Show GREW PEARLS IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY As lon long ego a o as ns the thirteenth century cen cen- tury a Chinaman named d Yr Ye in nam Yo yan jin di discovered a method of inducing the formation of pearls in in the Chinese river mussels The mussels were nere gently opened and small email pellets usua usually of cn clay inserted The mussels were then placed iu in about two or three fe feet t of running water At th the tho en end of two or three years s a a R writer in ill tho the Manchester Manchester Man Man- I chester Guardian Guardi n they were again opened when it was wis otten often found that nacreous matter bad had be been n deposited on onI I the pellets forming pc pearls rb millions of which are arc sold in China Tho The most curious pearls represent ent the form of ot a small seated image of Buddha The Tho figures are aro ca cast t in in thin lead or or stamped on tin and in inserted crt ert d in the mussel instead instead in in- stead of the tho ordinary pellets When covered with the pearl f forming matter thc they become becom objects of great veneration to the people who Tho pa pay a high price for them |