oysters are placed in pits, dug for the purpose, about half a yard deep, lined with mats, to prevent any of the pearls being lost: there the oysters remain until the animal substance entirely decays, and the shell becomes dry and easy to open, without hazard of injuring the pearl. It is this state of decay that occasions the intolerable stench that annoyed us so much, as we approached the island. The merchants are very liable to lose some of the pearls, by the thievishness of the people employed in the boats, who narrowly watch the oysters, and, if they see one gape, will prevent it closing its shell by slipping in a bit of wood or tuft of grass, until they find a convenient opportunity of extracting the pearl. To prevent such dishonest practices, great care and attention is required on the part of

the merchant.

If one

"While I stood contemplating this busy scene, I could not help pitying these poor people,who, knowing nothing of true religion, submit themselves to strange fanatical persons, who are their priests, and who pretend to have their preservation much in their power. of these priests can be prevailed upon to remain in their boat during the fishing, the divers think they will be perfectly safe from the attacks of sharks, or any other danger. The pearls, when completely dressed, are white and very beautiful, and much esteemed in Europe; but in India they prefer the yellow pearls, which are found on the Arabian coast.

"I think I have now told you all you can at present understand about these dearly-bought ornaments; and to-morrow I will give you a further account of the Island of Ceylon."

SHARKS.

"Now for the shark! mamma ; you know you promised to give us an account of those dreadful fishes.' "I will, indeed, my dear, with pleasure (replied Mrs. Johnson). Sharks are truly most formidable enemies to mankind, and would be more so, did not the element in which they live render their meeting rare and accidental. There are several species or kinds of sharks, some are harmless, and found to frequent the neighbourhood of our own shores, on the west coast: they are known by the name of Basking Sharks, from their habit of lying on the surface of the water, seemingly to enjoy the warm sun-shine. They are very lively and tame, and will allow themselves to

The

be stroked; but the more dreadful kinds, which are common in the great seas, are extremely fierce, and so fond of human flesh, that it is said they will swim near the edge of the water if they perceive a person walking on the shore. largest of the shark tribe are prodigious creatures, with throats so wide, they can swallow a man whole: from this it is conjectured, the fish that swallowed Jonah was rather a shark than a whale; as a whale has a very small throat, although so enormously large a creature. The mouth of the shark is extremely curious: it is furnished with six rows of teeth, very sharp and terrible. These teeth are triangular or three-sided, and notched like a saw, which renders their bite peculiarly dreadful! the teeth lie flat when the mouth is shut, but instantly rise

when it is opened. The shark strikes violently with his tail; and, to avoid the danger incurred by the exertion of this power, as soon as a shark is caught, the people anxiously make it their first concern to chop off the tail with an axe. We have yet another singular species of shark, I believe seldom seen, called the Hammer-head, from its head exactly resembling that of a hammer. I will some day show you the picture of one: their eyes are placed at each end, as it were, of the hammer, and the middle is so sharp that it can cut other fish as the shark swims."

"Mamma," said Lucy, (perceiving her mamma was done speaking,) "6 you said the sharks lived in an element that prevented them doing much mischief, because people did not often get in their way. What do you mean by an element? do they not