Owing to certain disputes in which the Dutch were engaged, this fishery was neglected by them from 1768 ; but it was resumed by the British government in 1796, after they obtained possession of the coast. The pro duce of it has varied in different seasons. In 1797, the net proceeds amounted to about 144,0001., and in 1798 It produced a clear revenue of no less than 192,0001. ; but the banks having been exhausted by the three pre ceding fisheries, it yielded only 30,0001. the following season. The fishery for 1804 was let by government to a native of Jaflanapatam, who, for thirty clays fishing with 150 boats, came under an obligation to pay 120,0001.; but, as the fishery was very unsuccessful that season, about one-third of the rent was afterwards remitted him.
The fishing season commences in February, and, al lowing for interruptions of various kinds, commonly lasts about 30 days. During this time, all the boats re gularly sail and return together, with the land and the sea breeze. In each of the boats there are ten divers, who go down into the sea by five at a time, and by their diving alternately, they have time to recruit in the interval. These people are accustomed to chive from their infancy. When one is about to descend, he seizes a rope, to which a large stone is attached, with the toes of his right foot, while he takes hold of a bag of net work with those of his left. Having done this, he seizes another rope with his right hand, and holding his nostrils shut with his left, plunges into the water, and speedily reaches the bottom of the sea, where he collects as many oysters as he can, while he is able to remain under water, which is usually about two minutes. He then makes a signal to the row ers in the boat, by pulling the rope in his right hand, and is immediately drawn up, leaving the stone to he after wards pulled up by the rope attached to it. The exer tion of the divers in this process is so violent, that on get ting into the boat, they discharge water from their mouths, cars, and nostrils, and frequently even blood. But this does not prevent them from diving again in their turn. In the course of one day, they often make from 40 to 50 plunges, and at each time bring up about a hundred oysters. Some rub their bodies over with oil, and stuff their cars and noses to prevent the water from entering them, while others use no precaution whatever. They are in general, indeed, under dreadful apprehen sions from the sharks, and in order to quiet their fears, the employment of conjurers is a necessary part of the establishment. Two of them are regularly engaged by
government. The one goes out in the head pilot's boat, while the other performs certain ceremonies on shore. In these the divers place unlimited confidence ; and in deed accidents from sharks rarely occur. Although the usual time of remaining under water does not much ex ceed two minutes, yet there arc instances of sonic who could remain four and even five minutes : and Air Beck informs us, in the Asiatic Researches, that lie saw a Caffre boy remain no less than seven minutes.
Though every precaution is taken to prevent any of the pearls being secreted, the Indians are exceedingly dextrous in making depredations on them. As the boats return to the bay, the oysters frequently open their shells of their own accord ; a pearl may thus be easily disco vered, and the animal prevented, by the interposition of sonic small substance, from closing the shell, until a fa vourable opportunity occurs of secreting the prize. Those fellows who are employed in searching the fish also com mit many depredations, and even swallow the pearls to conceal them. When this is suspected, the merchants lock up the rogues, and give them strong emetics or purgatives, which have frequently the effect of discover ing the stolen goods. Sometimes also thnsc employed in collecting the pearls agree that one of their number shall act the part of a thief, and'bear the punishment of his crime, in order to afford his comrades an opportuni ty of pilfering. If one of them happens to meet with a large pearl, he makes a sign to his accomplice, who in stantly conveys away one of small value, in such a man ner as to attract notice. On this the pearl is taken from him, and he is punished for his crime. In the mean time, while he is making a dreadful uproar, his accomplice secures the valuable pearl, and they afterwards share the booty between them.
The pearls found at this fishery are of a whiter colour than those from the Gulf of Ormus, on the Arabian coast; but in other respects they are not accounted of so excel lent a quality. The various kinds are sent to different markets. Those of the largest dimensions being most costly, and esteemed emblems of greatness, find a ready sale among the rich natives of the Nizam's dominions, the country of Guzerat, and other parts of India. Those of smaller size are chiefly in demand in England, France, Germany, and Russia, while the refuse find a ready mar ket in China.