MUSCLE. 
569 
It seems the exertion which these poor wretches 
undergo, during this process, is so violent, that 
upon being brought into the boat, they discharge 
water from their mouth, ears, and nostrils, and fre- 
quently even blood. We must suppose this often 
to be the consequence of their labour, since we are 
told they will make from forty to fifty plunges 
a day, and at each plunge bring up about a hundred 
oysters. The usual time of remaining under water 
does not exceed two minutes ; but instances are 
known of divers who could continue four or five 
minutes ; and Mr. Percival mentions an instance of 
a diver from Anjango, who, in the year 1797, abso- 
lutely remained at the bottom full six minutes. 
Here, as well as in other fisheries, the ground- 
shark is the chief object of terror to the divers. 
The element into which they daily plunge is na- 
tural to them ; they may be considered as almost 
amphibious, and go from the surface of the water 
to the bottom, with as much unconcern as an Eu- 
ropean would walk in his garden ; but they are far 
from being insensible of danger from this inhabi- 
tant of the deep, and the fear lest they should meet 
with their terrible enemy, so continually occupies 
their minds, that these simple people seek for safety 
in supernatural means. “ Before they begin div- 
ing,” says Mr. Percival, “ the priest or conjuror is 
always consulted ; and whatever he says to them is 
always received with the most implicit confidence. 
The preparation which he enjoins them consists of 
