Quantcast
  Due to a new server, slow response may occur for which we apologize Portal logo
Login/Register
Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
/gemstones/king-natural-history/page_237 - 2
 

Margarita, Pearl

Margarita, Pearl Page of 453 Margarita, Pearl Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
228                                     MARGARITA.
Pecten, but only one. The gem grows within the flesh of the oyster, just as the measles in pork. One kind is extremely yellow, so as not readily to be distinguished when placed by the side of gold ; another is like silver ; a third perfectly white resembling a fish's eye."
Chares of Mytilene, in the 8th Book of his History of Alex­ander, says : " It is caught in the Indian Sea, and also off Armenia, Persia, Susiana, and Babylonia, and resembles the Oyster ; but is both bulky and long, containing meat both large and white, and of very agreeable odour. From which they extract the white bones and call them Margaritas, and make out of them necklaces, and bands for the arms and ankles ; on which both Persians and Medes and all the Asiatics set a much higher value than upon those made of gold."
But the fullest details are to be found in the Description of Parthia by Isidorus of Charace : " In the Persian Sea is a certain island where abundance of the Pearl-oyster is to be found. Wherefore rafts of reeds (bamboos) are stationed all around the island, from off which the divers, jumping into the sea t'o the depth of 20 fathoms, bring up two shells at a time. They assert that when there are continuous thunderstorms and falls of rain (the Monsoon), the Pinna then breeds more, and the pearl becomes most plentiful and of good size. In winter the shell­fish is wont to retire into its holes in the deep : but in sum­mer they swim about with their valves gaping wide open by night, but keep them closed by day. All that grow close to rocks or stones put forth roots, and abiding there fixedly breed the pearl. They are born alive, and are nourished through the part attached to the flesh. The latter is firmly fixed to the mouth of the shell, and has claws and catches food. This part is exactly like the little crab called the Pinnophylax. From this the fleshy part extends as far as the middle of the shell like a root, along which the pearls are bred, and grow through the solid part of the shell, and increase in size as long as they remain attached. But when the fish recedes along the length of its projection, and gently cuts off and severs the pearl from the shell, though it envelopes the pearl it no longer nourishes it, only renders it more polished, more transparent, and purer. The
Margarita, Pearl Page of 453 Margarita, Pearl
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page