Viewing page 28 of 86

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[preprinted]] 46 [[/preprinted]] Jamaica 45.
"If your pearl is smooth and round it shows that it has remained loose in the soft tissues of the oyster. Frequently the pearl becomes attached to the inside of the shell, [[strikethrough]] wh [[/strikethrough]] from which it has to be cut away, if it is a round pearl, with a flat back showing where it was attached to the [[strikethrough]] inside of the [[/strikethrough]] shell, it will be called a "bouton" pearl. A hollow pearl of irregular shape is called a "blister pearl."
"Solid pearls of irregular shape, due to being deposited on a rough object, are called "baroque pearls." [[strikethrough]] E [[/strikethrough]]......Even today...it is not possible to make a successful imitation of a baroque pearl.
"A drop pearl is the shape of a drop of water, or pear-shaped. Seed pearls are tiny pearls no larger than many a flower seed.
"The most valuable pearls have a fine skin and a beautiful "orient", that means they have a delicate, flawless texture, and an almost translucent, clear white orient, or subdued iridescent lustre.
"A yellowish pearl is not as valuable as the white, [[strikethrough]] u [[/strikethrough]] unless it is a strong real yellow; a pink or a black pearl may be extremely valuable when the orient is fine.
"A great deal of nonsense is current about
[[end page]]
[[start page]]
[[preprinted]] 47 [[/preprinted]]
"pearls "dying" and suffering from a mysterious malady, but these calcarious excretions of the oyster are no more liable to change than the mollusc's shell. Although they are formed of mineral and organic matter, they are dead matter, and once formed they vary so little and so slowly that the change is seldom observable. Strong acid, however, can dissolve the outer surface of a pearl and thus dim its lustre. Cleaning with a little ammonia and French chalk will restore the sheen.
"The slight friction of the human skin preserves and polishes pearls, therefore it is advisable to wear pearls rather than to put them away in a jewel box. Yours truly, Christine Ferry.

[[margin]] J [[pencil]] J [[/pencil]] [[/margin]]
This morning left Montego Bay to make a circuit into the Cockpit Country. Passed through few towns, but the route is marked by the names of: Johns Hall, Hopewell, Kensington Valley, Point, the circuit around Maldon, Vaughansfield, and Brother's Retreat, Mocho, Catadupa, Underwood, Cambridge, Montpelier, etc. The road climbs very rapidly after the first six or seven miles, until it attains the [[strikethrough]] ru [[/strikethrough]] top of what appears to be the ruin of a great amphitheatre, twenty miles across, with a fairly even rim, and