Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-17

He went on to explain.
"a few years ago some OF these cusses
came over hero from Africa and wanted TO
start church and school, and they come
to me and wanted me to take hold and help
EN- through. But gave thom hell before
they had tlme to preach IT, and they took
themselves away, and heard that thcy went
back and spread the report that the devil In
tho shape of an old beach comber was in
charge over hero, and there was no uso for
them to set up shop. The ruin OF this world
is missionaries and what you call civiliza-
ton. This is nature, and don't think read
ing and writing can improve on her."
All the beach coinbers one meets, however
have not lapsed so entirely into barbarty as
has this American, though, as one of our
countrymen puts II, "the best OF them have
lost his grip on civilization" The name
bleach comber" is derived from industries
which these men have done much to stimu-
late, one is that of collecting beche de ner
along the shores, and the other is the pearl
and pearl shell fisheries. The amount OF busl-
ness done In both these branches through
out Polynesia is surprising to one unac-
quainted with It, The pearl shell trade has
been and is most profitable, and as no plant
lie required, the beach combers and natives,
who take 1t up, can always be sure OF ready
money without any outlay, for the food they
use is found in abundance on the scene OF
their labors.
regularly among the islands where shells are
to be found, and these are purchased at from
$50 to 500 q ton, and shipped to London,
where they readily bring from $500 to $500
ton. Throughout the coral Islands OF the
tropical Pacific there are countless lagoons
from Ave to twenty miles in diameter, that
arc literally paved with those shells. The
wonder TO me is that Americans have not
seen this industry and worked it. Unlike
mining, there IL no element OF chance in 1t.
and there is constant market for all the
shells that can be produced; but up to this
time tho supply has been largely de-
pendent on the uncertain energy and spas
modic efforts Of the beach combers and the
natives.
Outside OF the business in pearl shells,
which has in II the element OF certainty and
is perhaps less fascinating to the beach
comber on that account, a great deal OF
money has been made and is to be made In
many OF these islands in getting the pearl
oyster. l nm informed that great numbers
OF the most valuable pearls in the Pacific
fisheries are lost on account OF allowing the
women to open the shells in the water and
between their knees, when the pearls slip out
with the water and slime the shell contains
and are so lost The pearl oyster is un-
douhtedly diseased for those that have
regular shells and look wholesome never
contain pearls, while those that do are
gnarled and distorted, and the flesh is of a
different color. These gems, for as such
they are classed, are said TO DO the finest IN
the world, and in diving for them women
are preferred to men. The magnificent pearl
necklace that the Empress Eugene was
forced to sell after she left Paris, came from
the Pacific island OF Tuamotus. l saw one
pearl, which was bought in tho Tanning
Island from q native for eight yards OF red
cotton print, that was sold in Sydney, Aus
tralia, for $4,000, but such bargains are not to
be picked up every day.
In all my wanderings have met but one
beach comber who returned to civilization.
He is now at Jeyuca. and II he keeps on his
present pace ho will soon be dead, or forced
to return to his savage companions. This
1880 N'N.'N 'A'NS PSSSSo9iSAt phs iVN ~ 10 NV
stated, OF superior pearls, which he sold for
$1,000, about one-fourth their actual value. As
soon as he got the money he was seized with
yearning for civilization, and he came to
Leyuca, which aspires to DO 'tho metropolis
oil Polynesia" Campbell--he is a Scotchman
by birth-et once proceeded to "carminate the
town" He laid in large supply OF square
face'-the local name for Holland gin--and
went out into the highways and invited or
forced white men and natives to come in and
drink with him. He has been in the lookup
six times, has reduced his surplus consider
ably In the way OF fines, and has laid, as a
physician told me, "a very flne foundation for
a case OF delirium treuens y
The lova tor i,n,,o. ..,.
tne Io'e LOT hquor ana TOBACCO Is tho one
no matter how long their stav and which
seems to DO transmitted 70 their descerd-
ants II In thai- hoaoh .,,r,,I,,.. .,,s..--,
,,,ona,. q. a., -" =. D'en 'o"lD'hs 'ney make
1,y, ~ :" iof eho soie purpose OF buying
a'cohoi IN some form and keeping on a
earouse till the money is gone. Tho beach
comber is down on the missionary. but he has
hr,u,,s IT. ~ iof tne euuer VINO
brings MN GIN.
Iho beach comber Is undoubtedlya pictur-