The Scrap book; containing a collection or amusing and striking pieces in prose and verse - Softcover
Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1821 Excerpt: ... who contributed so powerfully to confirm and extend it, and that in times when it was peculiarly difficult, as the lamented individual of whom we are now speaking; and they who have had the most opportunity to observe how superior the society of Edinburgh is to that of most other places of the same size, and how much of that superiority is owing to the two aristocracies, of rank and of letters--of both of which it happens to be the chief provincial seat--will be the best able to judge of the importance of the service he has thus rendered to its inhabitants, and through them, and by their example, to all the rest of the country. The Pearl Fishery of Panama. The isthmus which forms the boundary between J'lorth and South America might, in the possession of an enterprising nation, be rendered a fertile source of prosperity. It would only be necessary to cut a canal to connect the two seas, and to build a city at each of its mouths, which might become the central points of extensive trade. At the extreniity of the Bay of Panama is an archipelago, consisting of forty-three islands; between the islands of El Bey the sea is perfectly calm, and near the coast lies a considerable bank of pearly oysters. These.oysters produce pearls of a large size, though in point of regularity and beauty they are inferior to those of India. All the inhabitants of Panama and its vicinity who are in easy circumstances, keep negroes, who dive to procure pearls for their masters. They are despatched to the islands, where tents and boats are kept in readiness. Eighteen or twenty of these poor negroes, who are excellent swimmers, and who possess the power of holding in their breath for a considerable time, are under the control of an overseer. They swim about under the water until they f...
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