98 
'The Pearl Fishery. 
is supported upon three feet, each twelve inches long. In the 
upper flat surface of this machine holes oi' pits are formed 
to receive the larger pearls, the smaller ones being beat in 
with a little wooden hammer. The drilling instruments are 
spindles of various sizes according to that of the pearls ; they 
are tiirr/ed round in a wooden head by means of a bow han- 
dle to which they are attached. The pearls being placed in 
the pits wdiicli we have already mentioned, and the point of 
the spmdle adjusted to tliem, the worlunan presses on the 
wooden head of the machine with his left hand, -while his 
right is employed in turning round the bow handle. During 
the process of drilling, he occasionally moistens the pearl by 
dipping the little finger of his right hand in a coeoa-nut 
filled with w’ater, which is placed by him for that purpose ; 
this he does with a dexterity and quickness which scarcely 
impedes the operation, and can, only be acquired by much 
practice. 
They have also a variety of other instruments both for cut- 
ting and drilling the pearls. To clean, round, and polish them 
to that state in which we see them, a powder made of the 
pearls themselves is empl(^ed. These different operations in 
preparing the pearls occupy a great number of the black men 
in various parts of the island. In the black town or pettah 
of Columbo in particular, many of them may every day be 
seen at this work, Avhich is well worth the attention of any 
European who is not already acquainted with it. 
Such are the circumstances relative to the pearl fishery 
which have fallen under my observation. Owing to its having 
been formerly inconsiderately exhausted by the avarice of the 
Dutch, it is not perhaps so productive as it once was. The 
