TREATMENT AND CARE OF PEARLS 383
The
next operation which claims attention is the drilling of the pearls. I
neglected to inspect this part of the business; but have been informed
that much admiration is excited, both by the dexterity of the artist,
and the rude simplicity of the machinery which he employs. A block of
wood, of the form of an inverted cone, is raised upon three feet about
twelve inches from the ground. Small holes or pits of various sizes are
cut in the upper flat surface, for the reception of the pearls. The
driller sits on his haunches close to this machine, which is called a
vadeagrum. The pearls are driven steady into their sockets by a piece
of iron with flat sides, about one inch and a half in length. A well
tempered needle is fixed in a reed five inches long, with an iron point
at the other end, formed to play in the socket of a cocoa-nut shell,
which presses on the forehead of the driller. A bow is formed of a
piece of bamboo and a string. The workman brings his right knee in a
line with the vadeagrum, and places on it a small cup, formed of part
of a cocoa-nut shell, which is filled with water to moderate the heat
of friction. He bends his head over the machine, and applying the point
of the needle to a pearl sunk in one of the pits, drills with great
facility, every now and then dexterously dipping the little finger of
his right hand in the water, and applying it to the needle, without
impeding the operation. In this manner he bores a pearl in the space of
two or three minutes; and in the course of a day perforates three
hundred small or six hundred large pearls. The needle is frequently
sharpened with oil on a stone slab, and sometimes, before the operation
is performed, is heated in the flame of a lamp.
The
large pearls are generally drilled first, in order to bring the hand in
to work with more ease on those of a smaller size; and pearls less than
a grain of mustard-seed are pierced with little difficulty.
After
the pearls have been drilled, they must be immediately washed in salt
and water, to prevent the stains which would otherwise be occasioned by
the perforating instrument.
A quaint description of pearl drilling was given by Anselmus de Boot in 1609.1
Since
all are not aware of the manner in which pearls are perforated, I wish
here to give an account of the method. The handle, A, is held with the
left hand, and then the handle, B, of the bow is pushed back and forth
with the right hand, so that there is a reciprocal movement of the
lance AC. The extreme end, C, has a needle, not so sharp as to come to
a point, but slightly blunted. The needle is placed on the pearl which
is to be perforated. If the pearls are too small to be held, they are
fastened in the case, D, with a small hammer of soft wood, lest they
should slip. The board is inclosed on every side by strips of wood so
that the water which comes from the pearls shall not flow off. The bow
being moved, the needle penetrates and pierces the pearl and it is not
corroded by the water.
A
mythical story, but a pleasant one, is told of a great pearl collector
who had owned a wonderful pear-shaped pearl for many years and
'Anselmi de Boodt, "Gemmarum et Lapidum Historic," Hanover, 1609. Lib. II, c. 40, "Quomodo margaritae perforuntur," p. 91.
