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Ch. 11: Ceylon Pearl Fisheries

Ch. 11: Ceylon Pearl Fisheries Page of 341 Ch. 11: Ceylon Pearl Fisheries Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
Ceylon Pearl Fisheries.                    191
stone, speedily reaches the bottom. Then throwing himself flat on the bottom, and relinquishing the stone, the diver with much dexterity and all possible dispatch, collects as many oysters as he can while he is able tö remain under water, which is usually half-a-minute or a little longer. This done, he resumes his former position, makes a signal to those above by pulling the rope in his right hand, and is immediately drawn up into the boat.
The great dread of the divers is the ground shark, a common inhabitant of the seas in those latitudes. During the time of the fishery conjurors stand on the shore till the boats return in the afternoon, muttering prayers, twisting their bodies into strange attitudes, and performing various cere­monies in order to divert the sharks. All this time they ought to abstain from food and drink, but they occasionally regale themselves with toddy until they are no longer able to stand at their devotions.
If an alarm be given by one diver none of the others will descend that day; The diving dress has been occasionally adopted, and if brought into general use would of course much diminish the danger.
On the return of the boats they are unloaded, and the oysters deposited in sheds or " kottoos ; "
Ch. 11: Ceylon Pearl Fisheries Page of 341 Ch. 11: Ceylon Pearl Fisheries
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