622 



A HISTORY OF 



to a sharp point ; and is whiter, heavier, and 

 harder, than ivory. It is generally seen to 

 spring from the left side of the head directly 

 forward in a straight line with the body ; and 

 its root enters into the socket above a foot and 

 a half. In a skull to be seen at Hamburgh 

 there are two teeth, which are each above 

 seven feet long, and are eight inches in cir- 

 cumference. When the animal, possessed of 

 these formidable weapons, is urged to employ 

 them, it drives directly forward' against the 

 enemy with its teeth, that, like protended 

 spears, pierce whatever stands before them. 



The extreme length of these instruments 

 have induced some to consider them rather as 

 horns than teeth ; but they in every respect 

 resemblethe tusks of the boar and the elephant. 

 They grow, as in them, from sockets in the 

 upper jaw ; they have the solidity of the 

 hardest bone, and far surpass ivory in all its 

 qualities. The same error has led utuers to 

 suppose, that as among quadrupeds the female 

 was often found without horns, so these instru- 

 ments of defence were only to be found in the 

 male : but this has been more than once re- 

 futed by actual experience; both sexes are 

 found armed in this manner ; the horn is 

 sometimes found wreathed, and sometimes 

 smooth ; sometimes a little bent, and sometimes 

 straight ; but always strong, deeply fixed, and 

 sharply pointed. 



Yet, notwithstanding all those appointments 

 for combat, these long and pointed tusks, 

 amazing strength, and unmatchable celerity, 

 the narwhal is one of the most harmless and 

 peaceful inhabitants of the ocean. It is seen 

 constantly and inoffensively sporting among 

 the other great monsters of the deep, no way 

 attempting to injure them, but pleased in their 

 company. The Greenlanders call the narwhal 

 the forerunner of the whale ; for wherever it 

 is seen, the whale is shortly after sure to fol- 

 low. This may arise as well from the natural 

 passion for society in these animals, as from 

 both living upon the same food, which are 

 the insects described in the preceding chapter. 

 These powerful fishes make war upon no other 

 jiving creature; and though furnishced with 

 instruments to spread general destruction, are 

 as innocent and as peaceful as a drove of oxen. 

 Nay, so regardless are they of their own wea- 

 pons, and so utterly unmindful to keep them 



in repair for engagement, that they are con- 

 stantly seen covered over with wteds, slough, 

 and all tht filth of the sea ; they seem rather 

 considered as an impediment than a de- 

 fence. 



The manners and appetites both of the 

 narwhal and the great whale are entirely 

 similar; they both alike want teeth for chew- 

 ing, arid are obliged to live upon insects; 

 they both are peaceable and harmless, and 

 always rather fly than seek the combat 

 The narwhal, however, has a much narrower 

 gape than the great whale, and, therefore, 

 does not want the use of barbs to keep in its 

 food when once sucked into the mouth. It 

 is also much swifter, and would never be 

 taken by the fishermen but for those very 

 tusks which at first appear to be its principal 

 defence. These animals, as was said, being 

 fonJ of living together, are always seen in 

 herds of several at a time ; and whenever 

 they are attacked they crowd together in 

 such a manner, that they are mutually em- 

 barrassed by their tusks. By these they are 

 often locked together, and are prevented 

 from sinking to the bottom. It seldom hap- 

 pens, therefore, but the fishermen make sure 

 of one or two of the hindmost, which very 

 well reward their trouble. 



It is from the extraordinary circumstance 

 of the teeth, therefore, thai this fish demands 

 a distinct history; and such has been the 

 curiosity of mankind, and their desire to pro- 

 cure them, that a century ago they were con- 

 sidered as the greatest rarity in the world. 

 At that time the art of catching whales was 

 not known ; and mankind saw few, except 

 such as were stranded on the coasts by ac- 

 cident. The tooth of the narwhal, therefore, 

 was ascribed to a very different animal from 

 that which really bore it. Among other fossil 

 substances, they vvere^ some-times dug up; 

 and the narwhal being utterly unknown, na- 

 turalists soon found a terrestrial owner. 

 They were thought to be the horns of uni- 

 corns, an animal described by Pliny as re- 

 sembling a horse, and with one straight horn 

 darting forward from the middle of its fore- 

 head. These teeth were, therefore, consider- 

 ed as a strong testimony in favour of that 

 historian's veracity, and were shown among 



