and
three thousand Porto Novo pagodas, a sum nearly double the usual rent.
These boats he farmed out again to individuals in the best manner he
could, but for want of a sufficient number of divers, some of them
could not be employed.
"
The fishing, which commonly began about the middle of February, if wind
and weather allowed, was this year for various reasons, delayed till
the end of the month ; yet so favourable was the weather, that the
renter was able to take advantage of the permission granted by the
agreement, to fish a little longer than the usual period of thirty
days."
The
following extract from "An Account of the Island of Ceylon," by Mr.
Robert Percival, in 1803, gives a graphic description of the animated
scene which took place during the Pearl-fishing season in the Bay of
Condatchy. The writer says : "This desert and barren spot is at that
time converted into a scene which exceeds in novelty and variety
anything that I have ever witnessed. Several thousands of people of
different colours, countries, castes and occupations, continually
passing and repassing in a busy crowd ; the vast numbers of small
tents and huts erected on the shore, with the bazaar or market-place
before each ; the multitude of boats returning in the afternoon from
the Pearl banks,
