The Pearl Fishery. 
from the ground with their toes almost as nimbly as an Euro- 
pean could with his fingers. The diver, thus prepared, seizes 
another rope with his right hand, and holding his nostrils 
shut with the left, plunges into the water, and by the assist- 
ance of the stone speedily reaches the bottom. He then hangs 
the net round his neck, and with much dexterity, and ail 
possible dispatch, collects as many oysters as he can while he 
is able to remain under water, which is usually about two 
minutes. He then resumes his former position, makes a sig- 
nal to those above by pulling the rope in his right hand, 
and is immediately by this means drawn up and brought into 
the boat, leaving the stone to be pulled up afterwards by the 
rope attached to it. 
The exertion undergone during this process is so violent, 
that, upon being brought into the boat, the divers discharge 
water from their mouths, ears, and nostrils, and frequently even 
blood. But this does not hinder them from going down again 
in their turn. They will often make from forty to fifty plun- 
ges in one day ; and at each plunge bring up about a luin- 
dred oysters. Some rub their bodies over with oil, and stuff 
their ears and noses to prevent the water from entering; 
while others use no precautions whatever. Although the usual 
time of remaining under water does not much exceed two 
minutes, yet there are instances known of divers who could 
remain four and even five minutes, which was the case with 
a Calfre boy the last year I visited the fishery. The longest 
instance ever known was that of a diver who came from 
Anjango in 1797, and who absolutely remained under water 
full six minutes. 
This business of a diver, which appears so extraordinary 
N 2 
