PEARL. The Arabians, Persians, and Turks make use of the Word Merovarid to signify Pearls. The Word Margarites, or Margarita, used by the Greeks and Latins, seems to be derived from thence. The finest Pearls are fish’d up in the Persian Gulph, now called the Sea of Catif, because of the City Catif that stands upon its Shore. They fish for them also in the Island of Kis, and upon the Coast of Babrein, so called from the City of that Name, which lies upon the Borders of Arabia. Idumæa and Palestine being not far from this Sea, it is not to be wonder’d at that Pearls were so well known to Job, and the Hebrews. Since that Time they have been found in several other Places; and now many are brought from America. ‘Tis said that the smaller Pearls, that is, those Shell-fish which are called Pearls, follow the great ones called Mother-of- Pearls, like Bees. They are known to be big with Pearls, when their Shells have Bunches on each Side.
The Oriental Pearls have a Water which inclines towards Carnation, those of America are green, and those of the North are gridelin. Pearls are found in Bohemia, in Rivers of fresh Water, and in Silesia, and in Lorrain. They are sometimes found also in common Oysters. Pearls, that have been long wore, turn yellow, and moulder away at the end of fourscore or an hundred Years. They are made in the Mother-of-Pearl, by Beds, after the manner of Onions. They have discovered in some Mother-of-Pearls as far as an hundred and fifty, but not all perfect. Some are compleat, and others but just beginning to be form’d. They come to Perfection in the Oyster. They are often found in the Sea-sand. ‘Tis an ancient Error, that Pearls are formed of the Dew, and that they are lost in the Sea. We have treated of the Nature of Pearls in a Dissertation made on purpose, and inserted in the Journal of Trevoux.
Prov. iii. 15. viii. 11. xx. 15.As to the Passages of Scripture, wherein Pearls are spoken of, Job says1, No mention shall be made of Coral, or of Pearls, for the Price of Wisdom is above Rubies. Solomon has nothing finer or more precious than Pearls, by which to extol the Value of Wisdom. He makes use of the Simile of Pearls three times, to express his Esteem for Wisdom.; and says, that a good Woman comes as far off, is as hard to find, and of as great Value as Pearls. Jeremiah speaking of the Nazarites of Jerusalem, says2, that they were more ruddy or more vermilion than Pearls3. ‘Tis known that Pearls are not commonly ruddy; but we have observed before, that the Oriental Pearls incline towards Carnation; which is exactly what the Prophet intended, by commending the vermilion Complexion and wholsome Faces of the Nazarites.
Matth. vii. 6.Jesus Christ forbids his Apostles to cast their Pearls before Swine. Neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos. That is to say, expose not the sacred Truths and Mysteries of Religion to the Raillery of prophane Libertines and hardened Atheists. The Author of Ecclesiasticus means the same Thing, when he advises us not to speak when we Ecclus. xxxii. 6.find the Persons we speak to not disposed to hear, Ubi auditus non est, ne effundas sermonem. The Hebrews call Pearls Peninim, the Greeks Margaritæ, the Latins Unio, Margarita, or Perula. We find Margaritum in Prov. xxv. 12. but the Hebrew has4 a Chali of Gold. Now Chali probably signifies a Collar or Necklace. As for the Word Peninim, it is mentioned Job xxviii. 18. Prov. iii. 15. viii. 2. xx. 15. xxxi. 10. Lament. iv. 7. where the Seventy and the Vulgate translate it by precious Stones, or Things hid, or Ivory5. But certainly Peninim signifies Pearls; and the Word Pinna, which stands for the Shell-fish that produces them, is probably derived from Peninim. Pearls grow in the Sea, and in the Shells of Fishes; and precious Stones are found in Mines. These are Things of a very different Nature, and yet are often confounded.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages