MAMMALS OF BERMUDA. 155 
Again in “‘ Domestic Correspondence,” Jac. I, vol. lxxiv, No. 89, allu- 
sion is made to it in a communication from one John Chamberlain to 
the Right Hon. Sir Dudley Carleton, Kt: 
“Oot. 27, 1613. 
‘““Hrom the Bermudas or Sommer-ylands there hath come great store 
of Ambergreece this yeare, w*" is the only commoditie they have thence 
as yet, but they hope for more hereafter of many kindes, though noth- 
ing so rich, and begin to nestle and plant there very handsomely, where- 
at the Spaniard is nothing pleased but threatens the next yeare to re- 
- move them, which advertisement they have by goode meanes and many 
wayes, but they seeme nothing dismayed therewith, trusting rather to 
the difficultie of accesse, than to any other strength of theyre owne; the 
greatest peece of amber in one lump that hath bin heard of was found 
there this yeare being as bigge as the body of a giant, and annswerable 
or resembling almost in all points sauing for the want of the heade and 
one arme; but they handled the matter so foolishly that they brake yt 
in peeces, and the biggest they brought home was not above 168 ounces 
w°" sells better by twelve or fifteen shillings in an ounce than that w°® 
is smaller.” 
That it was considered at that time to be of particular commercial 
value we glean from the following threatened punishment to be inflicted 
on those who dared to buy or sell it on the islands (Date, 1616): 
‘““No Marryner Sayler or any else of what quality or grade so eue™ be- 
longing to any shippe or shipps nowe here resident or who hereafter 
shall arrive, may bargayne buy trucke or trade with any member of 
this Plantacon, man woman or childe for Ambergreece of what quantity 
so eue’, nor for any Ambergreece shall exchange any their provisions 
whether Butter Cheese Bisket Meale Aquavitoe Oyle any kind of frute 
or spice or any other prouisions of what qualitie so euet at any tyme or 
soe long as they shall here remayne from the date of their presents 
upon payne to lose the Ambergreece soe bought or trucked for, and losse 
of their wages in England with corporale punishm® here to be inflicted 
upon them, and what so euet pson or psons belonging unto any such shipp 
or shipps receeve or take any the said Ambergreece of or from any pson 
or psons members of this plantacon privately take the same unto Eng- 
land upon the same p. ill. Nor shall any pson or psons whatsoeu’ of 
what degree or qualitie soeu of their Island dare to sell any Ambergreece 
or the same to trucke exchange or give awaye vnto any such for money 
or such aforesaide prouisions or otherwise to be as aforesaide upon p. ill 
