182 Amber ; its Origin and History. [ April, 
After the deposition of the Older Diluvium the land was raised 
up above the water, and lay dry for a long time. At that time, 
probably, numerous hills were formed as Dunes, for they can be 
proved in some cases; and thus by means of wind and water the 
land probably obtained its present features ; but it was once more 
overflowed. The depression this time seems to have progressed 
faster and to a greater depth than before, so that the ice-islands 
drifting towards the south but slightly eroded the surface; and, on 
their melting, only the blocks which they had transported were 
deposited; and these are imbedded abundantly in the associated 
sand and loam. 
After this the land once again emerged out of the water; and 
thus it is that through alternate upheavals and depressions it has 
gradually risen to the height which it now possesses ; but the waves 
of the sea still continue the work of destruction which they com- 
menced thousands of years ago, and yearly lessen the area of the 
country. If, however, other countries can only complain of the 
damage which the sea has inflicted on their coasts, it here amply 
repairs the loss it has caused. When lashed by storms, it tears up 
the Amber out of the deep-lying beds of Amber-earth ; by the help 
of sea-weeds torn up at the same time from the bed of the sea the 
Amber is heaved upwards, and carried on the surface of the water ; 
and when the storm abates and the sea becomes calm, it carries the 
Amber, together with pieces of older Browncoal and fresh marine 
plants, on to the beach, where a hundred hands are waiting to 
intercept it with nets. That is the “Amber-drawing,” a trying 
occupation, which demands a strong and hardy frame, for the cold 
winter storms yield the richest booty. But many pieces of Amber, 
nevertheless, do not reach the shore, for the largest and heaviest 
pieces have already sunk to the bottom, and lie between the large 
boulders which cover the sea-bed. Therefore, in calm weather and 
with clear water, the inhabitants of the coast go in boats, and turn- 
ing the stones with hooks fastened on long poles, endeavour to dis- 
cover the Amber in the interspaces, and to draw it up with small 
nets. This is called “Striking for Amber.”* For a long time 
people were contented with what Amber they could recover by these 
means from the sea; and these modes of acquisition still furnish 
the greatest quantity of the Amber which is obtained from Samland 
for commerce. For the last ten years, however, on all points of 
the coast where the Amber-earth does not lie too deep beneath the 
sea-level, endeavours have been made to lay it bare and to obtain 
the Amber immediately from it. The circumstance that it is over- 
lain by a bed of very loose sand, which contains a large quantity of 
water, has hitherto impeded the attempts to open out the Amber- 
earth by subterranean mining-works. And to make this possible, 
* « Bernstein stechen.” 
