IN THE WAYS OF THE PAGAN

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12402, 16 January 1901, Page 9

IN THE WAYS OF THE PAGAN

(By CHARLES JDMOE.I [All Rights Reserved.] PART I. A MIDNIGHT CRUISE. It was in Hongkong that I heard this story. I was being shown round the island by a friend—a Government official —and we were lingering over five o’clock tea, on the balcony of the palatial Mount Austin Hotel, perche'd high up on the slope of the Peak, the precipitous mountain at whose base lies the foreshore and city of Victoria. Facing us was a magnificent bird’s-eye view of the city and harbour, the large warships and oeean-crafb of many nationalities lying as mere specks upon the water. High hills, their barren sides here and there interspersed with shady trees, and the beautiful gardens of British residents stood in semicircles around us. Below, the tortuous streets and serrated avenues of banyan trees were, already scintillating with many-colour-ed fantastic lanterns, and, in the distance, Kowloon —the native gambler’s paradise—and the Botanical Gardens, whose wealth of vegetation in this rocky soil is one of the marvels of the world, were faintly discernible. Strange perfumes, the tinkle of Stringed instruments, and the murmur of many voices hovered in the sleepy air, and night was treading swiftly on the Heels of the departing day. A third person—a passing caller at, the hotel —with whom my friend was _ well acquainted, had just left us, after an interchange of greetings and the usual liquid courtesies. Like ourselves, he was enjoying a brief holiday, but we had only a few minutes’ chat with him before he caught the descending cable-car. He was a seatrader, by name Captain —let us say Boyle, a middle-aged, powerfully-built man,, obviously good-humoured and an excellent talker. I soon-learned that he had a sincere Eking for the natives of the outlying Archipelago, and that he was never so-happy as when studying their customs and dialects. An enthusiastic student of ethnology and aboriginal philology, there was hardiy a museum show-case in the 'East, or even in the distant' Australian capitals-, without some exhibit of his presentation. His shrewd and prepossessing face was, however, disfigured by a long scar on the forehead, near the scalp. In reply to ®yallnsion to this defect, my friend agreed that it was a pitv, and, being in a lazy, discursive mood, he'told- me how the captain had obtained his- wound. His tale seems, to me, to he wpirih repeating, inasmuch as by it, incidentally, 1 acquired some special information about of if—*" value, not only among Oriental In also throughput Western communities. And I mav add- that the facts I learned appear to he'unknown, not only to the general public, hut also in one particular to bequuo inexplicable by scientists. Unfortunately. I am obliged to give the story only ] m the baldest outline, as those invaluable accessories—'local description and personal acquaintance with cue’s subject—are in tins instance, entirely absent. It shomd furtuer be remarked that I obtained my narrative from a man who himself obtained it from another man—the. principal, certamlv. but then seafaring people are the last persons m the world to pay attention to the unprofessional details of their surroundings; and Captain Beyle did not originally tell the yarn with any idea of its reproduction in made this explanation, I can' but express the hope that my friend’s friend’s story may be none tbe less acceptable b°.calls ' e ]ik e it s hero —it lacks devious subtlety and polished grace of style. If its matter atones for its poverty of manner, none should have reasonable grounds of complaint. Midway between North Celebes and the Philippines lies a cluster of islands, off the beaten' track of regular traders in the Eastern ArchipeWo, known as the Senrrirese and Talauer Islands, and, at the remote north-east as the Namisa Archipelago. The Sen'giirese race is ’avery old—and, nowadays, degenerate—one ; its origin is lost in obscurity, but, since the memory of men, its members have been great mariners, enterprising. daring, and warlike. Pirate- and slaver? bv instinct, they have hitherto been nT little commercial value as vassals to the Dutch Government, which has rare-H interfered with th-edr concerns. But. to skinners who have courage and experience. there is a profitable return for a call at Manoanitu or Taroena, the two most important -Maces in Great Sengir, which are centres of a highly valuable cocoanut trade. While rfot unlike the Malays in general physique, and living in bamboo houses grouped into akampoug presided over bv a rajah ruler, there is a strong admixture of the Chinese element in Sengirese settlements. One peculiarity in their customs is that their social system is purely matriarchal. The male suitor pays his future wife’s dowry (usually in the shape of slaves, firearms, 'or cotton goods) to her parents, and at his marriage leaves his village and becomes a member of his wifete-family. .But- these and other local observances need not be discussed here. It was in the neighbourhood of Taroena that- Captain Boyle embarked upon his bestremembered adventure. ■ 'With another white man—a fellow-specu-lator—acting as mate; and a crew of' Malays, he had just completed a satisfactory trading cruise among the islands in a small schooner chartered for the trip. The hatches ’ were full, and all that umained to be done was to steal away as unobtrusively as possible. , Not that there was any special necessity for concealment of departure, hut in such places yt is always well to avoid any fuss or bickerings with the -residents, and there may have been some contraband in the goods landed—but that- is no business of ours. There had been a dead calm all day about their sheltered anchorage, and many visitors from the shore had called. Among these was a largo prau from a village situated at the headland mouth of the bay, a place which the schooner would have to pass again on its outward course, . At- the port last- quitted—Maranang, in' Talauer —a local missionary had warned Boyle of some vague rumours that had reached his ears from Taxoena about this village. A, French pearling lugger was alleged to have put into- port there, and to have shortly afterwards disa.miaarfid in some mysterious fashion near

the entrance. There were hints as to some sort of a row; but what it was,, and how it had ended, the missionary could not discover; and nobody would own.to- any definite knowledge of the affair. All that was loosely admitted was -that a legendary Frenchman, crew and vessel were supposed to have vanished one night, as if by magic ; but it was possible that the whole story was a lie. The Rajah of Taroena, when questioned by Boyle on his arrival, said that he had not taken much notice of the shipping latterly, nor’had ho any information of the sudden disappearance of any visiting ship; ships often left suddenly thereabouts, and no doubt the ship in question had sailed away, for private reasons, during the night. The' chief of the village at the neck of the inlet suggested that it had most likely drifted on the rocks and sunk with all on beard. And, if these too plausible contradictory theories seemed suspicious, there was no more to ho learned; further enquiries were repelled with obstinate indifference or polite evasion. As the chiei of this village had previously paid several visits to the schooner ho did not on the present- occasion remain long aboard now that it was obvious that little more business could be done; but, while he and his retainers were discussing a small trade transaction with the mate and milling with the Malay crew, a watchful Sengiese belonging to his party managed to secure a few moments’ conversation with the captain before he left- with the rest. After the prau had put off for the'shore Boyle sat awhile plunged in thought. He knew theman- he had been talking to pretty well, as on a former visit this, same man had piloted him in. He was a native of the suspected village and a head-man of some power and influence. Boyle said nothing to his partner at the time; about what he had just been told; but towards sundown ho gave orders to set “anchor watch,'’ and approaching the mate, who -was leaning over the bows, made what was for him a -rather puzzling request-. It was to the effect that they should clear out in the small hours of the morning; that, meanwhile, the mate should not ask him any questions as to his policy or methods; and that he should obey his instructions implicitly. He added that he had excellent reasons for the- course he intended to adopt—a course he hoped to- fully justify very shortly by the light of subsequent events. The mate —a small, saturnine-visaged salt, named Pike-soured by a long, ineffectual career as subordinate officer on the Indo-Chinese mail steamers, restrained an ingrained tendency to snort cynically. But he knew his skipper and he had unbounded faith in his chief’s skill and experience. So he merely looked stolidly at the horizon for a moment or two. Then, withdrawing his pipe from his teeth, and spitting over the rail, he observed, laconically—- “ Any danger?” To this Boyle replied, equally curtly—“Possiblv.”

“ Then it will be as well to have a look at the four-pounder before it gets quite dark,” he returned, knocking the ashes from his briar and slouching heavily aft towards the gun-carriage. And thenceforth, while preparing to get under way, not another word was said on either side upon the subject. As soon as it was dark, the skipper gave the word to haul up the anchor and to throw over the ke-dge. An hour or so after midnight he and his mate hauled up the light hedge, noiselessly, and, with the faint land breeze, commenced to slip out of the harbour, under jib alone. The Malays awoke, and, clustering in knots about the deck, spoke to each other in scared whispers. “ Was it possible that the Tuan Captain was frightened?” muttered the sera-ng, “ and how could he hope- to find his way out in this darkness without a pilot ? Surely the white men must be mad!”

When they had gone about a mile, and ,vcre nearing the narrow- entrance, the shadowy outlines of the shores on either hand assumed distinguishable shapes in the struggling starlight. There was no moon, and clouds swept slowly across the sky, at intervals obscuring the stately sago-palms, lofty coco-nuts, nipas, and dense clumps of bertarii ' (fern-like undergrowth), which fringed the adjacent coast. jTheir position was now one of much peril, as there was no sea-room, and the slightest atmospheric variation might force them on to the reefs. To get this far was one thing, but to proceed farther without disaster was another; and even in daylight the job would have taxed the capacities of the ablest stranger. The mate swore fervently to himself, and with repeated references to his 'Winchester and revolver, regretted that they had not been able to strew the decks with broken glass to prevent hoarders. Suddenly, the skipper called softly to him and gave orders to lay to. Then, leaning over the port rail, he looked earnestly shorewards across th© dark water. With one eye- on the jib, and the other on the Captain by the tiller, the mate shot furtive glances to starboard and port, in momentary expectation of some disquieting development. . Nor was he disappointed. Staring over the port beam, he gave a start-. A round, black -object on the surface of the water was making for the schooner. As it drew nearer, it resolved itself into the head and face cf a swimmer. Glancing hurriedly towards Boyle, the mate saw that he bad left the stern, and, traversing the waistof the ship, was also closely watching the approaching visitor over the bows.. He carried a bight of rope round his arm, and, standing only a few paces off, threw the end to the swimmer, who, grasping it, scrambled on to the deck—a tall, sinewy native, naked save for a short loin cloth and knife at his waist. Exchanging a- few guttural monosyllables with Boyle, the man looked enquiringly at his bewildered neighbours. “Stop that infernal clatter!” said Boyle threateningly to the Malays, “ and you, Pike, come into the cabin for a minute.” To the serang, “ Ali, keep her head to the wind.” And, (Striding to the- companionhead, tho stranger and the wondering mate followed in his wake, ■ In the cabin, the skipper, .pushed Pike into a seat and stood facing the erect Sen-

gir-man opposite them. He nodded encouragingly to the latter and made some remark in the vernacular.' In the cuddy-light the visitor’s form and features were plainly re--vealed. His body was of a light brown 'colour and bis muscles, extended by the long swim-, stood‘forth like twisted whip cords. Though fairer in complexion than the typical Malay, he had the high cheek bones characteristic of that race, but bis upper lip was abnormally thick, and his eyes were oval-shaped anefo unfathomable in their expressionless store. From his head sprang a crescentic fringe -of hair, giving him a somewhat sinister appearance. . Raising his hands to this, he commenced to untie the knot of long black coils of hair behind, and as these fell aside he lowered his right hand and exposed to view a small bamboo box pierced with holes on all sides. At another nod from Boyle he touched some fastening, and inverting the bamboo receptacle like a dice-box emptied its contents unconcernedly on to the faded red table-cloth. Something round and white, the size of a large marble, and- resounding heavy as lead as it fell, lay before them. Staring curiously and intently at this the white men’s hearts gave a leap. It was a magnificent pearl; the finest- they had ever seen, or—in Pike’s case, certainly—ever heard of.

“By God! . . . Seme of their loot from the Prenchy. They’ve burned his ship, I suppose. . . . poor beggars,” ejaculated Pike, when he found speech.

“Tell von -this chap’s vereiom, .later on,” replied Boyle, cheerfully; but, suddenly catching a pecuniar look in the mate’s eyes, he added: “ Anyhow, we’re going to act Straight wrih our friend here. A native is as much entitled to fair play as ourselves, and, ns I m the only one aboard that can speak his lingo, Fm responsible that he is treated honestly, and as a gentleman.” So, saying, he picked up the pearl, and, opening a drawer in his private locker, hastky 'laid it within and slammed the drawer to.

Now for the open sea,” ho exclaimed. “ Awang is to pilot us out.” And, ad'clressing a few words irom the cabin, shouted “ U ; p mainsail, there!”

The mate followed slowly, in his blank amazement doubtful whether he stood on his head or his heels.

Crouched in. the bow and watching the water as an American Indian watches the tracks upon land,' the native pilots of the. Archipelago are able to conduct voyages without- any reference to the heavenly bodies or the white men’s mechanical aids to navigation. They simply note the colourstreaks of the water and watch the courses of the ocean-streams. It did not take Awang long to thread the maze of rocks in the vicinity, and when day broke the schooner was some cable-lengths from the mouth of tie bay. At first it was a case of tacking every few minutes under a lowering sky in momentary anticipation of its blowing half a vale on a lee shore with curling breakers rolling on the sands. But, fortunately, the sky soon cleared and the wind shifted. Then, as they forged steadily ahead, the south-west monsoon swept down upon them and away they went braced up sharp on the starboard tack to the south. The intervening islets safely circumnavigated, they altered their course, and stood for the north-west. Then, Awang’s business done, ho relinquished his post to the ordinary crew and went below to attire himself in some suitable clothes from the Malay glop chest, to re-appear only as, a passenger till the schooner reached port- at Hongkong.

PART 11. awang’s story. Awang’s account of the means whereby he became possessed of his treasure —as related to Pike by Boyle as they lay at their ease on the main hatch—was as follows : He had been visiting an acquaintance and was towards evening paddling leisurely homewards. When nearing the shore-line of .the settlement compound he recollected that he had to go fishing on the morrow, and, pursuing this new train of thought, was reminded df his charm—a little, metal idol without which he might never expect to have any luck with his nets. While putting his hand to his neck,’ to caress the charm and to assure himself of its safety, it slipped. Awang swore it jumped, implike; through his fingers, as he bent over his paddle, and disappeared in the water. As it was of but light metal it should not have had far to go, but just as Awang dived overboard to recover it a swirling .current carried ■it swiftly in its undertow cut of reach. With Awang in full chase, it eluded him for many yards, but, turning round a little bend, or promontory of land, it was at last freed from the ‘ backwash, and, caught in a little cleft or cavity of rock near the shore, it came to rest. Grabbing it with wide-outstretched hand, ho 3 felt something pliant and smooth beneath it give way, and tugging this also' towards him he saw that it was -a. small weighted bamboo box. Almost immediately divining the import of the situation, he pushed open the lid and looked at the contents. He found that his surmise was confirmed. It was a pearl undergoing the process of restoration 'to its natural freshness. Awang well knew that pearls had a habit of growing dim and lustreless, unless frequently aired, and that, next to the sun-bath, immersion in their native element is necessary to their continuous vitality. He, however, instantly realised that this was a 'discovery which required time to think over. Pushing the box carefully back into its place, he rose, with beating pulse, to the surface, and glanced towards his canoe, now barely distinguishable in the twilight. When on the point of striking out to regain it, he heard a- crunching of bushes behind him on. the land.

Looking hurriedly round, he saw that it was Tekale, the rajah’s .eldest son, at that time a frequent visitor thereabouts, who was courting the chief’s daughter.. He was preparing for a plunge, and this mante past fondness for bathing'in the neighbourhood now struck-Awang as not so motiveless as ho had previously fancied. The chief s house, built almost entirely of bamboo, stood on piles on. a neat grass plot clea ring, surrounded by croton hedges about fifty yards back from the water, the front facing the-street, but a path through the tangled undergrowth at the rear kd : to the waterside. Though the sons of rajahs are to a certain extent exempt from the prevailing matriarchal system, Tekale would doubtless have to pay a heavy harta, or dowry, to his sweetheart’s family, and no doubt be had been showing them some of his wealth. Diving under water, instantly, Awang swam beneath the surface till he struck his canoe with Iris finger-tips. Then, instead of getting in, he grasped her astern, and, keeping her broadside to the shore, worked outwards with his feet till the shoreline was out of sight. But in tbe meantime he had Seen Tekale come to tbe surface after his plunge, and, having regained the shore, look keenly across the water only to see -an apparently drifting empty boat, alter which he strode hastily back to the chief’s verandah. Jumping into his boat Awang then paddled furiously homewards, and ran his boat to tire landing-stage among the other boats of the settlement without attracting attention. Not till then did he notice that, in his excitement, he had forgotten to recover his charm. In consternation, he wondered if his luck was irrecoverably lost. Ail that night he lay awake, plotting and pondering gloomily. As a member of the Chief’s body guard he occupied a position near the central wooden pillar in the large entrance hall. Around the ball were bamboo partitions -dividing the house into sleep-ing-compartments for the various members of the great man’s large family and his scores of retainers. Hanging on long bamboos from tho ceiling were rows of little wooden prftus ana -hideous effigies, the latter hung for protection against diseases, and the former to he put to sea to carry away the diseases should the grinning guardian-spirits be tried or offended. In the restless night-breeze they swayed and clattered ominously, and Awang shivered guiltily. His longings and misgivings troubled him sorely. He dared not go openly to remove the pearl, as tho surroundings were too public and he would assuredly bo recognised. Certainly, he would be able to find it by night without much trouble, but -of wbat use would that be to him iu this place? The rajah’s people—and his own chief’s too —would kill, him unhesitatingly. The treasure was very valuable and. must be worth many wives ahd slaves.

but for Imm to realise anything' at all Upon it ho must take it out of the country. To do this effectually was the insuperable difficulty. Why had he not taken better car®' of his luck when he had it

At daybreak the white men’s ship came into the bay, and their arrival seemed as a visit from the gods. He knew that the Tuan Captain was a brave and true man, and no doubt such a one would go shares in his adventure. But he would, like all white men, be greedy, and it would never -do to tell him about the matter till Ms ship had got all that was to be picked up at the nort. Also, ho must promise that he would not ask any absurd questions, after the manner of most foolish white men, as to how the rajah’s son had got the pearl in the first place. Such talk would never do. • There must be no stopping to argue, as the rajah would certainly slay Awang while negotiations were proceeding. Awang did not know where the pearl came from, neither did) he care. - Why should anyone care, so long as he held it? This seemed so evident, as he thought of it, that he sprang to Ms fedfc and laughed loudly. During the afternoon, however, he received a severe shock. Tekale, after calling upon the white men’s ship, cam© as usual to visit the chief’s daughter, and, when he stepped from his prau, Awang happened to be very near. He, too, had been to the ship —as steersman to his master’s boat—and both praira had returned at about the same time. Prom Tekale’s neck-ring • hung the very charm lost by Awang on the previous day! Evidently he had found it when reinspeoting the pearl-box, and imagined that it had been lost overboard or on the beach by gome careless wayfarer. But.if.anything should happen to the pearl, suspicion would at once centre upon the 'owner of the charm, and .'there were many**p©rsons who could enlighten Tekale as to its ownership if he inquired. Now, Awang dared not go back to the spot except to take the pearl and to leave the country with it at the same time. To do otherwise would he Ms deathwarrant. It was a .ease of partnership and) flight with the white captain, or nothing'. Joe chose the former alternative.

Thus Awang. And Boyle, concluding, he had refrained from giving Pike a/ni inkling of what was in his’ mind till Awang came aboard and showed the pearl, as he had grave doubts as to the feasibility of many points in connection with the projected undertaking. He knew Pike would have pooh-poohed the yam, and they might have had words, and if the spec had failed to come off or disaster had occurred the mate’s sarcasms and upbraidings would have driven him wild. If tMngs went awry he would have said notMng of the true reason of their departure. Although he believed the gen-gir-man’s yam, it was doubtful if any other white man would have swallowed it unquostioningly, and it was a yarn that had to be taken whole or not at all. The least investigation, and “the gaff would be bkwed.” It was also to be remembered that Tekale might have moved the box, either permanently or temporarily, and numberless other contingencies might have arisen to prevent Awang from succeeding in his enterprise ; also the pearl might on investigation have turned out a •“ duffer.” Now that none of these calamities had occurred,- he was particularly well pleased. He was an expert and an old hand in the pearl trade, and he could assure Pike that when they got to Hongkong and cut up the proceeds— Awang was to get his one-third share in full—they would have a tidy little fortune apiece to call their own.

“ How much is it worth, d’you reckon, then?” asked Pike, with an effort to appear sceptical and languidly unconcerned. “ Not a penny under fifty thousand pounds,” returned his partner, with conviction.

“ Lord!” exclaimed Pike, startled, in spite of himself. “And you mean to say that we’ve got to shell out a matter of over fi f J teen thousand golden quid to that dirty savage!” He pointed indignantly with his pipe stem to where Awang stood 1 lazily puffing at one of the skipper’s cheroots and watching the Malays taking in sail. “A thousand to one he Murdered the- Frenchman himself,” he added.

“ No; I don’t think he’d anything to do with it,” said Boyle." “ Anyhow, you fnow the proverb about pearls of great price and their being unlucky? Mere superstition, of course; it’s really because the holders have acquired them dishonestly, and dishonesty brings its own punishment. Well,. I’m determined that- wo shall do the square thing with ours. We’ll not rob anybody, ard :f we do come to grief it won’t be through sty villainy. Awang is a native of some importance ; he’s not a common coolie like the fellows you’ve been used to on your blasted passenger tramps. And my word is. my bond the world over, Pike; so that’s all about it. „

“Ah, well,” assented the mate, dubiously, “of course one’s word is one’s word, 1 sup-pose-—even to a soap-coloured heathen—and I’ve no call to complain, but i can't stomach having any truck with such a swab. IJt’ll only kill himself with bang and ouium when he gets ashore, and I’ll bet he doesn’t know the stone’s value, within miles. He’d be more than satisfied if he got fifty pounds in full settlement.”

The skipper sighed'. “I daresay a few hundreds would do,” he remarked, “hut, as I say, I’d never feel easy in my mind if we deceived him; sooner or later retribution would come. I could tell you some strange stories about men I’ve known who found big pearls, they all came to a bad end in some way or another. Gosh! I sometimes think the south-sea natives are right when they swear that each gem is alive with an evil spirit, which revenges itself for being removed from its home. Come and have a good look at the thing in the sunlight!”

There were remarkable dissimilarities of character and disposition in the jointowners of the vessel, -at they agreed wonderfully well, notwithstanding. Knowing nothing of the inner lives of the natives. Pike loathed and distrusted all alike, while Boyle, on the other hand, held that .in practical life all the primititve human virtues lav with the savage, and that the civilized whites were degenerates in morals if superior in intellect. Still, it was their only point of disagreement, and it was a mild one at that.

In the hroa.il daylight, the pearl’s beauties' revealed themselves to their fullest advantage. Slightly pear shaped;, it was nearly an inch in diameter and weighed about two ounces. Lustrous with a pinkish opalescence, it reflected the dazzling sunlight in tiny wavelets of subdued and undulating splendour, infinitely more fascinating than the fierce glitter of the diamond or the sullen glow of the ruby, its only rivals. As an expert, Boyle ventured to declare that it was a true pearl, and probably a virgin one. Had it been a perfect 'Sphere it would have been priceless and unique. Then, in reply to Pike’s queries, he launched into a disquisition upon the biological and other peculiarities of this most prized of human possessions.

_ He told Hm how the pearl-oyster, discharged from its parent with, many others ■in the form of an egg, starts life like a young snail, sbell-less, and how the little creature’s exudations, hardening on the put* side the oyster shell, become at close quarters mother-of-pearl, a coating of mucous membrane which during, life is ever being renewed, till in some cases shells nine inches thick top and bottom are formed. The true pearl of commerce—he explained—was an abortive scedi-mg which the female oyster was raiable to eject at parturition. The mother, being thenceforth unable to rid herself of this parasite, covers it tenderly year by year with a layer of fresh membrane when renewing her house walls from her tissues. _ Within the pearl itself—he continued—is a bright, shiny, germ-cell. It is reahy a capsule containing an ovnro, fed with • the blood of the parent and containing a particle of air which conoentrates the ; outer light instead of diffusing it in prismatic colours like the oyster-shell lining. Add to this tho deli-cately-grooved surfaces of these periodical layers of membrane and their minute dimpled corrugations beneath the outer polish, and a transparency which is affected by the colour of its surroundings, and . an explanation is obvious of the properties which give'the_ pearl its matchless..lustre. The true pearl is always found either loos® in the interior or embedded in the tissues of the, mother-oyster, .and it has always this semi-living kernel as its. basis. The spurious pearl is merely a deposit of mucous membrane laid by the male or . female

oyster about an intruder who has succeeded ixr perforating the shell . from without. Sometimes it is a coating round some foreign substance that has entered the mouth of thS shell while open, and been found to be ,im-. movable. Such “ pearls ” are always found against the side of the shell or at the orifice; and they have been formed either to repel further attacks or to prevent internal irritation.

“So you see,” Boyle concluded, “the natives are not so far out when they assert that the true pearl is a tiring of life;'and the mother of this chick of curs must have been a, real ancient witch. The, pearloyster usually comes to maturity in about four years, and you rarely see a shell more than a few inches thick. Ours is a regsdai (record-specimen, and that’s a fact.” “ What do you mean by a ‘ virgin ’ pearl ?” said Pike, “ and is this the biggest you ever henrd of?” «A ‘virgin’ pearl is one that havtoctci been worn. Rich collectors will always give a top price for one of that sort,’’ was the answer. ■ “I’ve beard that the Shah •of Persia had one three inches long and that he' gave over a hundred thousand -pounds for it; and as his has decayed and gone to pot—a perverse trick these wretched things have, "by the way, if they’re not well looked atfter-r-perhaps he will buy ours. I wish it was quits round, though.” - - - “We couldn’t make it round, I s’pose? Bs&ld Pit©* “No fear,” replied the skipper; “they •won’t Stand messing about, like a common mineral such as a ruby or diamond. The only trade point of resemblance . between! pearls and other precious ornaments as thrA It’s the weight that decides their gemu.neness. It’s only by its heavy weight that you can tell a genuine pearl from the best imitations at first handling; they mane such good counterfeits, nowadays.” “ And this pear-shape. How does it come about?” pursued Pike. " Oh, that’s caused by the little ligament connecting the egg and its parent Ming also coated with the mother’s exudations ; , , and as it adds to the weight, let us he quly thankM.” . , , •- k ’ Favoured by wind and tide ■ tiieu passage was uneventful, and , a few days later the heights of Hongkong loomed up over the starboard bow, and.- redtcdinig sail, they lurched past Stonecutter Man'd and entered the oily waters of this sheltered haven of British commerce in the east. Picking their . way •through palpitating steam-launches, lat- ■ nosed cargo boats, clumsy native junks, towering ironclads and an endless ariay of merchant shipping, about which sampans circled like buzzing flies, they dropped chor right opposite the seething , bse-liive-like town and its interminable’ lines or wharves and hanging derricks. Leaving all aboard, Boyle'went ashore to announce himself formally to Ms Taipan, and to attend to the wearisome formalities required for the due clearance of cargo. That over, . they would be free for awhile to attend to their ' chief business. After some hours’ absence he returned, and announced that all preliminaries had been satisfactorily surmounted,, and next morning the mate, Awang, and himself went ashore, and in that one single day decided their united fortunes. 1 ■ PART HI. SOW THE PE AM. FULFILLED ITS DESTINY. . It was early in the day when they landed, and at Boyle’s suggestion they turned into an hotel close by and had a “stiffner to keep out the mist and the evil reek of opium and stale fish fumes saluting their nostrils. ; “ What about Awang ?” asked Pike. “ Surely we aren’t going to tow him astern all-over the port ■" “I’ve thought of that,” responded the skipper. “No; he shall stay here with the eating-room manager, a fellow who’ll understand his talk and treat him to “ shamshoos” and other filthy decoctions. Nob that I mind .Mm being alongside, but it might draw unnecessary attention. Awang will be all right here till we. get back. I’m, well-known to the boss of the shop, and, besides, we shan’t be long, and Awang has been this way before.” ■ Yielding at last to the importunate ricksha men, and telling Awang to order what he wanted, each jumped into a rick, and the coolie bearers started at a trot for the top of Queen Street, where Boyle’s friend and) patron, the Taipan Henson—-a wealthy American speculator —had Ms headquarters.; The road was a bit hilly. Clambering up side-streets, like steps, lined on either side with three-storied houses, covered in front with, the oddest mixture of blazing Chinese signs—-red, 'yellow, gilt and they presently emerged into the main street. The side-walks of this part of the ’ city were paved with slippery stone andflanked with well-stocked native warehouses,' whose shop fronts were protected from the sun by verandahs supported by quaintly-, carved posts. By the las tof these the party' halted, and Boyle alighted. > Here a disappointment befell them. The' ’ Taipan was out, and would not be bock for fully a couple of hours. j “ Never mind,” said Boyle 'to the mate,?, “we’ll come'back later on, and wMle we’ra ( patting in our time we' may as well gtt round to Hang Yow, the Chinese pearl-; buyer, and just see what he’d offer us.” I It took half an hour to get to this man’sabode, situated! in an alleyway through; which the bearers had some little difficulty]' in effecting a passage. i “ Keep your eyes about you,” Boyle wfais-| pered; as they entered the short side passage and stepped into the Chinaman’s store, shut-] tered in front and lighted, though the sun; shone without, by huge paper lanterns. A!, heterogeneous collection of wares met theta gaze in this stuffy place. Huge dragons and. grotesque idols, rattan and bamboo basket- 1 , ware, screens of pliant, cane and curious] panels, richly embroidered silks, tortqise-j shell brushware, and ivory or ebony qma-| meats were mingled with silver filigree work,’, wonderfully-shaped pipes tipped with coral] or lapis-lazuli, sMning weapons of every de-( scription, inlaid cabinets, rows of coloured! labels—vermilion chiefly—odours of opium] and tea, and a thousand other nodescript) sights and; smells that produced an effect! confusing in the extreme. Nobody seemed I to be about, and Boyle rapped twice sharply! on the counter. Suddenly and noiselessly a] fat Celestial appeared, cat-like, before them,! ami, bowing obsequiously, asked their busi-l ness. • ' !

Boyle handed him the pearl. “ How. much* for this?” he said. f This man took it, and walked to where at lamp was standing alight on a small table at: his rear, and, turning the wick to its full; height, proceeded to closely examine thel gem. Even at the distance where they stood; on the other side of the counter, its chaste; scintillations were plainly visible to tho'i prond owners. But if the Chinaman was as-; tonished his impassive features gave no sign.! After a minute or two he returned to the' counter and said: > “Wun tousand pong, Ingleese money”—•< then, noting Boyle’s quick change of conn-, tenanoe —“ sovelings . . . me no wanteo' ; pearl much just now . . . pearl veEyj cheap too. . . > Tekkum?” i “Take .’em!” replied Boyle, trying to’ speak calmly. “Look here, we’re no fools,'■ nor thieves; this is a straight deal, and w&' haven’t any time to lose. We don’t car©: whether you buy it or not. Now, what’s, your top figure—quick!” The dealer took it to the light again.’.' Then, having first moistened his finger-tips ; with some watery slush beside him, he held; it long and carefully before the light. When' he lowered his hand his face was as impene-' trable as ever. He came back to the counter 5 and handed the pearl over to Boyle. . “X no wantee buy him at all,” he said. “ Me poor man . . . better you tekkum Ingleese buyer ... he man plenty money . , r savvey?” “ Oome on; let’s out of this,” said Boyle,; tagging at Pike’s s’eeve, and nearly beside himself with rage at the fellow’s over-reach-' ing cunning. “ I’ve met your sort before,” < he added, as they made for the door. As they passed forth the Chinaman called; out something, but, retorting could. try his huckster’s tricks on his next cus-; tomer, Boyle disregarded his expostulations: and away they went, back to the Taipan’s. ■ He was still absent, so they decided to have, some refreshment, and taking things easily, it was well .past noon when they got back. Henson, this time, was in. : Ho took them into his' private office.; WSonx to have kent you,” he said, afiwr

Pike had beam introduced 1 ' and they all had exchanged greeting, “A fire broke out in : one oi our branches, and I had to go myself. }Eo you’ve brought it, *eh i My word) it is a [fitunnex!” lie ' remarked, as he looked the i pearl over and weighed it on Ms office 1 scales. “You lucky beggars!” i “I wasn’t far out in my reckoning then, Henson, was I?” said Boyle, complacently. “Right as a trivet,” answered Henson. “ Yes, I daresay I could give you thirty thousand for it—spot cash —or, if you care jto leave it with me for Sale, we might rake 'in as much- again from some Nabob*—takes itnime though, you know. , . Hulloa! . . one moment.” Leaving his seat, Henson strode to the .window, and turned his back to them. Re* turning quickly, he approached Boyles : chair. “ By God/ I’m sorry, old man,” he stammered,. “but I’m afraid I must give you a nasty knock. . . . Look at that!” I,- Without understanding the reason, Pikes knees gave way under his seat, as he noted the look of apprehension on Boyle’s face when Henson handed the stone back. Rising, and bending over the skipper's shoulder, Pike looked at it. The pearl had! a siolidy, bluish-green streak across its centre. “What’s the matter?” he exclaimed, nervously. “ It’s got the i*ot; it’s not worth a cent. ( Whatever can have caused it?” returned ■Henson, “Never! It’s a brand-new- pearl!” espositulated Boyle. “ Strange! But I’m positive Pm right,” said the Taipan. “ Stay, though—what have you been keeping it in lately?” “An old tobacco-pouchr—safest thing in the world,” said Boyle. , “ That may have dona it. Nobody knows .what starts this incurable decomposition of the' membranes. P’raps some microbe in the ]tobacco did the trick. I must, make a note of this case,” the Taipan* replied interestedly. ; He might have added that a special committee of the Trench Royal Academy of Sciences had considered this very question, unsuccessfully, and that every set of Crown J'ewels in Europe had repeatedly been ruined >y pearl-rot, and that no one could protect hia possessions from such seizures, in the .end. "Whether this suddien, swift dissolution was caused by some chemical or bacteriological process, by contact with, or by indirect influence of, surrounding air, light, moisture and heat in certain combinations, or otherwis*e, no one could determine. 'Oriental experimenters had! suggested that iwhen the germ kernel itself died the husk died with it. But all that waa absolutely ,known was that a pearl worth perhaps a hundred thousand pounds over-night might next morning be nothing more than.a little pinch of dirt. It is unnecessary to describe how the sympathetic Taipan fruitlessly strove to console them, and how Pike swore that the Chinaman had fixed the job up, with acid, in revenge when he found! ho couldn’t get the pearl on his own terms. Henson said that it was more likely that Hang-Yow had noticed the speck too, as he was an experienced dealer and his reputation was good—'aa those of natives go. Besides, many persons had doubtless handled it, and it was impossible to gay whose fingers had first conveyed the contamination. They had some wine, but it was impossible to work up enthusiasm on any subject/ so, leaving Henson to his work, they returned sadly to the hotel whence they had started. Back in the long, deserted side compartment leading off into the street, they called fon a final drink, and asked for Awang to be sent to them. The waiter said that he had seemed to be very anxious about their continued absence. “P’raps he thought we’d cleared out?” commented the mate, grimly. “Wish someone else had the job of tel- ; |ing him,” retorted Boye. “Herethe beggar comes.” ' He stood before them, a lonely, pathetic figure, but straight and dignified, aa one who scorns to reproach his friends for over*- ' eights -in petty details. : “ Bad news, Awang,” said Boyle, brusquely, in the .native dialect, trying in his intense irritation to explain things kindly, but in a voice ringing with bitter resentment at having to disappoint the man. /‘The pearl’s rotten. We can’t get anything for it.” He paused, douhtM as to suitable words wherewith to convey an appropriate explanation. , Awang regarded Boyle with dull fixity. His inscrutable face, however,- failed to show the slightest comprehension. The man evidently did not understand, so Boyle opened the little cardboard-box, given him by Henson, to take out tbe pearl and to show him the fatal blemish. As he looked ,he emitted a cry of surprise. The pearl bad vanished!—it had crumbled to a few grains of dust. This was the end of all their wealth! Bending over, he was about to raise the box to his eyes to scrutinise the poor remains of this remarkable phenomenon more closely. “ Amok 1” yelled Pike. There was a violent rush", but the alert mate was just in time to interpose an arm as Awang, with drawn knife, threw himself furiously at the skipper’s head, with murderous intent. The thrust diverted upwards, caught the skipper laterally on the face, and jus* as Awang was about to plunge the kris afresh, lower down, a report sounded. Awang’s arm dropped nervelessly. Pike had fired into his brain. The Sengir-man collapsed on the floor— dead.

• I don’t know that there is any moral to this story. It is clear that Awang believed himself to have been swindled by his partners and that he retaliated in the approved native fashion. Dealing with natives on the “ square ” principle is, undoubtedly, highly proper and commendable; still, it is as wed, when basing your calculations, not to overlook the limitations of native^ intelligence and the vagaries of that elusive element in human affairs called “luck.” Of course, if you are a fatalist nothing matters «—not even death itself.