THE BISHOP OF CHIAPA CHAMPIONS THE INDIAN PEARL DIVERS: SIZE OF THE OLD PEARL FIELDS: VALUE OF EXPORTS TO EUROPE IN 16TH CENTURY: THE PERSIAN GULF: THE CEYLON FISHERIES: THE “BINDER OF SHARKS”: THE PEARL CHARM OF THE DIVERS: CLASSIFICATION OF PEARLS IN CEYLON: THE RED SEA FISHERIES, THE SOURCE OF KLEOPATRA’S PEARLS: THE AUSTRALIAN FISHERIES: NEED FOR THEIR PROTECTION: OTHER FISHERIES: STORY OF THE DISCOVERY OF NEW GUINEA PEARLS: TOWN OF THE NYMPHS: RIVER FISHERIES: A RIVER PEARL IN THE BRITISH CROWN: “SHELLS OF THE FLOOD”: DIVERS BENEATH THE SEA: THE FOLK LORE OF THE PEARL: VISHNU’S NECKLACE OF 5 PRECIOUS STONES: EMBLEMS OF PEARLS: PEARLS AND PERSONS: PEARLS AND LUNAR NUMBERS: A MADAGASCAR BIRTH CUSTOM: THE ANGEL, DAY, SIGN AND PLANET OF THE PEARL: AS A DREAM SYMBOL: PREJUDICE AND ITS VALUE: THE PEARLS OF LINNAEUS: CHINESE AND JAPANESE CULTURE PEARLS: PEARL “FAKING”: COCOANUT PEARLS.

The benevolent Bishop of Chiapa, Mexico, Bartolome de las Casas, came forth as the protector of the Indians in the cruel times of their oppression. On their behalf he crossed the Atlantic sixteen times, and he tells of the hellish tortures to which they were subjected by their Spanish conquerors: “Nothing,” says this good man, “nothing could be more cruel and more detestable.” (“Brevissima Relacion de la Destruccion de las Indias,”1539). The story he writes of the Indian pearl divers is a sad one; as soon as the diver came up from the depths the brutal overseer, scarcely allowing him time to breathe the pure air, beat him savagely and compelled him to go down again. His food was poor and scanty, and Mother Earth his bed; his glossy black hair turned prematurely gray, his lungs became diseased, he spat blood freely and the ravenous shark ended his tragic life on earth. The natural result of greed and oppression practically exhausted these fisheries from the neighborhood of which the ancient kings of Mexico drew so much wealth. Indeed, it was the sight of the poor natives adorned with ropes of pearls which excited the cupidity of the first Spaniards who adventured to their shores. There being no provision made for the protection of the oysters in this fishery, it “gave out” almost entirely towards the end of the 17th century. An idea of the magnitude of these fisheries (which included the ancient grounds between Acapulco and the Gulf of Tehuantepec on the West Mexican coast, and the Caribbean Sea by the islands of Coche, Cubagua, and Margarita) can be gathered from the value of the export to Europe up to the first half of the 16th century. The annual value exported was stated to exceed 800,000 Spanish dollars, those famous “Pieces of Eight” which bring us back to the time of “Treasure Island” and the buccaneers of the Spanish Main. As much as 700 lbs. weight of pearls was sent to Seville in the year 1587, amongst them, it is stated, being specimens of rare worth and beauty. Fine quality pearls are still found at Panama and the Gulf of Mexico. The poor progress of these fisheries is said to be due to the wretched pay offered to the Indian and negro divers in the past. It is a strange fact that progress and prosperity are gained only by the pursuance of an enlightened policy towards employees, and this is nowhere so clearly indicated as in the history of the pearl.

Pearls from the Persian Gulf are amongst the most esteemed of the present day. The fisheries of the Great Pearl Bank extend along the West from Ras Hassan half way up the Gulf. To the Eastern no pearl is so beautiful and full of colour as the pearl from the Persian Gulf. The colour is very enduring and improves by being worn next the skin—especially of a person whose jewel it is. The Ceylon fisheries have not been yielding so well of late years, but with wisdom will no doubt regain their old place. The main oyster bank is near Condatchy, about twenty miles from the shore. Twenty men, ten of whom are divers, under a tindal or captain, comprise the crew of each boat. The divers are quick and expert at their work, and although remaining under water seldom more than a minute, have been known to bring to the surface as many as 150 shells. The pearl diver’s greatest dread is the ground shark, and all the time the boats are out the conjurer, termed the “Binder of Sharks” or “Pillal Harras,” stands on the shore muttering prayers and conjurations. The divers wear also a pearl about their bodies as a charm against their dreaded enemy. The beautiful island of Ceylon—the Taprobane of the old Greeks and Romans and the Serendib of the Arabian Nights—is itself shaped like a great drop pearl and is believed by the Indians to be a “part of Paradise.”

Perfectly round and fine lustre pearls are called by the Ceylonese “Annees,” next in grade are called “Annadaree.” Irregular pearls of lesser lustre are called “Kayarel,” generally known amongst us as “Baroques.” Pearl-shaped inferior specimens are called “Samadiem,” those duller and irregular are termed “Kallipoo,” a poorer grade again is known as “Koorwell,” and the lowest type is “Pesul.” Small seed pearls are known as “Tool.”

Kleopatra’s famous pearls no doubt came from the Red Sea fisheries which are believed to have been the property of the Egyptian rulers. The Western Australian fisheries, especially those at Broome and Shark’s Bay, are yearly becoming of greater importance and value, although judicious and scientific means should be taken to prevent these valuable fields from sharing the fate of some of the older ones. The fisheries at Thursday Island and Northern Australia are important and the author was told that pearls were discovered in New Guinea through a sailors’ row with the natives, who pelted the offending lugger with pearl-bearing shells which, when broken on the decks of the vessel, revealed their precious prizes. The remarkable Town of the Nymphs near the Japanese city of Ishinomonsky on the Pacific coast, obtains its name from the women who support their families by diving for pearls. It is a place of many centuries old and the nymphs begin their strenuous work at the age of 14, continuing until they are 40. Pearl shells abound in Sebiam Bay and the work of the nymphs occupy 10 hours a day in summer time. The length of each immersion is from 2 to 3 minutes. When the baby girl is four years of age she is taken to the sea and taught to swim and dive. These lessons continue until the time comes for the serious practice of the pearl seekers’ profession. This work is all done by women whilst the men attend to the training of the children and the duties of the household.

Mention may also be made of the River fisheries of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and various parts of Europe where the pearls found are as a rule not of great importance, although it is stated that Sir Richard Wynn of Gwydyr, Chamberlain to Catherine, wife of Charles II, sent a pearl from the river Conway in North Wales as a present to the Queen, which pearl is today in the King of England’s crown. In Wales these river pearl shells are called by the poetic name Cregin y Dylu, shells of the Flood.

The gradual replacement of naked divers by those in diving dress may tend to make the yields more effective, but the work is not without its dangers, the toiler beneath the sea having still to meet the challenge of its denizens—the shark, the diamond fish and the deadly octopus.

The pearl was esteemed as the emblem of purity, innocence and peace, and was sacred to the Moon and Diana. For this reason in ancient times it was worn by young girls and virgins on whom the protection of “chaste Diana” was invoked. Generally as an emblem of chastity the pearl was worn on the neck. As a cure for irritability it was ground to a fine powder and a quantity, seldom more than a grain, was drunk in new milk. In doses of the same quantity mixed with sugar it was recommended to be taken as a charm against the pestilence.

The Hindus included the pearl amongst the five precious stones in the magical necklace of Vishnu, the other four being the diamond, ruby, emerald, and sapphire.

The golden pearl was the emblem of wealth, the white of idealism, the black of philosophy, the pink of beauty, the red of health and energy, the grey of thought. Lustreless pearls are considered unfortunate, as also are pearls that have lost their sheen when on a dying person’s finger, as sometimes happens. It is curious how pearls improve in lustre when worn by some persons and how they deteriorate when worn by others. A recent writer commenting on this advised that if “pearls turned colour temporarily when worn by certain persons they should be put away for a few days and the detrimental effects of constitutional acids will be found to have entirely disappeared.” To an extent this is correct, but it is equally certain that if the person by whom the pearls were affected were to continue wearing them they would be destroyed altogether. This is quite in accord with the occult philosophy of the ancient masters who held that only people who had favourable planets in Cancer—the Celestial sign of the Ocean—or in whose nativities the lunar aspects were favourable could wear pearls. The Moon, however, in the sign Capricorn was not considered favourable for wearing pearls, and some writers also include the sign Scorpio. A half-moon shaped whitish stone of about 25 lbs. weight was oftentimes used by the Ceylonese pearl divers, tied around their waists, when making the plunge for the pearl oyster, and the crew of 20—a lunar number—which made up the Ceylon pearling boat company may have traditional authority, and may be something more than mere coincidence.

The Princess of Yemen, previously mentioned, wore seven strands of pearls. Seven is the positive number of the Moon or the Moon’s number when going from new to full. This was recognized by ancient nations and it may be well assumed that the symbolic meaning was understood by the advisers to the Princess.

A custom exists in Madagascar which finds a parallel amongst the ancients: it is believed that if at an afflicted birth pearls be buried good will come to the child and will continue to come unless the pearls be unearthed.

The Pearl was sacred to the angel Gabriel and Monday was its special day of the week, the Moon was its planet and the zodiacal Cancer its sign. To dream of pearls is considered a favourable omen, being held to indicate wealth and honour gained by personal exertion. To the poor the pearl denotes riches. It is the symbol of happy marriage and popularity. That pearls are unfortunate is as untrue as that opals or any other gems are. That they are unfavourable to some is as true as that they are favourable to others, but prejudice being narrow and self-centred is hard to kill. A young lady of good family actually told the author that she would never wear pearls because she was unfortunate whenever she wore her necklace. Upon examining this terrible necklace the author saw that the alleged pearls were merely imitation! As imitation pearls scarcely come within the province of this book it may be sufficient to mention that in the year 1748 Linnaeus wrote to Dr. Haller, the physiologist, telling him that he had ascertained how pearls grow in shells. “I am able to produce in any mother of pearl shell that can be held in the hand, in the course of 4 or 5 years, a pearl as large as the seed of a common vetch.” This discovery by the great naturalist was regarded as of such importance by the Swedish Government that they ennobled Linnaeus, rewarded him with a gift of £450, and began to manufacture pearls under his direction with great secrecy. Linnaeus’ method had long been anticipated by the Chinese who used to throw pieces of mother of pearl, grit, etc., into the live oyster. It is said that in a year the coating over a piece of mother of pearl would be sufficient. Of late years the Japanese have acted on these practices with considerable skill, producing by mechanical means some beautiful specimens. Still, beautiful as they are, they are not real pearls.

A good deal of pearl “faking” is practised, and a short time ago a pearl broker in Paris was sentenced to imprisonment for tampering with the colour of a pearl. But whenever chemical means are employed in tinting a pearl the false colours invariably fade and leave the specimen worse off than before, more especially if a lady with a “good pearl skin” wears it.

In his book on “Malay Magic,” Mr. W. W. Satek gives the following interesting account of Cocoa Nut Pearls, quoting from Dr. Deny’s “Descriptive Dictionary of British Malaya,” with acknowledgments to “Nature”:—

“During my recent travels,” Dr. Sidney Hickson writes to a scientific contemporary, “I was frequently asked by Dutch planters and others if I had ever seen a ‘cocoanut stone.’ These stones are said to be rarely found (one in two thousand or more) in the perisperm of the cocoanut, and when found are kept by the natives as a charm against disease and evil spirits. This story of the cocoanut stone was so constantly told me, and in every case without variations in its details, that I made every effort before leaving to obtain some specimens and eventually succeeded in obtaining two. One of these is nearly a perfect sphere, 14 mm. in diameter, and the other, rather smaller in size, is irregularly pear-shaped. In both specimens the surface is worn nearly smooth by friction. The spherical one I have had cut into two halves but I can find no concentric or other markings on the polished cut surface. Dr. Kimmins has kindly submitted a half to a careful chemical analysis and finds that it consists of pure carbonate of lime without any trace of other salts or vegetable tissue.” On this letter Mr. Thistleton Dyer remarks:—

“Dr. Hickson’s account of the calcareous concretions occasionally found in the central hollow—filled with fluid—of the endosperm of the seed of the cocoanut is extremely interesting. The circumstances of the occurrence of these stones or pearls are in many respects parallel to those which attend the formation of tabasheer. In both cases mineral matter in palpable masses is withdrawn from solution in considerable volumes of flint contained in tolerably large cavities in living plants and in both instances they are monocotyledons. In the case of cocoanut pearls the material is calcium carbonate and this is well known to concrete in a peculiar manner from solutions in which organic matter is also present. In my note on Tabasheer I referred to the reported occurrence of mineral concretions in the wood of various tropical dicotyledonous trees. Tabasheer is too well known to be pooh-poohed, but some of my scientific friends express a polite incredulity in the other cases.” The specimen presented by Mr. Skeat to the Cambridge Ethnological Museum is encircled by a black ring which is caused, it is said, by its adherence to the shell of the cocoanut. These cocoanut pearls are of much interest and may perhaps be included amongst the mineral curiosities which comprehend tabasheer, apatite, etc. Ancient philosophy would probably associate them with the sign Cancer as is the case with pearls found in seas and rivers. Swedenborg writes that pearls are Truth and the knowledge of Truth, celestial and spiritual knowledge, faith and charity.