A STRANGE GIANT OF THE OCEAN 



perfumes; that is, to make the fragrance last. Many 

 substitutes for ambergris have been adopted in com- 

 mercial work, but as yet none has been found which is 

 as effective as the original substance. 



For hundreds of years ambergris has been known 

 and used in various ways. It was formerly supposed 

 to have wonderful medicinal qualities (which, how- 

 ever, are largely mythical) and in Asia was employed 

 as a spice in cooking. The Turks have long considered 

 it of the greatest value, and pilgrims who traveled to 

 Mecca used to bring it as an offering. Ambergris has 

 a peculiar and not disagreeable odor which, when 

 once identified, will not easily be forgotten; after 

 touching it traces of the smell will still remain even 

 though the hands have received several washings. 



During the last eight years at least fifty persons 

 have brought to my office for identification almost as 

 many different substances which they have found float- 

 ing or washed up on the seacoast, and which they de- 

 voutly prayed might prove to be ambergris. One 

 man brought as a sample a large piece of tallow from 

 a barrel ful which he had collected at considerable 

 trouble and expense; another had a portion of a jelly- 

 fish, and a third carefully treasured a mass of dirty 

 soap. But as yet no one has brought "the real thing/' 

 Ambergris is soluble in alcohol and this is a good first 

 test for those to whom the substance is unknown. 



The sperm is by far the largest member of the 

 toothed whale family and has from eighteen to twen- 

 ty-five massive teeth on each side of the lower jaw; 

 these fit into sockets in the upper jaw and assist in 



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