THE MEERSCHAUM. 195 



is obtained from its softness, lightness, and purity ; 

 but in manufacturing it into good pipes a large pro- 

 portion of the material is useless, as it is liable to 

 crack when heated, owing to the air it contains. The 

 Turks use it for tobacco pipes, which are made in 

 the same way that pottery is fabricated, and then 

 soaked or boiled in tallow or wax ; it is considered 

 the best material for pipes, as it heats slowly, and is 

 capable of great absorption ; and a smoker therefore 

 darkens his meerschaum with the essential oil of 



tobacco as he smokes, until it reaches a rich deep 

 brown tint ; well-coloured pipes are consequently trea- 

 sured as triumphs of smoking feats. The care and de- 

 votion requisite to colour a pipe properly, assumes the 

 character of an " amiable weakness " among tobacco- 

 lovers, but might excite the worst feelings of tobacco- 

 haters. The pipe is carefully swathed in folds of 

 flannel, that the line of mark between the tints of 

 yellow and brown be well-defined, and the perseverance 

 of many months is devoted to obtaining the rich tint 

 so much prized by connoisseurs. There is a legend 

 of one who determined to have a perfect meerschaum, 



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