Breeding Pearls. 69
occupied
the attention of the Royal Asiatic Society at Singapore, and was
introduced to their notice in a paper read by Dr. Ν. Β. Bennys.
In
the Malay Archipelago, and especially on the coast of Borneo, the
natives allege that "Breeding Pearls " exist, that is to say, there are
Pearls which possess the power of reproduction or rather germination. It
is asserted that if a few of these Pearls be placed in a small box with
some grains of rice and a little cotton wool, and then sealed up, on
opening it a few months afterwards, one or more additional Pearls are
found within, and the original ones none the worse, but the grains of
rice have their ends apparently nibbled off. Many native women claim to
possess these Pearls, and set great store by them, though they never
exceed the size of a pin's head,-and are not worth, at most, more than
sixpence each.
Credible European evidence was adduced ; pros and cons were
strenuously maintained in the discussion that followed the reading of
Dr. Dennys' paper. But, as usual, neither side convinced the other; and
spontaneous creation in the matter of Pearls still owns its supporters.
For our own part, we cannot conceive it possible that one Pearl can be
developed from another de novo; however much
