adepts
in the art. In Europe too, it is successfully carried on, and Western
Australia can boast of some skilful workers. The term by which this
delicate operation is known in that colony, has probably been derived
from the convicts. This process of "faking" a Pearl however, is an art
possessed only by a few individuals, combining great skill with
patience. The best "faker" in the fleet is Duncan McRae, the owner of
the " Dawn," a man of splendid physique, the boldest and most
successful pearler, and the fortunate discoverer of the wealth of
Roebuck Bay. At this delicate work the leisure hours of this
horny-handed son of toil are passed—a very sharp knife, various sorts
of files, some pearl powder, and a piece of leather being the only
articles employed. Chinamen, however, use a certain kind of leaf to
obtain the final polish. The shelly coatings over a buried Pearl are
very hard, and must be cut off piece by piece, except at. the lowest
point, where the loose Pearl originally made contact with the shell
after its escape from the oyster : at this point the layer oi shell
below comes away quite freely. The sense of touch conveyed by the
blade of the knife is of equal, if not greater service to the operator,
than his sense of sight.
The value of a Pearl depends upon its size, shape, colour, brightness, and freedom from defects.
