The Superstition that Pearls Bring Tears.

The Princess of Travancore, who was stolen by a Rover of Kandy and lost in the storm called down upon his ships by a potent Brahman, is the heroine of the tale. Her body was recovered and with it came a great gift, as the legend thus relates.

Now, when elements were at peace again, the King gave orders that certain fishermen of his people who were expert divers should explore the bottom of the sea where the ships of the Roverdale were destroyed. One of these discovered the body of the princess and brought it to shore. And when they prepared it for burial the women found fastened upon one of the hands a shellfish, the two shells of which had closed upon a finger when it fell between them as they gaped. And when the shells were pried apart there rolled from between them a round bone, white and shining, and yet of a luster so soft and beautiful that no man had seen the like. And the Brahman, when he saw it, said: “Herein are the tears of heaven which fell into the sea, congealed and have become a gem which is beyond price.”

He named it Pearl, and carried it to the King. Then the King, after he had heard story of it, sent for the chief man of them that worked in gold and commanded him that he make for the pearl a setting most precious, and when it was done, he gave it to the Prince, his son saying: Above all things let this be first among the jewels of Travancore forever.” And the prince, when he looked upon it said, The beauty of it is like the brightness of her eyes when they veiled themselves before my passion, and he prized it more than all the diamonds and rubies in his treasure house.