Coconut Pearls

How They Are Formed

THE character and origin of the coconut pearl, which have been discussed in the PIM on several occasions in recent years, seem now

to be clearly established. We made serious reference to the queer thing on p. 61 of the PIM of Feb., 1952, and the opinion then was expressed that the pearl was a botanical freak, caused when a coconut tried to sprout, and failed.

In Garden Islands of the Great East, published a couple of years

ago, David Fairchild has a sec on “The Coconut Pearl”. He that when he was in the Celebe 1940, Wong, a copra buyer, prese him with a magnificent pearl, wl Wong said, had come out of a c nut. Wong said that such p< occurred only rarely—he had only four or five in 15 y trading.

Fairchild became interested, searched all available literature the subject. He found that a Hunger had conducted a thorough research concerning c nut pearls, and had proved that pearl resulted from an abno growth in a nut. This happened \ a nut formed with all three o pores, or holes, closed. The em tried to grow but could not get and this led to a diseased condi and sometimes, as a result, a ] was formed. It is composed carbonate of calcium, like the ] that is formed in an oyster.

These abnormal nuts occur rarely—Fairchild thought per one in 750,000. In the old day the East Indies, coconut pearls the perquisites of the Rajahs, are of great beauty, and are enl to the high place they hold ar

jewels.