China. 27
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ran
about the streets, to the terror and horror of the inhabitants, who in
their fright tore off their girdles and anklets, scattering their
Pearls and diamonds upon the ground in all directions. In the same
drama, there is a description of the jewellers' court, the entrance to
which was through a gateway of gold and many-coloured gems, on a ground
of sapphires, while inside were skilled artists examining Pearls,
topazes and other jewels ; some setting rubies in gold, and some
stringing Pearls.
China,
It appears, from information collected by Mr. F. Hague, that as early as 22-1/2 centuries before the commencement of the Christian era, Pearls were used as a tribute or tax in China. In the "Bh-'ya," the
oldest Chinese dictionary, compiled more than a thousand years B.C,
Pearls are mentioned as precious products of the western part of the
empire. At first, the Chinese used only fresh-water Pearls. The Emperor
Wuti, who lived 140 — 86, B.C., sent ships to the Indian Ocean for the
purpose of procuring Pearls. After the introduction of Buddhism,
"moni-Pearls are often mentioned in Buddhist writings. It is related
that in the middle of the 11th century, a.D., an
embassy was sent by an Indian king to the Court of the Chinese emperor,
to pay tribute to him. According to the custom of their country, the
