against
time, cannot always nicely discriminate, numbers of other shells and
foreign substances are brought up with the pearl oysters; Amongst the
shells are pinnae (the sharp points of which occasionally severely hurt
the feet of the divers)", cowries and a good many chanks. These latter
are of market value, and as they are not plentiful enough to induce the
divers to neglect the pearl oysters, the divers are kindly allowed to
sell what they bring up. No royalty is charged and all attempts of the
traders present to secure a monopoly have been resisted. At this
fishery, as at all others, the hands of the divers are considerably cut
in the course of their shell collecting at the bottom of the sea. The
contingent of traders received yesterday by a brig from Colombo an
accession of Parsee buyers, but neither they nor a grand swell of a "
Sett" (another form of Chetty, of course) from Bombay have personally
put in an appearance at the sales. They doubtless act through deputies.
The " Sett," indeed, asserts he could not allow the hoi polloi come
between the wind and his " nobility." The great Madras merchant who has
purchased fully three-quarters of a million of shells, has been the
subject of some boycotting by rivals, but for all such contingencies,
including that of a strike of coolies yesterday, when the ringleader
declared they would not work, even if the Queen followed up the command
of the Government Agent! Feeling that this was distinct high treason, I
requested Mr. Twynam to gratify me by adding the sensation of a
military execution to the other exciting incidents of the fishery.
There, in readiness, fully armed were the semi-military police, whose
bugle call awakens us all at 5 a. m.; whose words of command at drill,
we hear at intervals during the day, while the sentries give Mr.
Twynam a Field Officer's honors, merely carrying arms to others. This
was the only reasonable request which Mr. Twynam refused me, and on the
whole, I supposg, he acted as properly as did my old friend, District
Judge Toussaint of Point Pedro, when he declined to obey Sir Edward
Barnes' order to give a man 30 lashes, without trial. 1 was struck with
the beautiful smoothness and solidity of the beach here, as I walked
along it this morning. No doubt this is due to the large amount of
alluvial soil brought down by the Modaragam and other rivers. The
firmness of the beach greatly facilitates the operation of landing the
oysters from the boats which run right on the shore. There is quite a
change in the weather, the sky clouded, the breeze cool, lightning
flashing incessantly at night and thunder rumbling. There will probably
be occasional squalls, but there are no tokens of weather which will
stop what I hope may fulfil its early promise by turning out a most
productive fishery. One thing is certain, that Mr. Twynam and Captain
Donnan will do all that men can do to deserve success. Before leaving
the scene of the pearl fishery, I cannot fail to express the
gratification Mr. Siedle gave us all last evening by his performances
on the cornet-apiston. Classical music at a pearl fishery is enough to
make the fishes join in the chorus. I must also do Mr. Twynam and
Captain "Donnan justice about the weekly day of rest, which both so
highly value that only special necessity would nave led them to
interfere with its observance. Capt. Donnan incurred the displeasure of
Mr. Birch when Lieutenant-Governor by stopping the fishery on Sunday,
and Capt. Twynam told me that after a long spell of continuous fishery,
the people came to him and said, " We cannot go on unless we are
allowed Sunday rest."
I
met here, after 41 years, Maartensz who drew entries at the Customs in
my time and is now Sub-Collector of Point Pedro on my old salary of
R120 a month. It was affecting to meet him, and to hear the Madras
merchant say to me " You are an aged man, sir, and your good word will
bring good fortune."
Quinton's Bungalow, Arippu : ij p.m.
Here I am in route for
ancient and modern civilization in the shape of tanks and railways,
leaving the scene of the pearl fishery regretfully behind me, as may
well be the case considering the cordial courtesy and princely
hospitality I have received while there. I recollect Quinton well, "a
rough
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