Many of them suffer apoplectic attacks,
and some of them become blind from congestion of the ocular
vessels. The Syrian divers are supposed to carry weights of
considerable size in their hands in order to facilitate the depth
and duration of submersion. It is also said that the divers of
Oceanica use heavy stones. According to Guyot-Daubes, in the
Philippine Isles the native pearl-fishers teach their children to
dive to the depth of 25 meters. The Tahitians, who excited the
admiration of Cook, are noted for their extraordinary diving.
Speaking of the inhabitants of the island of Fakaraya, near
Tahiti, de la Quesnerie says that the pearl-fishers do not
hesitate to dive to the depth even of 100 feet after their
coveted prizes. On the Ceylon coast the mother-of-pearl fishers
are under the direction of the English Government, which limits
the duration and the practice of this occupation. These divers
are generally Cingalese, who practice the exercise from infancy.
As many as 500 small boats can be seen about the field of
operation, each equipped with divers. A single diver makes about
ten voyages under the water, and then rests in the bottom of the
boat, when his comrade takes his place. Among other native divers
are the Arabs of Algeria and some of the inhabitants of the
Mexican coast.
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