What big journey did Marco Polo take, and how long did he stay in China?

Marco Polo traveled from Venice to Asia. He stayed in China for 17 years.

What special activity did Marco Polo see in the Gulf of Mannar?

Marco Polo saw pearl fishing on his way back to Venice.

What was the name of the province famous for its pearls?

The province was called Maabar, in India.

Fill in the blanks: Pearl fishing happened from ___ to mid-May and from ___ to mid-October.

April; September

How did divers collect oysters for pearls, and what problems did they face?

Divers went deep into the sea with a net bag to collect oysters. They had to come up for air and faced dangers from big fish like sharks.

What did the king and fish-charmers do in pearl fishing?

The king took one-tenth of the pearls and picked the best ones. Fish-charmers got one-twentieth for keeping divers safe from big fish.

Who was Cesare Federici, and what did he tell us about pearl fishing?

Cesare Federici was a traveler who lived in India for 18 years. He wrote about pearl fishing during Portuguese rule.

Why was a temporary village built near the pearl fishing area?

The village gave divers a place to stay and a market to sell pearls.

True or False: Divers picked the best spots for oysters by guessing.

False

Divers found the best spots using their skills and experience.

How were pearls sorted after they were taken from oysters?

• Experts called Chittnis sorted pearls.
• They split pearls into four types based on how good they were.
• Merchants bought pearls depending on their quality and weight.