There were seashells of various sizes. The largest ones could almost cover a square table, while the smallest were barely as big as a quail egg.
All these unattractive seashells were piled up together, forming many small hills in the store. Some had already been scrubbed with water until the mud was gone. The shell surface under the lime looked smooth and heavy, and they were clearly the better ones chosen for opening.
On the long tables near the back, several shelves displayed pearls that had already been opened and cleaned. Each pearl was placed on its own small stand. Under the morning light, they reflected faint glows. Some were white, some silvery, some faintly blue, and some had strange specks.
They were not normal pearls one could casually pick up on the beach.
