566 - 
muscle. 
place ; probably on account of the saline efflores- 
cence which all marine substances seem liable to in 
a greater or less degree. 
The pearl fishery in the island of Ceylon is par- 
ticularly noticed by Mr. Percival, who has lately 
given so good an account of the manner in w T hich 
the natives obtain the pearls, that we shall beg 
leave to avail ourselves of his information. 
The bay of Condatchy is the spot occupied by the 
fishers during the pearl season ; and this place, 
which at other times of the year presents nothing 
but a scene of barren wretchedness, becomes at once 
all life and bustle : vast numbers of small tents are 
erected, and people are seen in every direction bu- 
sily employed about their several occupations. The 
banks where the fishery is carried on extend seve- 
ral miles along the coast, but the principal bank is 
opposite to Condatchy, and lies about twenty miles 
from the shore. Before the people proceed to bu- 
siness, the different oyster banks are surveyed, and 
a report made on the subject to government. If the 
oysters are found in sufficient abundance, and have 
arrived at a proper degree of maturity, the particular 
banks to be fished that year are put up to the high- 
est bidder, and are usually purchased by a black 
merchant. The fishing season commences in Fe- 
bruary, and ends about the beginning of April. The 
merchant is restricted to a certain term, of which 
two months is the outside: however, he is some- 
times allowed a few days over on account of un- 
avoidable interruptions. The season may be bad ; 
