, jewellers, and mefcJ.'mits who congregate 
bid and outbid each other io tlie uiost lively manner. 
Abut the sama time a great fair is iield, at which ar- 
ticles of all description from India an 1 elsewhere are sold. 
A great number of beggars, crippies, and fakeers find 
their way here. I noticed one of the l.itter who was do- 
ing penance, for which he wore round his neok a 
gridiron about a foot and a half lon^'. I was told this 
strange ornament was not removt d while either eat- 
ing or sleeping. There were other loathsome practices 
exhibited, too filthy to chronicle. 
The greatest oare was taken to prevent theft. Yet 
I was informed that pearls are dexterously removed 
from the shells by means of a stifi: piece of brass or 
^bramble. 
Tho natives think that the pear is formed from the 
dew drops in connection with the sunbeams when the 
oyster comes to the surface to catch the drops 
of lain. Some think the pearls are fo rmed as a defence 
against interior worms, while others state authorita- 
tively that the pearl is the eSeot of disease. I find it 
is easier to criticise their speculations than to sub- 
stitute a more rational theory, which I leave to the 
reader. Between one hundred and tv?o hundred 
pearls have been found in a single oyBteti while 
sometimes a hundred may be opeoed without 
finding wj. The yellow or gold 
is most prized by the HatiVeS. I/he largest I saw 
was about the size of a small pistol bullet ; spotted 
pearls are cheap. For a long time it was supposed 
that the pearl oyster was anchored to a cenaiu clace, 
and that the crustacean was incapable ot locomotion. 
More recent researches prove that it can detach itself 
from its moorings and form its byssus at pleasure, to 
prevent being carried away by the current. According 
to the statement of one naturalist, an oyster was seen 
taking a walk round the inside of a " ohatlie " and 
mounting the glass side ot a vivarium. They are sup- 
posed to change their places a dozen times m a mouth. 
An oyster reaches maturity in its sixth year and 
in its ovaria there are reckoned to be about twelve 
million eggs. Owing to its maay enemies it is 
hardly necessary to add that few of these millions 
arrive at a mature condition. This curious lamily 
of Crustacea are so human as to be gregarious in their 
habits, while they are addicted to night walking, not 
however, to be regarded as an aspersion on their charac- 
ter like that of the human biped, but solely ou ac- 
count of their enemies, darkness being tutir beat 
protection. The pearl oyster is, on the wnol-, a hardy 
creature, capable of living in brackish water, uichoed to 
leave its moorings if the water gets agiia.ca and 
disgusted with the conduct of crabs and shtimps 
which nibble at its byssus and;^compel emigration'. 
The shape of this strange creature carrying so vluable 
a treasure is that of an imperfect ovai, while the 
mside of its shell resembles a silver palace more 
beautiful than the pearlitself.-rmes of India. 
Cinnamon Addltebation in AusTEiA.~The Aus. 
riain ministry for iiome afiairs Haa issued a oitoular 
to all pohoe authorities throughout the couuiry 
calling attention to the growing practice of adul- 
terating spioe, especially cinnamon, and enjoining 
a strict application oi lue laws against food auulter- 
ation. ine circular states that u has been orouKhC 
to the knowledge ot the authorities luat large 
quantities of hazel-nut shells are brou.ut inw 
commerce by way of Trieste for no otiier purpose 
than to be grouna up with cinnamoa.-o'/te,Lj ancZ 
Druggist, June 13. 
TechxXical Schools are very much iu favour 
in Jingiananow and the system of eduoatiou is oeing 
extenuea to the youths of the upper classe=. Sir Ka! 
TT/h '^^ People 6 i-ai^oe m 
apW??,u ^'^^"^'^'ea one for the sons of gr.ntkmen. 
Agriculture, Practical. Eogm.enng, Eiectncny &o. 
ate taught with the ordinary suojeots of a pubuc 
school course, and the pupils are made to be profi- 
"^"^S'^ating, swimming ana otber manly 
epons. ihe object is to make tbe sons of gentle- 
men who have to fight their way m lue wona 
more practical men as colonists than chey are 
generally now. a knowieuge of a lew of the 
sciences with an aptitude for manual worK enablo 
a colonist to had employment without aay great 
dilhcuity.— GVj/ton Colonist at home, 
_ FlBBOUS PlAJJTS AND NEW PilODUCTS.— Here 
is an interesting paragraph from iMr. ivioir's au- 
ministration Report lor the Central ITovmoe 
jusli outi 
^j^f^i'i'''*''"'^.^. have been in progress for soma months 
Z ^^''^"^ ^"'i Gow lespeotiiig 
,.h? n,f ^f^'"^" expetimems m growing tiore plams 
chiefly and other products. Unavoidable delay has oc- 
t^irXH^ concluding a formal agreement, but 1 trust 
that these gentlemen will be iu possesion ot a uortioi-. 
at any rate, ot the laud before long, and lh«t .ueir ei! 
perimeui wiiuurn out a sucoes.. The W .s, at pre- 
sent, profitless to Government, and success witu tiie ex- 
periment would be a great boon to the neighbouring vil. 
lagers, who are, I ti.nderstand, anxious to see operations 
lu progress, m order that they may obtain regular le- 
