Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-12-12
For the Freeman.
Precious Stones.
BY DIR. HIRAM A. CUTTING.
THE PEARL.

Allt udlhOiAN At '"'uVI 10 W HO mednS lis
near relative in hardness. 1t is concre.
ton consisting mostly of carbonate Of
lime, and found in many bivalve shells Of
the oyster and clam species in both fresh
and salt water; yet the finest pearls in the
world have been taken from the pearl
oyster. In form they are usually spheri-
cal, and their color is yellowish or blueish
white. The purest white are most esteem
ed in this country and Europe; while the
yellowish ones are preferred by the Hin
docs and Arabs. Their hardness is about
like crystalized lime, and they may be dis
solved in the acids, leaving form of the
pearl, in thin layers of albuminous matter,
behind Their origin is doubtless by the
intrusion Of some foreign Substance, like
grain of sand. into the oyster or clam.
and this collects layer after layer of cal
carious matter. The Chinese have long
been in the habit of causing the formation
of pearls by introducing into the shell
small beads of mother of pearl, or other
similar substances, which soon collect a
covering of calcarious matter.
From the remotest antiquity pearls have
ranked among gems, and been highly es-
ieemed rs ornaments In the time of Job
they were accounted of great value, and
frequent mention is made of them all
through the Scriptures. The Greeks and
Romans priced them highly, and Pliny
says that they not only put them in their
hair and on their dresses, but even on their
feet.
The two famous pearls of Cleopatra
that she dissolved, Or proposed to dissolve,
in vinegar, and drink in honor of Anthony,
at her luxurious repast, must have been of
very extraordinary size, as they were val
ued in our money at three hundred and
ninety thousand dollars
The largest pearl known at the present
time is the property of o. A. j. Hope.
Esq, of England, and weighs three
ounces, 1t is four and one-half inches in
circumference and two inches in length
but Is rather imperfect in surface, yet it is
valued at one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars
Pearl fisheries in the Persian Gulf are
older than the reign of Alexander; and
the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the |
coast of Coromunda yielded their gems
ages ago.
Under the Plolemies, in the time of the |
Caliphs, the pearl merchants fourished,
grew rich and, as they believed, went to
Paradise, To-day the pcarl-diver is at |
work under the waves as then. The best
pearl-fshing grounds at the present day
are off the shores of Ceylon and around
the Sooloo Islands, though immense num-
bers are still found on the coast of Coro-
munda and Algiers The pearl fishers
boat is u small craft, of six to eight tons
burden, as he can only dive in fair, calm
weather. lie usually manages to be on
his diving ground in early morning, and
as soon as light enough he prepares to
descend He takes with him y stone of
from fifty TO seventy-ive pounds weight,
to enable him to reach bottom, and as they
are nearly all very superstitious, they
watch for signs of luck, and then offering
peculiar devotions, leap into the water.
Two minutes are considered long time
to be submerged. but some divers can hold
out four or five minutes, and it is told that
now and then one can stand it six or seven,
but believe this needs confirmation
When his strength is exhausted he pulls II
rope which is attached to him, as a signal,
and is speedily drawn up with his bag of
oysters and diving stone. While under
water many dangers compass him. SHARKS
watch for him as he dives, and quite often |
adIvcr is drawn back with the loss of q
hand or foot by this ravenous fish. The
large hook squids sometimes fasten upon
them and bear them away, rope, stone,
oysters and all.
An expert diver usually brings up from
oneto three hundred oysters each dive,
and dives forty or fifty times a day. The
amount of pearl fishing done much exceeds
Ae usual belief; often from ten to fifteen
thousand persons connected with single |
station build up a city, as it were, Of bam-
boo huts, and run wild over the excite
mcnl and speculation incident to such IL
game of hazard.
Inc season of fishing is from two to four
months each year, generally commencing
IN March Or April.
Alter a little practice shells containing
Hrge pearls are known by their exterior
appearance. and Immediately opened but
TIE much larger part are carried to the
S'lore and left in the suns rays in large
HoaN' I'LL the oyster putrifies, when the
M'Ss Is sorted, picking out the shells, and
Tue mass Of corruption is passed through
"S.cceSSion Of sieves, so that the pearls
"Fe not only saved but sorted by this dis
susting process.
single shell sometimes contains from
eSAt to twelve pearls, and there has been
twenty found in one oyster. OF course,
'V,y many pearl oysters do no contain any.
lne dimensions of good oriental pearls
"'s rom the size of common pea up to
o0'oIe tie size of the largest pea you can
""'' All smaller ones are called ounce or
''el pearls, and are sold by the ounce 10
dealers.
i"e estimated value of pearls annually |
'"Nen In the world is from ten to fifteen
unions of dollars. The prices of single
, r'"'" range from fifty cents to fifteen
,"Ous'nd dollars, and only now and then
,"O iound perhaps no oftener than one
;" e'gnt or ten years-that much exceeds
that amount.
'ue beautiful pink colored West India
'0''a pearl and our fresh water clam
rI r'"'" are not true pearls; though they are
o "'"''ous aggregations they are never
''Ven'iIc' NV, as the true pearl is.
me accidental discovery at paIierson