The Pearl-Shell Diver: A Story of Adventure from the Torres Strait
It is 1898, and 13-year-old Sario lives on an island in the Torres Strait between New Guinea and Australia. His family dive for bêche-de-mer (sea cucumber) and pearl-shell, which they barter with visiting white traders, but Sario’s father Thaati wants to earn real cash and agrees for his son to go with a trader and work on his lugger as a diver. Sario is torn and does not want to leave his island home even if he would like to learn to use underwater pump-diving equipment. He’s also worried as his cousins have never returned after going to work for the white men. When the trader comes for him, he runs away and hides and then returns to his village to face the consequences. Long-term diving has caused Sario’s sister Leilani to become deaf, and his mother Apu is also desperately ill, and he must find a way of earning money to keep the family together.
The descriptions of a people and idyllic way of life threatened by the encroaching 20th century are fascinating and demonstrate considerable research, but its narrative style is at times choppy and even slow for an adventure story, although it does gather pace towards the end. There is racism and jealousy between the various ethnic workers as well as exploitation by the white bosses. The author’s notes and timeline are helpful in placing events in context. A number of issues are left unresolved and may indicate a sequel.
This is a novel aimed at the 9-13 age group, and it is likely to find favour with teachers in Australian schools.
