Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-02-16
BURMAH TURTLE EGGS.

BURMAH TURTLE EGGS.
How They Are Collected In Vast Ouanti-
ties by Poorly Paid Natives.
At the mouth of the B:lssein river,
which is Il branch outlet of the IRA
waddy. on the Pcgu coast of Lower
Burmah. are several small islands.
much frequented by the turtle abound
ing on those shores. Diamond Island,
where ships usually take up pilots to
enter the port of Bassein-that town
being ninety-three miles up the river
is only half a square mile in area. sur
rounded by reefs of rocks mostly COW
cred at high tide. leaving narrow
strip of land all round. the land above
rising to fifty feet elevation, with thick
jungle growing over it A pilot house
with flagstaff and the telegraph build
ings stand in clearing on the east
side. This island is the great resort of
all the large turtle which live in those
waters; and nightly throughout the
year they come on to the narrow sand
foreshores to lay their eggs. The right
of collecting these eggs is sold by pub
lie auction every five years, and the
present lessee pays 1900 rupees an
nually to the Indian Government The
turtle are themselves protected by
stringent regulations, and aperson de-
tected killing one is liable to fine Of
500 rupees. During the month Of
April egg-collecting is prohibited. and
the eggs laid in that month have
every chance of coming to maturity.
and so keeping up the supply.
1t will surprise many readers to
learn that one turtle will lay
from 80 to $50 eggs during one night.
the number depending partly on the
season of the year; and it is believed
that the same turtle returns frequent
ly, and will probably lay from 500 to
1000 eggs in the year. To form an
idea of the number of turtle that fire.
quent this island it may be mentioned
that, while the contractors rent per
month, with expenses of collecting. is
estimated at 1.5OO rupees. he gets an
estimated profit of LOCO rupees
monthly. the selling price of the eggs
being 2 rupees per hundred; this rep
rescnts collection of 125. 900 eggs in
the month. or 4,17O daily, which, TAX
ing 100 eggs rs the average lay of one
turtle. requires AZ turtle every night
to visit the sands and deposit their
eggs. The space where they can lay
is SO limited that it is difficult to inn
agine what they could do if they were
allowed to multiply for twelve
month. They come up on the night
flow-tide and dig hole in the sand.
or rather work out an old hole. rs the
whole foreshore above high-water
mark consists of old holes and inter-
vening hillocks. When the hole is
ready the turtle lays her eggs and
scrapes the sand over them again
with her fl;ppers. The whole process
occupies about two hours, and the
turtle then makes for the sea- It al
ways happens that a considerable
number of them do not reach the water
until the reefs have become exposed by
the falling tide; and though they are
fair travellers on sand. they can not get
ON when the path is over rock. so they
have to remain ON the rocks, with their
noses in a pool of water. until the re-
turning tide reaches them. In the
morning the spearman. whose duty it
is to find the nests, comes round and
follows each track. which is broad and
distinct, until he reaches the nest. In
to this nest he thrusts his spear. to q
depth of two or three feet. and on its
withdrawal he can at once see If the
point has passed through an egg. II
the nest has been used during the night
he sets up q mark there. and the dig
gers and carriers coming after him
halt there to collect the eggs. The eggs
are dug out by hand and thrown to-
gether in heap. until the nest is
cleared; they are then transferred to
the basket, and are finally stored on
the floor of hut made Of open bam-
boos. The skins of the eggs are tough,
and will stand great pressure without
bursting; and they will keep good
about i've weeks. About twice month
they are sent away up the country in
boats for sale. They arc richer than
hens eggs. but make rather tough om-
elets. The Burmese consume them
largely. illustrated Lowjos Neaos.
IAN old stone mil. that was built
more than . century ago BY Genera