The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-25

lor the pressure OF the water causes rho
e.--1 70 bleed freely and the poison
-lr surface the arm sWells rapidly. turns
o-ach ana is very painful for weeks
beIore making descent the diver must
eas buL Atile, q o-t OF toast and a c.tn OF
coffee constituting q breakfast al = frirf
stomach tends 20 make respiration diff
clll- " lille walking over the lar-e area
NE diEer adopts a swinging, rapid ca.t
tlat his eyes may scan as much a. pos
sl9ie on the ground Even experienced
ulfeFs are nervous while under water a
e--@5lSS onJect. sucn as a rock looming
suddenly ln sight. strange FISH OF an un-
usual growth VIII make the heart beat
more IN g1iiSekly and a feeling Of uneasiness
A thrilling adventure happened to this
american diver during one OF his de-
scents. The lugEer was drifting swiftly
Win strong tide, and the air pipe, let
out too. rapidly, became slackeueI and
qrasge4 on the bottom; It caught in the
pdse OF coral cup. and the diver only
realized the situation when the uipa
caught him up with a jerk; he turned
70 run back TO unfasten IL; in doing SO the
NE line became slack and got entangled
we roaI was drifting away, and con-
stdntly letting out more line The diver
saw death close upon him; he knew there
was one desperate chance so, screwing
UP the air valve and waiting until both
lines cracked with the terrible strain with
a stroke Of his knife he cut the air
pipe, made headlong dash for the life
line, succeeded in christening IL from
unconscious.
The luggers are good sailing vessels and
speed IS needed for the work, for there is
much bottom over which 10 travel. The
lusger beats up against the wind 10 the
grounds, and then drifts back by means
Of four anchor dragging over the bottom
Inc speed is regulated by letting out more
cnaln. Sometimes in swift tides the diver
mas 10 run at fuN speed, barely stopping
now ana then to pick up a shell; by near
ly closing the air valve, and by SO doing
COMPRISING the air he can bound over
a Eln a Il f-rHN N.aa
pail, easily carrying a heavy weight and
tfaVerslng long distances I'm the water
world. lnclement weather does not inter
Iefe with the descent, for after few feet
of surface water the sea is ever the same
A descent was made one night blythe div
er, and curious and intensely interesting
observation of the shining phosphorence
was made. Everything was aglow with
this wondrous light; the diver himself be-
soft radiance, and the fantastic reefs and
tropical grOwths were enhanced by this
strange, faint, yet luminous medium.
The pearl shells are the bread and butter
OF the diver, 300 or 400 pair being gathered
IN day, and are worth to the owner about
81 a pair. The anemones and other
grOwths on the outside of the SHELLS are
easily scraped off while fresh, the oyster is
thrown overheard, the only edible portion
being tine muscle that holds the shells to-
gecher, and which the Mohammedans eat
in their diet of FISH and rice. The inside Of
the shell is the beautifully polished and
eXquisitely hued surface called mother-of-
A diver goes through each oyster. care
fully feeling for the precious pearl, which
is a great rarity, as in opening a ton of
shells he viii find only about 100 seed
pearls, seldom one as large as a pea.
The pearl is formed either by the in
trusion of some particle that irritates
the oyster, causing it to cover the irri-
tant with a coating of nacre, which.
when hardened, becomes the pearl or
as many divers believe, by parasite;
for it has been found that old shells
bored throughout by these parasites con
tain the largest and finest pearls.
The pearl is found imbedded in the
oyster, and not, as many suppose, at
tached to the shell. The diver puts the
precious stones in a bottle, and the shells
are then cleaned and packed by the Ma
lays ready for the London market. Here
they are sold by auction to agents, es-
pecially from Austria, where so many
beautiful buttons and mOther-of-pear or
naments are made.
The value of the lovely pearl, which
needs no polishing or cutting as do the
gems that come from mines, depends on
the color, lustre, and shape. Though
many prefer the pink of black jewel for
their oddly, the oriental and white
pearls are the most valuable, with
lustre that reflects their polished home,
and a form that is perfectly round
though the pear and button shapes are
available for many ornaments.