84 TEE CRUISE OF THE ** CACHALOT:'' 



with " worming " of smaller line along its lays. A 

 handle is carved out of a whale's tooth, and insets of 

 baleen, silver, cocoa-tree, or ebony, give variety and 

 finish. The tools used are of the roughest. Some old 

 files, softened in the fire, and filed into grooves something 

 like saw-teeth, are most used; but old knives, sail-needles, 

 and chisels are pressed into service. The work turned 

 out would, in many cases, take a very high place in an 

 exhibition of turnery, though never a lathe was near it. 

 Of course, a long time is taken over it, especially the 

 polishing, which is done with oil and whiting, if it can 

 be got — powdered pumice if it cannot. I once had an 

 elaborate pastry-cutter carved out of six whale's teeth, 

 which I purchased for a pound of tobacco from a seaman 

 of the Coral whaler, and afterwards sold in Dunedin, 

 New Zealand, for £2 10s., the purchaser being decidedly 

 of opinion that he had a bargain. 



