is supported upon three feet, each twelve inches long. In the
upper flat surface' of this machine holes-or pits are formed,
to receive the larger pearls, the smaller ones being beat in
with a little wooden hammer. The drilling instruments are
spindles of various sizes according to that of the pearls * they
are turned -round in a wooden bead by means of a baW haa-»
die to which they axe attached. "The ‘ pearls being placed in
the pits which we have already mentioned, and the point of
the spindle:- adjusted to them, the workman presses on the
wooden head of the machine with bis left hand, while -his
tight is1 employed in turning round the bow handle. During
the process of drifting, he occasionally moistens the pearl by
dipping the little finger of his right hand in a cocoa-nut
fitted with water, which is placed by him for that purpose;
this he does with a dexterity and quickness which scarcely
impedes the operation, mid can only be acquired by, much
practice.
They have also a variety of other instruments both for cutting
and drilling the pearls. To clean, round, and polish them
tor th at state in which we see them, a powder made of the
pearls themselves is employed- These different operations in
preparing the pearls occupy a great number of the black men
in various parts of the island. In the black town or pettah
of Colombo in particular, many of them may every day be
seen at this work, which is- well worth the attention of any
European who is not already acquainted with it.
Such are* the circumstances relative to the pearl fishery-
which havé feilen under my observation. Owing to its having
been formerly inconsiderately exhausted by the avarice of the
Dutch, it is not perhaps so productive as it once was. The
revenue which government derives from it is still s.however con-»
siderable, and may by good -management be increased. Pearls
are considered as tJxOi next sta|ile . df vlhe Island to cinnamon;
the concourse of people which it attracts affords a facility for
disposing of the other produceg and by proper | management*
advantage might be taken of the opportunity h e r e , offered to
introduce our manufactures .into -yarious parts Oi India.
- Before we leave the bay of Condatchy, it naay ^be amusing- to
take a view, of The various objects which most attract thej attention
of a stranger during the pearl fish e ry .T h e : remai'kable display
of Indian manners, which aye: here- seen in all their Varieties; is
perhaps the most, .striking . of o?5 Eye?jf / east has re?
presentatives; the arts practised |by> some, ,;the ceremonies»per?
formed by- others, r and th e - appearance :, ftf a ll;; ..p reset;| thU
richest repast, to the „curiosity of an Europeam-;- In.^ne. plaoq
he may. £ee. jugglers and vagabonds . qf every, description practising
their tricks with- a degree of suppleness and skill,Kphich
appears supernatural rto^ tlmdinhabitant .of a cold .climate;, in
another he may observe Fakeers, .-Brahmins, Priests, Pandarams,
and devotees of eveiy sect, either in- order -tq;fextqrf; charity*
or in consequence of some vow,: going, th ro u g h j^ pm o ^ psin^
fol operations with^ a ^degree of .obstinate resolution, vdbchi I
could scarcely have believed or even.-coneeiyed» had I apt b eeu
aix eye-witness. I hope? it will, not- be thought an improper, lj||
gression from, my narrative,vi f Im e n tio n a few: Of,- thQse circumstances
which most attracted. my notice: t^eyf aremOfc ,partjcu|>
farly connected with »•;d e s c 3 ^ t^ .j-(of...(,^Clpyi^4,.. .-‘b u t - .they will
certainly afford one source of amusement, to the,.traveller who
visits i t o .
i | The most , painful acts, of penance which: the Indians undergo
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