Roanoke Colonies Header

pearle


Title Pearle
Origtitle Page 41 Plate 3
Source UNC German de Bry
Date 1590
Creator Theodor de Bry (Engraver); John White (Artist)
Type Engraving
Origin UNC German de Bry
Occurrences

pearle

Alternate Spelling Occurrences

Pearle / Pearle

Additional Notes

A variant of “pearl,” these items – accretions of calcium carbonate formed around an irritant that gets stuck inside bivalve mollusks, such as oysters and mussels – are mentioned numerous times throughout the Hakluyt text, usually as one of the ‘attractions’ for potential colonists since the Native Americans are mentioned several times as having chains of pearls for decoration. - Matt