A PEARL OF LEGEND
commanded
him that he make for the pearl a setting most precious, and when it was
done he gave it to the prince his son saying, "Above all things let
this be first among the jewels of Travancore for-ever." And the prince
when he looked upon it said, "The beauty of it is like the brightness
of her eyes when they veiled themselves before my passion," and he
prized it more than all the diamonds and rubies in his treasure-house.
From
that day, when the fishermen dived for the chank, they sought also for
shells like unto that in which the King's pearl was found, and after
great rains many more pearls were brought from the depths of the sea,
and fisherÂmen following the coast, found them on the shoals between
India and Kandy in great plenty. These were carried to the King, for no
man dared to sell them, yet did the King reward the finders very
liberally. So the store of them in the King's treasury grew, and for
that there were no gems like them in all the earth, the fame of them
spread, and travellers came from many and far-off lands to look upon
the pearls of Travancore.
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