Although the craftsmen were not famous, the giant turtles of the Tayman Archipelago grew larger than carriages, and hawksbill shell material wasn't particularly valuable.
But each piece of craftwork was worth a great deal. Enough to make those who offered gifts in line with the recipient's tastes wince with the pain of parting with their money, yet they felt they had no choice but to buy.
Governor Byron might not remember the people who gave him gifts, but those who didn't were almost certain to be noted in his little book.
With the Governor holding military and administrative power, and a Baron with strong local influence, no one dared to take such matters lightly.
Moreover, if receiving gold and silver represented greedy colonial bureaucrats, then accepting only artwork meant that one was... a collector with refined tastes!
