Home » categories » rare book library » Streeter: Pearls and Pearling Life
This chapter is tagged (labeled) with: 

Ch. 11: Ceylon Pearl Fisheries

Ch. 10: Present Day Pearling Life Page of 341 Ch. 11: Ceylon Pearl Fisheries Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
CHAPTER XI. Ceylon Pearl Fisheries.
" These spoils of Neptune, th' Indian ocean-boasts."
—Marlodus.
HE Pearl fisheries of Ceylon — the " Taprobane " of ancient classical writers—are of great antiquity, and were well-known to the Phoenicians, who traded there for Pearls. The first Europeans who obtained firm footing in Ceylon were the Portu­guese. In 1506 the ruler of the island undertook to pay them a yearly tribute of spices and Pearls, from which they derived a considerable revenue. In 1640 the Dutch obtained power, and seized upon the Pearl fishery. The fishing took place every third year, but in consequence of a dispute between the Dutch and the rajah, the fishing at Manaar was forbidden, and from 1768 to 1796
Ch. 10: Present Day Pearling Life Page of 341 Ch. 11: Ceylon Pearl Fisheries
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page