Latin Texts & Translations

The fish, as soon as ever it perceives the hand, ^[Note] shuts its shell and covers up its treasures, being well aware that it is for them that it is sought; and if it happens to catch the hand, ^[Note] it cuts it off with the sharp edge of the shell. And no punishment is there that could be more justly inflicted. There are other penalties added as well, seeing that the greater part of these pearls are only to be found among rocks and crags, while on the other hand, those which lie out in the main sea are generally accompanied by sea-dogs. ^[Note] And yet, for all this, the women will not banish these gems from their ears! Some writers say, ^[Note] that these animals live in communities, just like swarms of bees, each of them being governed by one remarkable for its size and its venerable old age; ^[Note] while at the same time it is possessed of marvellous skill in taking all due pre-

cautions against danger; the divers, they say, take especial care to find these, and when once they are taken, the others stray to and fro, and are easily caught in theirnets. We learn also that as soon as they are taken they are placed under a thick layer of salt in earthen-ware vessels; as the flesh is gradually consumed, certain knots, ^[Note] which form the pearls, are disengaged ^[Note] from their bodies, and fall to the bottom of the vessel.