The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23
PERILs or PENRHYN DIVERS.
Paralysis, Sharks and Sting.ray Are Dam
gers Of the Calling.


Three native divers famous for their
deep water feats came out in a pearling
sloop with us one afternoon and gave a
fine exhibition, says a writer in the London
Graphic The bed over which we halted
was about ninety feet under the surface,
Our three divers stripped to a 'pareo'
apiece, and then, squatting down on the
eunwale Of the boat, with their hands hang
ing over their knees, appeared to mediate.
They were taking their wind the white
steersman informed me.
After about Ave minutes Of perfect still
ness they suddenly got up and oiived OF
the thwart. The rest OF us fldgeted UP and
down the tiny deck, talked speculated and
passed away the time for what seemed
an extraordinary long period No one.
unfortunately, had brought watch. but the
traders and schooner captains all agree
in saying that the Penrhyn diver can stay
under water for full three minutes. and it
was quite evident that our men were show
ing of for the benefit Of that almost I'M
known bird, the -wahine papa At last,
one after another, the dark heads popped
I'D again, and the divers, each carrying
a shell or two, swan back to the boat, got
on board, and presented their catch to me
with the ease, grace and high bred cour-
tesy that are the birthright Of all Pacific
Islanders-not at all embarrassed by the
fact that all the clothes they wore would
hardly have suff1ced to make Sunday suit
for an equal number Of pigeons.
As general rule, the divers carry bas-
kets and fill them before coming UP. Each
man opens his own catch at once, and
hunts through the shells for pearls. Usually
he does not find any now and then he gets
a small gray pearl or decent white one
or a big, irregular 'baroque' pearl OF the
new art" variety, and once In month OF
| Sundays he Is rewarded by large, CLEAN
| ing gem worth several hundred pounds, for
which he will probably get G2O to ESQ.
Diving dresses are sometimes used IN
Penrhyn, but in such an irregular and
risky manner that they are really more
suit is nothing but a helmet and jumper.
| No boots are worn, no clothing whatever
| on the legs, and there are no weights to
preserve the divers balance. It. some
times happens1though wond de- sci, rel.
upside down, the heavy helmet keeping
him head downward until the air all PUSHES
out under the jumper, and he is mtserably
suffocated. The air pump above Is often
carelessly ,worked. in any case. and there is
no recognized system OF signals except tho
jerks that mean "Pull up,
~Theyre the most reckless devils on the
face Of the earth. said local trader. Once
let a man strike good bed of shell and ne =,
stick down there all day, grabbing away II
twenty fathoms or more 1.-The feels paralysis
comm on
"Paralyss?"
was to 20 down in twenty fathoms-they
can do five and twenty, but anything over
you'd come up owing like anything, and
not able to move. That the way 1t catches
them, and then they must get some one
to come and rub them with sea water all
nj ght long, and maybe they dies, and maybe
they're, all right by morning So then
down they goes again, just the same as
sssd a. Ss 81 day. How &c Psa
happen? Well, l allow it's because he's
been workin at big depth all day and feels
all right, and then, do You see, he'll md
something bit extra below OF him. IN :
the extra fathom or two does the trick.
at them from the deck Of the Duchess, 80
YOU know as we'll as do how many there
was up' That's because you 'sven',
creased your bullet, suppose. You wan!
TO. II the water isn't to turn it aside. But
about the diverse Oh, they don't mind
sharks, none Of them when theyye 60,
only got to pull up your jumpers q bit, anc
the air bubbles out and frishtens them K
Ats. II you meet big stins-raJ, it'll ruII
its spine into you and send the dress al
to- ] mean. spoil the dress, SOS the
water comes in; and maybe it'll stick the
diver, too. And the big devil fish Is nasty
he'll hold you down on a rock. but you CAT
use your knife on him. The kara uauaa \
the worst; the divers don't like him. He
not as big as a shark, but he's downright
wicked, and he's mouth on him as big a
'alf his body. II an onoo comes alonj
Ell bite an arm or leg of Of the man. any
! ways, and eat i'm outright II 'e's big enougl
to do it. SwordRsh? Well, they dom
often come into the lagoon: it's the fishinl
canoes outside they'll 70 for. Yes, they
run a canoe and a man through at blov
' easy enough, but they don't often do II
II you wants q canoe, I'll get you one, ant
you needn't mind about the swordfsn
Az like as not they'll never come near you.
About the divin'7 Well, think tn
, naked divin' Is very near as safe az tn
| machine, takin' all things. Worst OF It II
il kara mauaa or an onoo comes along
!. the diver can't wait his time till It goes
No, he doesn't stab it-not inside the la
Coon, because there's too many OF Their
J., there, and the blood would bring Who'll
= pack about. He gets under ledge
. rock and hopes it'll 80 away before nj
wind gives out. II he doesn't, he get
eat
h Success Of . woman Farmer.