The Pearl, its story, its charm, and its valueCattelle, Wallis Richard
History
The Pearl, its story, its charm, and its value
Cattelle, Wallis Richard
Pearls
In the valuation of ani, anitari and vadivu, the individual size, form,
and color is considered, but the others are simply valued by weight.
The modus operandi of these fisheries like all others managed by
Orientals continues much the same from fishing to fishing. Experiments
have been made at the Tuticorin fishery with helmeted divers but their
catch compared unfavorably with that of the naked natives, who will
sometimes under favorable circumstances bring up two thousand in a
day. It is said that the X-ray is being used to some extent in the
examination of shells and that those found to be without pearls are
thrown back into the sea, but it is doubtful if the general use would
be practical or advantageous while oysters remain abundant; so far, the
use of it has been experimental only.
Fine pearls are found in Dutch India among the Molucca Islands. Fishing
is done by the natives, and as they seldom go deeper than ten or twelve
feet the probability is that they do not get the finest shells or
pearls, for it seems to be quite well established that the shells taken
from deep water are larger and more likely to contain large pearls.
Whether this arises from deep water being more favorable to growth, or
an unmolested opportunity to grow, has not been determined.
Hitherto the Netherlands Indian government has opposed encroachment
upon the rights of the natives and colonists, and has patrolled the
waters with small gunboats to prevent any attempt by Europeans to fish.
But lately concessions have been made to British firms so that shell
is being shipped direct to London, and it is now thought that these
fisheries will soon rival the Australian. The pearls were formerly
bought from natives, principally of the Island of Aroe, by Chinese and
Arabs who took them to Macassar. From there they were sent first to
Singapore and then to London, Paris, and Amsterdam. Most of the pearls
brought to Macassar are baroques, though fine specimens of more regular
shape arrive there occasionally. The mother-of-pearl from these shells
is of good quality.
Some pearls are found at the Bazaruto Islands, Portuguese East Africa,
a few miles from the coast, midway between Inhambane and Beira. A
concession was granted to a company about 1892, but bad management,
lack of funds and political difficulties, killed the enterprise.
General reports indicate that it is very difficult for any enterprise
subject to the officials of this district to succeed. The Bazaruto
Kaffirs still fish, but without system or intelligence. They are
wasteful and damage many of the pearls by cooking the oyster. The few
found are shipped by Indian traders to Bombay and Zanzibar.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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