42 
LIFE, IN ITS LOWER FORMS. 
account of the singular method the Greeks, inhabitants of 
the island, have to get their living. In the bottom of the 
sea the common Sponge is found in abundance, and more 
than in any other place in the Mediterranean. The 
inhabitants make it a trade to fish up this Sponge, by which 
they get a living far from contemptible, as their goods 
are always wanted by the Turks, who use an incredible 
number of Sponges at 'their bathings and washings. A 
girl in this island is not permitted by her relations to marry 
before she has brought up a certain quantity of Sponges, 
and before she can give a proof of her agility by taking 
them from a certain depth.” * In other islands the same 
custom prevails, but with reversed application, as in 
Nicarus, whoro the father of a marriageable daughter be- 
stows her on the best diver among her suitors, — “ He that 
can stay longest in the water, and gather the most Sponges, 
marries the maid.” t 
In fact, the employment seems to be common to both 
sexes and all ages. Savary, describing a little insular de- 
pendence of Rhodes, named Syrne, observes as follows : — 
“ The Sponges which grow around this isle are the only 
resource of tho inhabitants. Men, women, and children, 
all learn to dive. All must seek beneath the waters the 
only patrimony which nature has left them. The men 
excel all in this dangerous art. They precipitate them- 
selves into the sea, and descend to an enormous depth. 
Often they do violence to themselves in retaining their 
breath too long, and on emerging vomit a mouthful of 
blood. At other times they run the risk of being devoured 
* Voyages in the Levant (1766), 175. 
f Pomet’s Iiist. of Drugs, v. 102. 
