93 
The Pearl Fishery, 
The conjurers are known in the Malabar language by the 
name of Pillal Karras or hinders of sharks. Dui’ing the time 
of the iislieiy, they stand on the shore from the morning till 
the boats return in the afternoon, all the while muttering 
prayers, distorting their bodies into various strange attitudes, 
and performing ceremonies to which no one, not even them- 
selves I believe, can attach any meaning. All this v/hiie it 
is necessary for them to abstain from food or drink, other- 
wise their prayers would be of no avail. These acts of ab- 
stinence, however, they sometimes dispense with, and regale 
themselves with toddy, a species of liquor distilled from tlie 
palm-tree, till they are no longer able to stand at their 
devotions. 
Some of the conjurers frequently go in the boats with the 
divers, who arc greatly delighted at the idea of having their 
protectors along with them; but in my opinion, this fancied 
protection renders the divers more liable to accidents, as it 
induces them to venture too much and without proper pre- 
cautions, in full confidence of the infallible power of their 
guardians. It must not however be imagined that these 
conjurers are altogether the dupes of their own arts, or that 
they accompany their votaries to the fishery merely from an 
anxious care of their safety ; their principal purpose in going 
thither is, if possible, to filch a valuable pearl. As this is 
the case, it is evident that the superintendant of the fishery 
must look upon their voyages with a jealous eye ; such how- 
ever, is the devoted attachment of their votaries, hat he is 
obliged to pass it over in silence, or at least to conceal his 
suspicions of their real intentions. He must also never hint 
a doubt of their power over the sharks, as this might render 
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