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Pearl Fishing
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Pearl Fishing
Pearl fishing at Tuticorin (known at that time as Toute Coryn) in southern India
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Media ID 4373694
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10195035
1662 Pearl Precious Southern Stones Toute
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the essence of pearl fishing in Toute Coryn, now known as Tuticorin, in southern India during the year 1662. The historical photograph depicts a group of local fishermen wading through the shallow waters of the Bay of Bengal, their bare feet sinking into the soft, golden sands. Each man holds a long, curved oyster knife in one hand and a small basket in the other, ready to pry open the precious oysters that cling to the seabed. The pearl industry in Tuticorin has a rich and storied history, dating back over 2,000 years. The region was renowned for its high-quality pearls, which were highly sought after by traders from far and wide. The pearls were often used as currency, and were even mentioned in ancient Indian texts such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The process of pearl fishing was a labor-intensive and risky endeavor. Fishermen would wade out into the shallow waters, often at great personal risk, to search for oysters that contained pearls. The oysters were carefully pried open with a knife, and the pearl was extracted with great care to avoid damaging it. The pearls were then cleaned and sorted, with the finest specimens being kept for personal use or sold to merchants. This photograph offers a rare glimpse into the past, transporting us back in time to a moment when the pearl industry was still a thriving and vital part of the local economy in Tuticorin. The scene is one of simple, hard work, and the determination of the fishermen to bring forth the precious stones that lay hidden beneath the waves.
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