Of the maner of fyshynge for perles
The Indians exercise this kynde of fyschynge for the moste parte in the coastes of the North in Cubagua and Cumana. And manye of theym which dwell in the houses of certeyne particular lordes in the Ilandes of San Dom-inico and Sancti Iohannis, resort to the Ilande of Cubagua for this purpose. Theyr custome is to go fyve, syxe, or seven, or more in one of theyr Canoas or
barkes erly in the mornynge to sume place in the sea there about where
it appeareth unto them that there shulde bee greate plentie of those
shell fyshes (which sume caule muscles and sume oysters) wherein perles
are engendered. And there they plonge them selves under the water, even
unto the bottome, savynge one that remaynethe in the Canoa or boate
which he keepeth styll in one place as neare as he can, lookynge for
theyr returne owte of the water. And when one of them hath byn a good
whyle under the water, he ryseth up and commeth swymmynge to the boate,
enterynge into the same, and leav-ynge there all the oysters whiche he
hath taken and brought with hym. For in these, are the perles founde.
And when he hathe there rested hym selfe a whyle, and eaten parte of
the oysters, he returneth ageyne to the water, where he remaynethe as
longe as he can endure, and then ryseth ageyne, and swim-meth to the
boate with his pray, where he resteth hym as before, and thus
continueth course by course, as doo all the other in lyke maner, being
all moste experte swymmers and dyvers. And when the nyght draweth
neare, they
1
Herrera, "Historia general de los hechos de los Castellanos en las
islas y Tierra Firme del Mar Oceano," Dec. iii, Book VII, eh. 3.
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