and
many are almost too nervous to pick up the paper; when done, it is
handed to the Superintendent, who opens and declares blank or prize;
and so eagerly do they watch the glance of the Superintendent at the
paper, and so quick-sighted are they, that I have recognised the
disappointment or joy before I gave utterance to the result. If
successful they run off dancing, and are greeted by their friends; if
not, they move away slowly amidst the jeers and laughter of the
by-standers. The unsuccessful are however frequently afterwards
employed; some get the places of boats misbehaving, and if the extra
number of boats is large, two divisions of boats are employed. Indeed,
as they come from very long distances, and embark all their means in
this speculation, I have always made the effort to find employment for
all before the fishery closes; but those successful at the lottery
have, of course, the first claim, and the good fortune of longer employ.
The crew of a boat consists of 23 persons,
and is required and allowed only to have 5 diving stones; 1 tindal or
steersman; 1 saman oattee who has charge of the boat; I thody who bales
out water and cleans the boat; 10 divers, 2 for each stone; 10 munducks
or divers' attendants to pull up the stone and oysters, and aid the
divers.
Their
remuneration for fishing up the oysters is one-fourth* of the quantity
daily fished; this system and compact ensures to the Government the
certainty of every possible exertion on the part of each boat, such
being to their own advantage, and avoids all the consequences that
might arise, if the boats were remunerated by daily pay. Indeed it is
the speculative character of each day's work that induces the great
exertions, and gives to all concerned the personal interest so
necessary to carry on the hard and anxious work of a pearl fishery.
Each boat's share is divided amongst themselves, according to old
established customs, in the proportions noted in Annexures Nos. 4 and
5, which papers give the general regulations enforced at the fisheries.
The
fishery is actually commenced on the first night of the boats going out
to the banks, and of course creates great interest and excitement'. If
the night be moonlight, and if possible I have always selected such,
thousands of people assemble on the beach to sec the start, and give
their good wishes. At about 10 o'clock, the tindals who carry on their
right arm a ticket No. corresponding with that painted on the bows of
each boat, assemble with crews around them, and as the Beach Master
has checked each crew, they go to their boat and make the preparations
of getting under weigh and into position, ready, to hoist the sails and
start directly the signal is given. At 12 o'clock the gun is fired, the
Adappenar, the senior headman, hoists a light at the masthead and leads
off. In a few minutes all the boats (on occasions above 100) are under
press of sail, and the sight is indeed a very interesting and exciting
one : the crews of the boats cheer, ap.d the people on beach echo ihem;
and the white sails following the signal light of the Adappenar's boat
may be distinguished for miles out at sea. The Inspector's guard vessel
anchored close to the fishery ground has a light at the maintop-mast
head, and in dark nights blue lights are occasionally burned to see her
position. The boats reach the bank, distant, the Cheval I'aar about 12,
and the Modragam about 9 miles, generally about 3 or 4 in the morning,
and ;mchor; at 6 a.m. a gun is fired by the Inspector, as the signal
for the boats to get under weigh and follow the Inspector and headmen
to the fishery ground allotted for each day's work. When in position,
and as the sun rises and the day gets calmer and hotter, the busy hum
of 2,000 to 3,000 persons hard at work is heard. As I have before
noted, each boat is furnished with 5 diving stones, 3 are worked on one
side, 2 on the other, suspended by a thick rope over sticks or
outriggers projecting from the boat's sides in such a convenient
position as to allaw_the diver, whilst at the surface of the water, to
adjust the stone by/lowering or rliising-4ttwhen he rests his foot upon, or rather within
