"golden
lip" and "silver edge," the former being in greater abundance. The
"silver edge" shell is the more valuable owing to its uniformity of
coloring, and the pearls found therein are of superior luster and
orient.
The "pate goung," or Lingah pearl-oyster (Margaritifera vulgaris), is
similar to that of the Gulf of Manaar. It is circular in shape and
measures about two and one-half inches in diameter. The nacre is
silvery, with slight yellowish tinge. Many of the pearls from this
species are of a silvery color, but most of them are yellowish or
golden. The fishery for this mollusk is of little importance compared
with that for the larger pearl-oyster, which is the species referred to
in Mergui when not otherwise mentioned.
The
pearl fisheries of Mergui originated with the Selangs or Salangs, a
nomadic race of maritime gipsies, the last remnants of whom live among
the three thousand islands of this group. They are supposed to be of
Malay descent; but their early history is unknown, and they are rapidly
passing away in the conflict of existence with the neighboring peoples.
Probably in no part of the world are the pearl fisheries prosecuted by
a more primitive class of men. With their women and children, they live
mainly in roomy dug-out boats; but during the southwest monsoon they
erect temporary shelters on the shore, these consisting of a few frail
sticks, supporting coverings of braided mats, and floors of bamboo
strips.
They have few wants and derive a livelihood principally from gathering and bartering shells, pearls, cured thadecon, and
nests of the sea-swallow (Collocalia). Within depths of six or eight
fathoms they are fairly good divers, both the men and the women, but
their physical endurance is slight. Their trade is mostly with Chinese
merchants who visit them in small vessels. No information exists as to
when the Selangs first found profit in searching for pearls ; but it
was probably many centuries ago, and for a long time they made
contributions of them to the Buddhist rulers of Burma.
Shortly
after the acquisition of Mergui Archipelago in 1826, representatives
of the British government brought experienced divers from southern
India to examine more fully the resources which the Selangs had made
known; but as only seed-pearls were secured, the government concluded
that they would yield an insignificant revenue, and the attempt to
develop these resources was given up.1
However,
the Selangs continued to fish in their primitive fashion; and as the
market for the shell developed, the profits increased. But their wants
were easily appeased, and the increased profits were counterbalanced
by decreased activities. Old traders among the islands
1 Nisbet, "Burma Under British Rule and Before," Westminster, 1901, Vol. I, p. 362.
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