The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-13
Thc Isomnnce of "A Pearl.

The Sulu Archipelago furnishes, IL is
said, the most productive beds Of pearl
oysters in the world, but the natives do
not know how to take full advantage of
them,
Occasionally some very fine pearls are
obtained, and brought to Labuan for sale;
l heard Of one which was remarkably
large and well shaped, purchased by
Hon. George Edwards, late Governor Of
Labuan, aud was pronounced by all who
saw it in the East "a the best that had
ever been brought under their notice.
have seen very handsome ones myself,
some perfectly round, others slightly
pear. shaped.
The natives tell a story Of certain
Datu who was a great trader, and fond
of sailing prahu from Sulu TO Manila.
During the course of his voyages, he
made the acquaintance of an English
merchant who had, on various occasions,
trusted him with goods, and treated him
very literally, not an unusual circum-
stance in the East. At last the datu took
TO gambling, and equandered all his pro-
perty, sold his houses, his slaves, and at
| last lost large sum, and was obliged TO
place his wife and children in pawn as
security.
The only property he had preserved
was favorite slave boy, and with him
he started in a small canoe TO the oyster
banks. There they remained fishing,
and had varied success, but every day
increased the amount in the hollow bam-
boo in which the natives generally keep
! a. = l.. H..
the Datu would talk over the tales they
had heard from other fishermen, aud the
chief delighted to recount the story OF
the vast pearl which was seen by she
men of old, and actually brought in ia
oyster into a canoe, but had slipped from
lac fingers OF the iucautiOus captOr. The
natives declared that the oysters con
tanning the largest pearls are always
open until you approach them, and that
by cautiously peering into the water they
may be seen.
One day day the slave boy was pre-.
pairing to dive, when he started back
touched his masters sleeve, and will
signs Of great emotion pointed into tn,
water he could not speak. The DatJ
looked, aud there, seven fathoms below
them, lay an oyster with an enormoui
pearl distinctly visible Without mo,
menrs reflection, he plunged in, anC
diyed with such skill aud speed, tina
he reached the she'll before IL closed
and actually had his fingers caugh
n It. He thrust hand and shell
into his bosom, and being an expcr
swimmer, rose quickly to the surface
and was helped into the boat by his anx
ious follower. They then forced opeI
the oyster, and there lay a pearl unsur
passed in size and Of an extraordinary
shape; they pulled back 10 Sulu, ant
selling all bis small pearls, the Datu re
deemed his wife and children, and Sc
sail for Manila There he went 10 th
house Of his English friend, aud said r.
Take this pearl clear of my debt, Civ
me what you like In return, ] shall b
satisfied The merchant took the pear
gave him what he considered as value, a
an events enough 10 make Sulu ring wit
his generosity, and sent the pearl Z
, China, and what became Of ID ! coul
never distinctly trace; bat heard tina
what was called the Mermaid Pearl
in Bengal, originally came from Chin
and the Sulus say their one was like III
body Of a woman.