Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. 193
locality.
The banks are situated off the north-west coast of the island, at a
distance of about eight or ten miles from the shore. According to
Vincent, the different powers—Kandyan, Portuguese, Dutch, or
English—who have presided over the fishery at different times, always
took up their abode at Tutacorin, on the Indian coast, but carried on
the fishery on the Ceylon side of the Straits of Manaar, at Chilao,
Seewel, Condatchey, etc. From fifty to sixty thousand persons would
assemble to take part in the fishery—merchants, tradesmen, divers,
mariners, etc. The sovereign of the coast, the Naygue of Madura,
received the result of one day's fishing ; the wife of the governor of
Manaar (under the Portuguese), the proceeds of another day's fishing,
afterwards given to the Jesuits, and the owner of the fishing vessel
received one draught every fishing day. When the fishing was ended the
fair was held at Tutacorin. The brokerage and duty amounted to 4 per
cent., paid by the seller.
« From 1820 to 1827 there was no fishing, and
in 1834 it was again a blank. The fishery of 1837
too, was a conspicuous failure. Lady William
Norton, being about to leave Ceylon in that year,
the inhabitants, to testify their esteem and affection
for her, unanimously subscribed for a set of Pearl
ornaments as the most appropriate testimonial to
