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PEARLS. 
Although pearls from the Sulu Archipelago 
are the finest in the world, of the six or 
eight leading varieties of shells brought to 
Europe, those from Aru are the most valuable. 
A diver will collect from twenty to forty shells 
a-day, according to the state of the sea, and from 
130 to 150 tons are obtained annually from this 
locality. A single valve of the Aru shells weighs 
generally over a pound, 
We went into several of the tokos, hoping to 
see some pearls and birds of paradise. But 
traders from Macassar had been recently in 
Dobbo, and had bought up almost all that was 
worth having, both of pearls and birds. So of the 
latter there were only one or two specimens of 
the commonest species, and of the former only 
one of any size, whose beauty and exquisite pear- 
shape made me envious of possession ; but I 
could have bought it cheaper in London. 
We walked about a mile and a half beyond 
the village to visit a personage who has taken 
to himself the title of Rajah of Aru. He was 
a sailor in his youth ; but is now in his old age 
settled in Aru with superabundant wealth for 
life, with which he indulges in ludicrous and un- 
comfortable imitations of civilised luxuries. His 
house, originally a mere bamboo erection, was 
