Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-03-07

lear OF the feafererOs or ground sharks, and the
manfa' or marriages. This latter fish, he was
informed, was an Immense broad fish, formed like
skate. They hug the divers with two large fins
and carry the poor fellows Off One was struck by
Capt. Hal! with harpoon, and when taken, was
icnnd 10 measure twenty feet across the back
Notwithstanding these dangers, and anxious him
sell to ascertain the state of the oyster banks Lieut.
Hardy became diver.
lie says "lfi be difficult, to learn to swim, it
/ Is INFINITELY more SO 10 dive. In my first attempts
could only descend about six feet, and was imme-
diately obliged to rise again to the surface; hui by
degrees. got down to two or three fathoms, at
winch depth the pressure Of the water upon the ears
is SO great, mat can only compare it 10 a sharp
pointed iron instrument being Violently forced into
that organ. Ny stay under water therefore, at this
depth, was extremely Short bu, as had been as
sured that rs soon the ears should burst as it is
technically called by the divers there would be nc
difficulty ~ descending to any depth, and wishing
I to uccomc an accomplished diver. determined y
brave the excessive pain. Accordingly, taking
leap from the bow of the boat, full of hope and re-
solution, with my fingers knit together over my
head, the elbows straight, and keeping myself stead
lily IN The inrcrse order of nature, namely-with
my feet perpendicularly upwards, the impetus car
red me down about four iathoms when il became
necessary to assist the descen, by means Of the
hands and legs. But, alas, who can count upon
the firmness of his resolution The change Of tenn
peralure from hot TO cold is most sensiby felt. Ev-
cry fahom fills the imagination with some new idea
OF The dangerous folly of penetrating farther into the
silent doninions of reckless monsters, where the
skulls OF the dead make perpetual grimaces, and the
yawnlng jaws of sharks and entereros,or the death
embrace Of the manla lie in wait for u.s.
"lhese impressions were augmented by the i'm
possibility OF the vision penetrating the twilight by
which was surrounded, together with the excru-
eating pain felt in my eyes and ears; in short,
my mind being assaulted by thousand incompre-
hensible images, ceased striking with my hands
and legs; felt myself receding from the bottom. |
nvolnniarily changed the position of my body,
ard in the next instant found myself once more on
the surface. Again essayed with more fixed de.
termination. felt myself gliding through the slop-
ply water, which, from its density. gave one the
idea of swimming through thick jelly again ex-
perienced the same change of temperature in the
water as descended and again the agonizing SEN
satlon in my eyes and made me waver.
"But now reason and resolution urged me on al
though every instant the pain increased as de-
scended, and at the depth of six or fathoms,
ielt sensation in my ears like that produced by
the explosion of gun; at the same moment lost
all sense of PAIN and afterwards reached the bottom
with facility which had thought unattainabe-
| no sooner found myself at the surface
again than became sensible of what had happen
ed to my ears, eyes and mouth; | was literally
bleeding from each of these, though wholly uncon-
scious OF II. But now was the greatest danger in
diving, as the sharks, manas and tentereros have
an astonishing quick scent for blood"
Lieut.. Hardy found the pearl oysters on the coast
of California chiefly in sheltered bays the bottoms
of which Were covered with large rocks and they
were most abundant in assures or cleiis of these
rocks adhering firmly by strong byssus so strong
ly, indeed, that it required no t.le force to tear
! them away. He tells us the diver carries with
him an oak stick about nine inches long and point
ed at both ends He grasps the stick by the
middle. and when attacked by the shark or mania
he thrusts it into the monsters expanded Jaws in
such position that when attempting 10 seize his
victim they close upon two sharp points.
! Ii does not appear that this London Company
were successful, as they soon ceased operations
But let no infer from that fact alone that the
pearls do not abound in sufficient quantities to re-
muneraie suitable exertions. The same year, 1925,
no less than thirty English, two American, and one
! German joint stock companies were formed to
work the silver mines of Mexico; and though many
obtained large amounts Of silver, and one the "Bo-
lenos Co.," no less than $4,000 900, yet they all
failed. This failure in the case both of pearls
and silver, may safely and necessarily be attributed
to the employment otagents so far from their prn
cipals, where supervision, guidance and direction
are impossible.
The preceding remarks. like the extrac, from the
log book of the "Speedwell," have especial refer
ence to the Peninsula Of CALIFORNIA; though the,
are very possibly true also Of Alta California Ant
there is no hazard in saying in conclusion that, be
yond question, those waters contain an inestimablt
quantity of pearls, and it is equally UNREASONABLE
that, IT they are there. the present Anglo-S axoI
emigrans will certainly obtain them
The most valuable Pearl Fishery in the world
is that of Ceyon, which is monopoly belonging
to the British Government. In the wear 1893 i
yielded pearls to the value of $960,00O; and il
1904. it was leased to individuals, under certain
restrictions, for $500, per annum. Pearls hav
been of immense value since before the Christian
era and unlike gold and silver have not meter
ally decreased in value since that date The mos
valuable individual pearls ever known, were on
presented by Julius Caesar to Scrvilia, the mothe
of Marcus Brutus, valued at $3.50 900; and the eel
ebraied one Cleopatra dissolved in vinegar. an
drank, wishing TO excel in cost Mark Anthony
most sumpiuous repast, worth over 100000. A
; mong the most valuable now in existence, are on
bought by Tayerner al Catifa. in Arabia and no,
in possession OF the Shah Of Persia worth $3.50 OO(
one belonging to the Emperor OF Russia, of nearl
the same SIZE and purity; and one in the BIRTHS
Crown, captured among The treasures of Serinp;
, paam together with the one already alluded TO Z
having been obtained in Margariia in 5S7, weigh
ing $50 caras and worth Sl50,000.
VoUcHER.-A man once went 10 nurchase
, horse Of a Quaker.
will he draw well asked the buyer
l, Thee will be pleased 10 sec him draw, said n
, hemiah.
y The bargain was closed, and the farmer tried h
c horse, but ne would not stir lie returned.
C That horse will not draw an inch -
G u did not tell thee he would draw friend ga
the Quaker, Il only remarked that thee would
g pleased TO sec him draw and 81 should I. but i
e would never crafty me in that respect
: A CUNNING LAwYER.--A Lawyer in Irclan