Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s4.2

v2.c41.s4.2

Pearls or muktā originated in the oyster-shells and conch-shells, and were available in the Tāmraparṇī (Tinnevelly or Tuticorin), Pāṇḍyaka-vāṭa (the Pāṇḍya kingdom), etc. (2.11.2-3). Excellent pearl gems had to be big, round, without a flat surface, lustrous, white, heavy, smooth and perforated at the proper place. The defective ones were lentil-shaped, triangular, tortoise-shaped, semi-spherical, with a layer, coupled, cut up, rough, spotted, gourd-shaped, dark, blue and badly perforated (2.11.4-5).