formerly
bought from natives, principally of the Island of Aroe, by Chinese and
Arabs who took them to Macassar. From there they were sent first to
Singapore and then to London, Paris, and Amsterdam. Most of the pearls
brought to Macassar are baroques, though fine specimens of more regular
shape arrive there occasionally. The mother-of-pearl from these shells
is of good quality.
Some
pearls are found at the Bazaruto Islands, Portuguese East Africa, a few
miles from the coast, midway between Inhambane and Beira. A concession
was granted to a company about 1892, but bad management, lack of funds
and political difficulties, killed the enterprise.
General
reports indicate that it is very difficult for any enterprise subject
to the officials of this district to succeed. The Bazaruto Kaffirs
still fish, but without system or intelligence. They are wasteful and
damage many of the pearls by cooking the oyster. The few found are
shipped by Indian traders to Bombay and Zanzibar.
Pearl fishing has been attempted on the
233
