AMBERGRIS. 95 



of the system which calls for a cathartic. From 

 the Materia Medica, we learn that, in Asia and 

 parts of Africa, ambergris is not only used as a 

 medicine and a perfume, hut considerable use 

 also is made of it in cooking, by adding it to 

 several dishes as a spice. A great quantity of 

 it also is constantly bought by the pilgrims who 

 travel to Mecca, probably to offer it there in 

 fumigations, as frankincense is in the worship 

 of the Church of Home. 



Suffering from the state of disease which 

 causes the accumulation of this secretion, a 

 whale, when struck by the harpoon, will often 

 throw up or discharge the substance, and it will 

 be found floating about him. It is said to have 

 been a Nantucket whaler that thus accidentally 

 ascertained the origin of a substance which had 

 been known before vaguely as an unaccountable 

 product of the sea. Pieces have been picked up 

 by sailors about a dying whale worth nearly five 

 pounds ; and masses of it have been found of 

 from sixty to two hundred and twenty-five 

 pounds' weight, floating on the surface of the 

 ocean, in regions much frequented by the sperm 



