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244
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GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES IN THE
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saddest
losses encountered by the expedition in the bloody affair at Mauilla
was the destruction of the pearls which the Spaniards had been
sedulously collecting during their wanderings in this strange land.
The
most minute and interesting description of the manner in which the
Indians obtained pearls and converted them into beads is that furnished
by Garcilasso Inca de la Vega. During the time when De Soto remained in
the town of Ichiaha, which was probably located at or near the
confluence of the Etowah and Oostanaula Rivers, and possibly the very
spot now occupied by the village of Rome, Ga., the following
circumstances occurred : " The cacique came one day to the governor,
bringing him a present of a string of pearls, five feet in length.
These pearls were as large as filberts, and had they not been bored by
means of fire, which had discolored them, would have been of immense
value. De Soto thankfully received them, and in return presented the
Indian chief with pieces of velvet and cloth of various colors, and
other Spanish trifles held in much esteem by the natives. In reply to
the demand of De Soto, the cacique stated that the pearls had been
obtained in the neighborhood. He further told him that in the sepulcher
of his ancestors was amassed a prodigious quantity, of which the
Spaniards were welcome to carry away as many as they pleased. The
Adelantado thanked him for his good will, but replied that, much as he
wished for pearls, he never would insult the sanctuaries of the dead
to obtain them, adding that he only accepted the string of pearls from
the chieftain's hands.
"De
Soto having expressed a curiosity to see the manner of extracting
pearls from the shells, the cacique instantly despatched forty canoes
to fish for oysters during the night. At an early hour next morning, a
quantity of wood was gathered and piled up on the river bank, and being
set on fire was speedily reduced to glowing embers. As soon as the
canoes arrived, the oysters were laid upon the hot coals. They quickly
opened with the heat, and from some of the first thus opened, the
Indians obtained ten or twelve pearls as large as peas, which they
brought to the governor and the cacique, who were standing together
looking on. They were of a fine quality, but
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