The Delta independent., 1907-07-19
A WONDERFUL GEM
FOUND PEARL THAT SOLD FOR
10000 PESOS.
Islands and Was as Big as Mar
Bile and OF Beautiful Color.

A single pearl worth 10000 pesos!
Tho possibilities Of pearl fishing in the
Sulu sea seem unlimited. According
to Stephen Jurika. of JOlo, who is now
visitor in Manila, the greatest pearl
ever claimed from the sea in the Sulu
archipelago was recently marketed in
Singapore for $4,000 pesos. 1t is the
size of a marble, perfectly round and
Of beautiful color. The finding OF the
gem by poor Moro fisherman. its
seizure by the sultan, and the interfer-
ence of Gov. Steever, who took the
part of the poor man and saw that he
had justice. make good reading mat
ter.
Under the old Moro law. in force
when the American troops first took
charge Of Jolo, all pearls of unusual
size must be sent to the sultan, who
in turn made the finder a present"
The only alternative the finder OF q
large pearl had was to sell his treas
ure privately to the pearl traders,
thereby placing his life in jeopardy,
for the trader. If he could not buy at
his own price. would report to the sui.
ldiu " Ao ldu DO~eI " Seize lilt uSlCl-
man and execute him IL he SO desired.
OF course, under the American admin
istration, this unjust law was abol.
ished, but so great was the fear of the
poor Moros OF their powerful dattos
that 1t has been the custom during the
last few years for them to carry on
their business secretly with the
traders.
In this instance the Moro fisherman,
somewhat more enlightened than his
predecessors, when forced to give up
his great find to the sultan trekked
into Jolo and made complaint to Col.
Steeyer. governor OF the Sulu group.
The matter was soon brought to the
courts and the greedy sultan forced to
disgorge the pearl.
Gov. Steever commissioned the Jolo
Trading company to sell the gem Tor
the benefit of the finder. and 1t was
recently sent to Singapore and there
sold for 10000 pesos. The Jolo Trad
ing company received commission Of
ten per cent.
So far as is known this is the largest
pearl taken from the Sulu sea. Three
years ago a pearl. found somewhere
to the south of Jolo, was carried to
Batavia and there sold to an European
buyer for 10000 pesos. AS previously
stated, however. the business has been
carried on so secretly, owing to the
old law, that pearls of great value
rarely see the light before they reach
Singapore. and many of them not short
of Europe.
MIR. Jurika states that during the re-
cent fair at Jolo, instituted by the gov
crnment for the purpose of bringing
the Moros together. Capt Trana of the
Jolo Trading company exhibited a
magnificent black pearl. valued at l.
coo pesos. a rare gem OF unusual size
and beauty.
The firm of Hernandez & Co. OF
which Mr.. Jurika is member. has
been employing Japanese divers for
pearling. but find them to be unsatis.
factory. As has been elsewhere in the
islands, the japanese as soon rs they
get a little money ahead ignore their
contracts and outfit balandras lsloops)
OF their own, entering into active COM
petition with their employers. The
best and most reliable divers. accord
ing to Mr.. Jurika are the Maiays. who
stand the hardships and do the work
better than any others, and spend their
earnings in the country. The Japa-
nese have already established settle
ments OF their Own at Zamboanga and
Jolo. and trade only among them
selves.
The Moro who secured the great
pearl was only a poor fisherman. using
the three-prong deep sea rake of his
forefathers. He refused to divulge to
anyone the vicinity in which he made
his lucky find. When he receives the
proceeds of the sale he will be one of
the wealthtest Moros in the Sulu arch.