Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait121878roya).pdf/61

 account being most generously supplemented by her sending the box containing the pearls for my inspection, Mrs.writes as follows:—"I had three 'Breeding Pearls' given me in June or July 1874. On the 17th July I shut these three up with a layer of cotton wool above and below them and some few grains of a very fine rice, (called here "Pulot" rice?) On the 14th of July 1875, we opened the box in the company of two or three friends and we discovered twelve of sizes—the three original ones standing out distinctly by their greater size; though some of the newly bred ones were by no means insignificant to look at. One or two were about the size of a pin's head and perfectly round. The rice looked crumbly and worm-eaten.

"The size of the three breeding pearls both my husband and I thought considerably larger. I had made a rough drawing of their appearance and size, and you can see the boxes for yourself.

"I have started afresh again with five big ones lately given me, three of the old originals, and I think the fifth is one of those bred in my box. But this I could not vouch for.

"I send the two boxes and shall be glad to have them back when you have done with them.'

I may add that the rice in the boxes sent was all "bitten away" as in the other case. I feel certain that the "bite" has been produced by some living agency, and that it could not have been produced in any other way.

Having been informed that, Mrs.of the local Girls' school, could give me some information on the matter I called on that lady and she kindly told me all she knew. This was exactly to the same effect as above described, with the further item that "breeding pearls" were in all cases originally taken from pearl oysters, and that when about to "breed" a small black speck made its appearance on some portion of the pearl, which speck continued to be visible so long as the breeding process continued. I then wrote to a gentleman who I was informed had himself bred a considerable number—Mr. H. B. Woodford— who very kindly furnished me with a series of notes which I transcribe in almost his own words:—

Breeding pearls are found in several of the oyster and clam species, including those known as Tridacne with a fan shaped shell. The shells yielding them abound chiefly on the coast of Borneo, but they are also found throughout the Malayan Archipelago and even in Singapore. I found one at Tanah Merah