TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIA S. 
307 
to be understood by sensible people in contradistinction to the 
learned, a small light-colored, bright and round bunch is 
formed, about as large as a good healthy dew-drop of May, 
which is called a pearl. The use of this article usually is to 
ornament the necks of those whose brains are of deficient 
growth, and the ears and heads of those who are born to 
more titles than thoughts. The thing has no real value in 
itself; but as vanity has rendered it a valuable means of 
throwing into shadow these deficiencies of nature, commerce 
has given it a place among her most valuable commodities. 
These pearls of Lower California are considered of excellent 
water ; but their rather irregular figure somewhat reduces 
their value. The manner of obtaining these pearls is not 
without interest. The vessels employed in the fisheries are 
from fifteen to thirty tons burthen. They are usually fitted out 
by private individuals. The Armador or owner commands 
them. Crews are shipped to work them, and from forty to 
fifty Indians, called Busos, to dive for the oyster. A stock of 
provisions and spirits, a small sum of money to advance the 
people during the cruise, a limited supply of calaboose furni¬ 
ture, a sufficient number of hammocks to sleep in, and a 
quantity of ballast, constitute nearly all the cargo outward 
bound. Thus arranged they sail into the Gulf; and having 
arrived at the oyster banks, cast anchor and commence busi¬ 
ness. The divers are first called to duty. They plunge to 
the bottom in four or five fathom water, dig up with sharpen¬ 
ed sticks as many oysters as they are able, rise to the surface 
and deposit them in sacks hung to receive them at the ves¬ 
sel’s side. And thus they continue to do until the sacks are 
filled, or the hours allotted to this part of the labor are ended. 
When the diving of the day is done, all come on board 
and place themselves in a circle around the Armador, who 
divides what they have obtained, in the following manner: 
two oysters for himself, the same number for the Busos, or 
divers, and one for the government. 
This division having been concluded, they next proceed 
