Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-08-19


resorts of the pearI-fshery, and one or two
as they surmised, lying in wait to entrap
some unwary prize.
They had the good fortune to avoid them
all, and having reached the point from which
poor Haroun had been blown of, they steer
cd as nearly as possible in the direction
which he indicated, to discover the Rock of
Good Fortune, for this was the name which
he had bestowed upon it in the transport of
his discovery. After going to the full dis
lance which he had directed, and even fur
Their they could find nothing of it. Two
days were spent in unsuccessful cruising
near the spot, and the unfortunate Persian
was in despair. With the usual levity and
inconsistency of his nation, his spirits, which
had been excessively raised by what he had
deemed the certain prospect of great acqui-
sitions, we're proportionably depressed. He
cursed his ill luck which perpetually pur-
sued him, poured maledictions on the MEM
DRY of poor Haroun, whom he denounced as
a liar and an imposter, and entreated his
companions to spend no more time in the
useless search for that which had no exist
ence.-But the Johasmee was of different
temper. He coolly turned the head of the
boat towards the Island of Karak, and from
thence took what sailors call fresh depart
ure,' keeping better lookout than before.
Again were the hopes of Saadee raised, only
to be dashed by anew disappointment. The
rock still eluded their search 1t lis impos-
sible to say whether Khalil had ever heard
the well-known anecdote of the Oriental
conqueror, who was taught lesson of per-
severance by observing that an ant, after
falling in seventy-seven attempts to carry
grain of millet up wall, made yet another
and succeeded. 1t is certain that the JONAS
me acted in the spirit of this story, for he
turned once more towards Karak, and start
ed yet again in the search, keeping more
towards the south, so as to allow for the cur
rent, which he thought might have led Har-
oun astray. This time they were success
full, coming directly upon the. rock, and so
suddenly as to surprise them ALL The bank
was found in the assigned place, and the
memory of the poor pearl-diver was vindi-
Gated
They now prepared for business The
divers, including Khali, dressed themselves
in compile suits of white cotton, to protect
their bodies from the contact of the round
geatlnous masses of animated matter, cal
led by sailors sun-lellies, or sea-nettes, and
by naturaists meduse, which have the prop
erty, when touched, of producing a sharp,
singing pain. Then each diver, letting
himself over the side of the boat, placed his
feet on stone attached to cord, which
was held by seibor, or puller up. On his
left arm he carried small basket, to receive
the oysters which he might collect. Then
closing his nostrils with a piece of elastic
horn, he gave the signal by raising his right
arm, and was Immediately lowered away,
the stone enabling him to sink to the bot
tom without difficulty. Here, in time va
, rying from -hirty to hundred seconds, he
employs himself in filling his basket; as
soon as this was done, or he felt himself in
need of breath, he jerked the rope as a sig
nal, and was Immediately hauled to the sur
face. 1t may be well to remark here that
the stories which are told of divers remain
ing under water for five minutes are not to
be credited; the most experienced fisher
men are unable to continue two minutes
without breathing.
The evening was spent in opening the
largest and most promising oysters, which
they did with their knives. The pearl, it is
well known, is found embedded in the SUBJ
stance or flesh of the oyster, near the Joint
ofthe shell. Saadee and Khalil were soon
convinced that the Rock of Fortune was
rightly named. Every day pearls of great
size and beauty rewarded their search. The
mass of shells, which they had no time to
open, were thrown on the rock, where the
heat of the sun soon decomposed them, and
caused the valves to burst asunder, giving
the pearls which they contained to view
Khail was indefatigable in his labors. He
saw the ransom rapidly accommodating which
was to restore him to his home, his friends,
and his Amineh. Every morning, after the
early prayer, he resumed his labors, nor did
he cease till the setting sun called them all
to their evening devotions. September at
last was nearly over, and the Gulf hitherto
smooth and placid, began to be roughened
by the autumnal gales Long experience
made the divers aware that it was time to
cease their efforts for the year. With a
heavy sigh, Saadee gave the word to raise
the anchor, and setting their sail, they d.
rected their course towards the mouth of the
gulf A strong northerly wind made it nee
essary to keep along the southern shore, and
approach within a short distance of the
headland of Ras ell Kheima.-This, howev-
er, gave little apprehension to Khalil, as he
considered that the same wind would pre-
vent any of his tribe from putting to sea.
Bot in this expectation he was doomed to
be disappointed. Hardly had they passed
the cape when large bugalah put out from
behind large row of islands, which extend
ed parallel to the shore A single glance
showed Khalil that it was the vessel of his
deadly enemies, the Mohassanees. Whether
! they had been lying in wait for him, or, as
was more probable, for some other prize,
they were, at all events, fully armed and pre-
pared for deadly encounter. Khalil felt
assured that his capture would be followed
be instant death, not only of himself, but al
so of his companions.
He at once got out the oars and double
banked them by means of the divers, telling
them, as he pointed to the approaching bug
allah, to row for their lives. 1t may be be-
lieved that they needed no second bidding
The long sweeps bent and quivered with
their powerful strokes, and the light skifi
shot through the waves like hying-6sh
darling from billow to billow But with not
more unrelenting eagerness does the dol
phin pursue the hying-fsh, than did the bug