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CEYLON PEARL FISHERIES.
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all
fully laden with meny.women, and children, and the materials for their
hut; and as they passed " the Doric" the Superintendent's residence,
they would give a Yo, Ho! cheer of gratitication and satisfaction as
the termination of the voyage, and perhaps of recognition of their
Dorie for the time being. It is wonderful, considering the long
distance they come from the continent of India in open Boats and laden
as they are, that no loss of life occur, or at least is heard of. By
the end of Kebruary the barren sandy beach of Sillawatorre is filled
with some 5,000 or 6,000 persons who have housed themselves in
temporary cadjan buildings of all sorts of character, according to the
means or caste of the residents. Kootto sites for the deposit and
decomposition of the oysters bought at the public sales, are marked out
and awarded to intending speculators; these places are placed far to
the south and beyond the inhabited ground, which is to the northward;
and as the prevailing winds are from the northward and eastward, the
stench of the decaying oysters is carried away from all but the parties
employed at the koottos, guarding, receiving and washing; but an
occasional burst of strong southerly wind of course disperses the aroma
over every part of the inhabited quarter. With this come flies
innumerable (indeed these are incessant and trying plagues, though
worse with the southerly winds), everything, especially of eating and
drinking, is covered with a black mass,—a glass of wine or water must
be instantly drunk, or it is filled with them, and during this time the
worst city perfumes are slight in comparison to those of the fishery;
but this does not last long; and indeed it seems providentially so
arranged, that the prevailing winds should aid the needs and purposes
of the fishery; the land wind is fair and gentle to carry the fishing
boats out to the banks, also the effluvia from the oysters from the
land out to sea, thus giving to the inhabitants a somewhat sweetened
period for rest; then, as the sea breeze is from the northward, it
brings the boats quickly from the banks to the shore, and carries the
oyster smell away from Sillawatorre. As the boats arrive they are
registered, and after the day fixed for closing the list they are
examined as to size, condition, and fittings. Some are rejected as too
small or badly found, but as the residue is always double the number
needed, the fortunate privilege of being engaged in a fishery is
determined by lottery. Selection would be difficult, certainly unlikely
to give satisfaction, and would lead to other consequences, whilst the
result of the lottery is borne as the consequence of fate or ill-luck.
As this lottery is the first great, I may say, momentous event of the
fishery, as the interests of 1,500 to 2,000 persons are concerned, the
divers as well as the boat-owners and boatmen, being generally
interested in particular boats, I will briefly describe the
proceedings. Say that 50 boats are required, and that there are 75 from
various places on the Continent of India and Ceylon, the prizes would
be regulated and calculated as near as possible to the proportion, and
with the desire that boats from each place shall have employment; then,
say there were
.Killacarre boats 14, about equal to i-5th of the 75, the prize would be 9 Tallamanaar „ 13, do. l-6th do. 9
Navantorre „ 14, do. i-5th do. 9
Calpentyn ,, 6, do. I-I2th do. 4
Paumben „ 5, do. i-25th do. 2
Manaar ,, 1, do. ... ... ... 1
and
so on. On the day of the lottery, the Kachcheri grounds are crowded
with many hundreds of persons to witness the proceedings, to wish good
luck to their friends, and laugh at those who are unfortunate. The
Superintendent calling any set of boatmen, counts the number of blank
and price tickets into a bowl, and the tindab, shewing their register
tickets, come forward to draw. The agitation, anxiety and eagerness of
all are depicted in the countenance ; most utter an apparent prayer or
invocation, the Catholics cross themselves
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