CHAPTER XVI.

CONCERNING THE GREAT PROVINCE OF MAABAR, WHICH IS CALLED INDIA THE
GREATER, AND IS ON THE MAINLAND.

When you leave the Island of Seilan and sail westward about 60 miles, you come to the great province of MAABAR which is styled INDIA THE GREATER; it is best of all the Indies and is on the mainland.

You must know that in this province there are five kings, who are own brothers.  I will tell you about each in turn.  The Province is the finest and noblest in the world.

At this end of the Province reigns one of those five Royal Brothers, who is a crowned King, and his name is SONDER BANDI DAVAR.  In his kingdom they find very fine and great pearls; and I will tell you how they are got.[NOTE 1]

You must know that the sea here forms a gulf between the Island of Seilan and the mainland.  And all round this gulf the water has a depth of no more than 10 or 12 fathoms, and in some places no more than two fathoms.  The pearl-fishers take their vessels, great and small, and proceed into this gulf, where they stop from the beginning of April till the middle of May.  They go first to a place called BETTELAR, and (then) go 60 miles into the gulf.  Here they cast anchor and shift from their large vessels into small boats.  You must know that the many merchants who go divide into various companies, and each of these must engage a number of men on wages, hiring them for April and half of May.  Of all the produce they have first to pay the King, as his royalty, the tenth part.  And they must also pay those men who charm the great fishes, to prevent them from injuring the divers whilst engaged in seeking pearls under water, one twentieth part of all that they take.  These fish-charmers are termed Abraiaman; and their charm holds good for that day only, for at night they dissolve the charm so that the fishes can work mischief at their will.  These Abraiaman know also how to charm beasts and birds and every living thing.  When the men have got into the small boats they jump into the water and dive to the bottom, which may be at a depth of from 4 to 12 fathoms, and there they remain as long as they are able.  And there they find the shells that contain the pearls [and these they put into a net bag tied round the waist, and mount up to the surface with them, and then dive anew.  When they can’t hold their breath any longer they come up again, and after a little down they go once more, and so they go on all day].[NOTE 2] The shells are in fashion like oysters or sea-hoods.  And in these shells are found pearls, great and small, of every kind, sticking in the flesh of the shell-fish.

In this manner pearls are fished in great quantities, for thence in fact come the pearls which are spread all over the world.  And I can tell you the King of that State hath a very great receipt and treasure from his dues upon those pearls.