Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-07-30
CHINESE PEARL-GROWERS
NOTED GEMS THAT ARE OWNED
BY ROYAL FOLK.
dow Pearls Are Dived for-Valuable
Turquoise Combined With Them
In Making Fashionable Jewelry.

them has been revlvlng rapidly during
the last few years until they have be-
come almost as popular gem as the
diamond. In one respect they resemble
the diamond more than anything else we
trade in, for them smallest of them are
saleable and have always market value"
The finest specimens are now, and al
ways have been, taken in the eastern
seas. The most favored locations are
near the Goa of Ceylon and in the Per-
sian gulf near the Island of Bahreim. On
the coasts of Java and Sumatra and near
Japan there is large production, and
fine specimens are often found. There
are large pearl fisheries near the Isthmus
of Panama, and for more than century
pearl fishing has been profitable indus
try in California.
"The Chinese and Japanece are said to
aid nature in the production of pearls by
carefully piercing the shells and intro
ducing particle of sand into the inte-
rior. By experiment it has been demon
strated that the period required for the
formation of pearl ranges from five to
ten years"
''How are the pearls brought to the
buTIdCef dShcu GlS SAllCdSO @NouS SOi-
respondent to whom the dealer was talk
ing.
''By diving principally. In South
America and Australia modern appli-
ances, such as the diving bell aud air re-
ceptacles are used, but in the East the
old method is still in vogue. l have my
self visited the principal fishery in the
East, on the west coast of Ceylon, in the
bay of Manaar. ! was present during
the busiest season, when there were abpul
200 boats at that station. After number
less ceremonies have been performed by
the superstitious divers each boat setsout
with twenty men and u steersman, under
the command of the adonaper or chief
pilot. Ten of these are divers, the re.
naming ten mani ulating the oars. In
addition to the crew there is always 3
'pillael kaeras,' or snake chalmer, on
board, as no diver would descend with
out his presence. Several of these gentry
are also stationed on the shore, whose
duty it is to pray and humble incanta
tions until the boats return. At each
side of the boat is stage from which the
divers descend. They go down in shifts
| Vi uNt, Hub pN l1IS HlSGuON Vi dlLSllldlCl
diving they give each other time to re-
cruit themselves for fresh plunge. The
serious effects of this continual submer,
sion are shown in the discharges of water,
and occasionally of blood, from the
divers mouth, ears and nostrils. Bat
this does not hinder the men from going
down again in their turn. They vii.
often make from forty to fifty descents
in one day and at each plunge bring uF
hundred oysters. Some rub their bod,
les with oil and stuff cotton in their ears
and noses to prevent the water from en-,
tering; the greater portion use no pre-.
caution whatever. Instances are known
where divers have remained under water
for four, five and even six minutes
-1'he oysters are generally sold un
| opened and as their contents are alike
unknown to both buyer and seller the
transaction is practically lottery. Many
oysters contain MT even a seed pearl,
while another may produce one worth
from 81 900 upward. The fine t, per.
haps at present known is IN Spain, and
was brought from the Indies by French
merchant in the reign of Philip ". OF
| RDdlu uIll pun SllttSCu DN MN. Its
weight is 1875 carats and lis value un,
computed. Another fine pearl, once
among the crown jewels of Spain, bat
now in the possession of the Russian
Princess Youssopoff, is the 'Peregrina'
(the incomparable). 1t was purchased
by Philip H. and is now held at $125,,
000 The Shah of Persia has two pearls
the peers of any of the world. The first
is described by Taverneer, who saw it.
1t was found in 1888 by an Arab, and
some years afterward it was purchased
by the King of Persia for $3.50, 000 He
also owns another about three quarters
of an inch in diameter valued at $50, 600
There are some very fine pearls in the
English, French and Russian crown jew
els, ranging in value from $50, 900 down.
ward. The ruler of Muscat has col
ored pearl for which the sum of $3.50,
900 has been offered and refused. Mrs
Mackay owns two very fine pearls, and
others of immense value are at present
among the possessions of American mil
lionaires.n
During the last twenty years the setting
of pearls and turquoise together has been
practiced extensively. All the large
manufacturers of jewelry throughout the
world, and more extensively in America,
use on the average so per cent. Of
turquoise to 100 per cent. of pearls. The
turquoise, like the pearl, owes but little
to art, and like the pearl also, the
smaller sizes are very cheap. TIE
turquoise is composed of earthly matter
in combination with protoxide of cop
per, phosphate of alumina and iron. L
has no transparency, and when broken its
color is uniform.
In the middle ages this gem was we,
Known and most highly valued. But few
ornamental stones had such wonderful
gifts and virtues ascribed to it. Even to
this day such proverbs as the following
are current:
"a turquoise given by loving hand
carries with it happiness and good for,
tune.n
"The color of turquoise pales when
| fba wall -boino, of tha ~; yar 10 l., y