60 
THE  SPONGE  DIVERS  OP  CALYMNOS. 
to  possess  the  property  of  decolorizing  a  considerable  quantity 
of  the  test. 
Sweet  Spirit  of  Nitre. — Previous  to  applying  the  test  to  this 
spirit,  either  pure  or  methylated,  I  proceed  in  the  way  described 
by  Mr.  Tuck,  on  page  173  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  for 
October ;  best  described  in  his  own  words  : — "  Mix  the  sweet 
nitre  with  an  equal  bulk  of  solution  of  caustic  potash,  twice  the 
strength  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  solution,  and,  after  allowing  the 
mixture  to  stand  about  an  hour,  distill  off  an  amount  of  spirit 
equal  to  the  quantity  employed." 
On  proceeding,  as  in  the  former  experiments,  a  most  marked 
difference  will  be  perceived,  on  the  addition  of  the  test,  between 
the  pure  and  sweet  nitre  and  the  methylated,  the  former  retain- 
ing, the  latter  soon  losing  its  color. — London  Pharm.  Journ., 
November,  1865. 
THE  SPONGE  DIVERS  OF  CALYMNOS. 
Some  interesting  details  of  the  sponge  trade  of  the  Levant 
are  given  in  Mr.  Newton's  recently-published  narrative  of  his 
.  travels  and  discoveries.  The  island  of  Calymnos  is  celebrated 
for  its  sponge  divers,  who  sail  in  a  fleet  of  caiques  for  the  coast 
of  Asia  Minor  and  Syria  during  the  month  of  May,  and  fish  up 
annually  £16,000  worth  of  that  valuable  substance.  The  diver 
descends  holding  a  flat  stone  in  both  hands  to  assist  him  in  sink- 
ing, on  which  stone  a  cord  is  fastened.  When  he  gets  to  the 
bottom  he  puts  this  flat  stone  under  his  arm,  and  walks  about  in 
search  of  sponges,  putting  them  in  a  net  hung  round  his  neck 
as  fast  as  he  uproots  them;  he  then  pulls  the  cord  as  a  signal, 
and  is  drawn  up  again.  It  is  said  that  the  best  divers  can  de- 
scend to  a  depth  of  thirty  fathoms,  and  that  they  can  remain 
under  water  for  as  long  a  period  as  three  minutes.  From  inqui- 
ries made  by  Mr.  Newton,  it  does  not  appear  that  they  are  often 
cut  off  by  sharks,  though  these  monsters  are  not  unfrequent  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  Archipelago.  It  is  possible  that  the 
rapid  descent  of  the  diver  may  scare  away  this  fish,  who  gene- 
rally seizes  his  prey  on  the  surface.  A  Calymniote  told  Mr. 
Newton  that  the  most  terrible  sensation  he  had  ever  experienced 
