The weekly Butte record., 1867-09-21

One of the divers of the boat 10 which l belong
ed was an exception to this rule: man who look
ed and talked somewhat differently from his COM
psnions. and who, with some Of them, Was little
inclined to be qaarrelsome- Uneven in disposition
he was also fond Of playing practical jokes When
this man who was called Lstta, was in one OF his
merry moods be often sefieusly interrupted our
work, and by his conduct brought upon himself
the i'll will of his companions
Usually when diver first reaches the bottom
there will be few feet of slack line attached to his
BODY. favorite amusement of Lattas was to
shake the rope fastened to one of his companions
in such manner that the motion would be percep-
tibe &c those above. while the person to whom it
was attached would know nothing Of its having
been aeiiated. This would be signal far those
above to haul up the line; and. knowing that the
man had Just gone down, they would suppose the
signal would not be given without good reason. and
would lose no time in bringing the man to the sur
face.
and in ignorance that any had been given. would
find himself dragged up Immediately after going
down and would use some steong Malahar language
in expressing his opinion OF those who had been
exertlug themselves in obeying The signal. Here
would be fine opportunity for controversy, which
WAS never lost.
The diver would swear that. he had not given a
signal and we in the boat would be as certain that
| be had. One OCCASION when the same man had
been suddenly pulled ny sSice within an hour, Sc
with the fear that he should have TO take the lives
of two men 10 keep them from killing each other.
Latta was at last detected IN his amusement, and
emphatcallv threatened with death should he again
offend in the same manner.
Before we had been three weeks on the banks this
man had made an enemy of nearly every other be-
longing to the boat: but an enemy more merciiess
than man was in search OF Latta. IL tound MIN one
day. and he was seen no more. hewas taken away
by a shark and his loss was further proof to our
Marawas of the power and wisdom oil the conlnrer
retained for their especial use. Latta they pro-
nounced unworthy of the priests care, alleging
that he had therefore been allowed to meet the fate
of the unprotected.
So inconsistent are the thoughts ef the supersti-
tious divers that the loss of Latta apparently in
spired our Marawas with more confidence in the
power of the Pillar karras to save them. Had the
shark selected another, our priest in their opinion
would have deserved some severe punishment: bnt
as the one who had been taken away was disiked
all were noisy in praise OF the wonderful man no
at the distance of twenty miles from shark, had
not prevented it from getting dinner
Our business was followed until the first OF April
the end of the season. without further loss OF life,
and with great success in procuring oysters 10 all
there had been some excitement. much amusement
and very good pay: yet none seemed 10 regret that
the season was over.
The last few days that we were of Condatchy
were made very unpleasant, while on or near the
shore by the stencil from the pits Of decomposing
oysters. By the time were ready 10 lear e. tnS
became so offensive that was we'll pleased at get
ting under way in the brig with Captain Manos, for
the purpose of making another visit to Colombo.
But ought. before leaving, to present the read
er with the novel picture which that barren coast
exhibited during the last three weeks OF 1.-The sea
son. when the beach is converted into scene
which exceeds in novelty and variety anything ever
witnessed. Several thousands OF people Of differ
ent coors. casteS and nations. continually passing
and repassing in busy crowd; the vast numbers
of small tents and huts erected on the shore, with
the bazaar or market place before each the multi
tude of boats returning in the afternoon from the
pearl-banks some of them laden with riches; the
anxious expectant countenances of the boatowners
while the boats are approaching the shore and the
eagerness aud avidity with which they run to meet
them when arrived. in hopes of rich cargo; the
vast numbers OF jewelers. brokers. merchants OF all
clcrs and all description. both natives and foreign
ers who are occupied some way or other with the
pearls some separating asserting them. Others
weighing and ascertaining their number and value,
while others hawking them about. or drilling
or boring them for future use: all these circum-
stances tend to impress the mind with the value
aud importance of that object which can itself Gre
ate this scene.
The result of the speculation to the merchant IN
whose employ had embarked, never learned; for
before it was known in Colombo. had sailed from
that part of the world delighted with the hope that
| might never see it again.