Polished Pearl-Shell
p. 17 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Papeete, Dec. 4.
THE people who have brought power grindstones to the islands for the purpose of polishing pearl-shell, have introduced, not only a new kind of noise but, also, an hitherto-unknown disease — silicosis, an incurable malady.
Many hundredweight of pearl-shell are being polished and sawn into flower pat terns which, when fashioned into orna ments, make acceptable souvenirs of the islands. This commerce has grown to large dimensions. A special transport plane was despatched to Papeete, recently, to hasten delivery at distant points of urgent demands.