A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 193: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

190 A QUEER RACE. «hat will be a very costly operation. You will want a great deal of money.” ‘‘T have a great deal. First of all, there is the treas- ure, which is worth I don’t know how much, and I have pearls enough for a king’s ransom.” | | ‘Pearls, Mab! Where on earth did you get them?” ‘They came out of the sea. ‘There 1s a very valuable pe:tl fishery on the south side of the island. But it has net been fishicd for a long time, partly because we had as many pearls as we wanted, partly because my father feared they might create a craving for riches and luxury, and possibly bring other evils in their train. but if we can exchange them for something useful, and they enable us to abolish slavery, the good will more tuan outweigh any robable harm. ‘* Don’t you think so?” ‘* Certainly.” ‘You can exchange fine pearls for money in England, I suppose?” ‘‘Of course you can. To any extent you like.” ‘* Then we will take a lot with us; buy, with the money they brig, the things we need, and pay for the Diana’s cargo. I think I would rather not tonch the treasure; for Sybil says that so long as 1t remains on the island the commonwealth will endure. I don’t gute believe all she says; but she 1s a wise woman, and nobody ever neglects her warnings with impunity.” ‘The pearls will do quite as well, though it does seem a pity to let all that money lie idle. Properly invested, it would produce a large income. However, you are per- haps right. You have everything you nee!, and enough is as good as a feast. But what will Field and the others say to your idea of making a trip to England? It was only the other day that the mere suggestici horrified them beyond measure.” ‘Well. if it came to a contest of wills, I think mine would prevail, And you don’t know what a change re- cent events have wrought in their ideas. You are the most popular man in the island. They think you were sent purposely to save the commonwealth; and the fact of vour having survived so many dangers is regarded as a proof of the Divine favor—for our people, though, as you may think, rather superstitious, are essentially relig- ious. ‘They have often urged me to marry, and our mar- Gomichbooks.com