Kino did not sell his pearl for fifteen hundred pesos because, as an experienced pearl diver, he knew that his pearl was worth much more. The pearl merchants, however, are working for one main buyer who pays them a salary rather than a portion of the profit. Therefore, they have banded together to buy as low as possible, playing off each other’s valuation of the pearls. They have done this for quite some time and...
Kino did not sell his pearl for fifteen hundred pesos because, as an experienced pearl diver, he knew that his pearl was worth much more. The pearl merchants, however, are working for one main buyer who pays them a salary rather than a portion of the profit. Therefore, they have banded together to buy as low as possible, playing off each other’s valuation of the pearls. They have done this for quite some time and so are good at it. They have evidently communicated with each other after hearing the rumor of Kino’s find, deciding on a range within which they will pay. They describe the pearl as too big to be of value, as only a curiosity. They also claim to have found flaws with the pearl itself, making it worth even less than they have stated they are willing to pay. Kino, shaken by these excuses, begins to doubt himself and his judgment of the pearl, but decides he wants to take it to the merchants in the city, hoping for a better price. He leaves, and the merchants realize that they pushed too hard; their employer will not be pleased.
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