390 THE NARWHAL, OR SEA UNICORN. 



Narwhal is, there, or in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood, will be found the whale. This probably arises 

 from their using the same kind of food. 



The blubber, encompassing the whole body from 

 two to four inches in thickness, supplies about half a 

 ton of oil, which is regarded of very superior quality. 

 The Greenlanders regard both the oil and the flesh 

 as very delightful nourishment. At a time when 

 the origin of the horns of these animals was less 

 known, and when they were more rare than in the 

 present day, they were considered as invaluable, 

 and brought a high price. The physician, and still 

 more the charlatan, employed them, and superstition 

 converted them to its own use ; for it is stated that 

 the monks in various convents procured the true 

 horn of the unicorn, endowed with unheard of 

 powers, and far and near obtained for them the 

 credit of curing the most inveterate diseases. The 

 ivory is esteemed superior to that of the elephant : 

 in the words of Giesecki, it far surpasses it in all its 

 qualities ; it possesses extreme density and hardness, 

 has a dazzling whiteness, which does not pass into 

 yellow, and easily receives a very high polish. It 

 is said that the kings of Denmark possess a mag- 

 nificent throne made of this precious material, 

 which is preserved with great care in the Castle of 

 Rosenberg ; and, at the present day, the horns arc 

 highly valued as an article of trade. 



