466 The Commercial Prodticts of the Sea. 



The beauty and hardness of amber have caused it to be 

 long esteemed by smokers for mouthpieces of pipes and 

 tubes for cigar-holders. In the fine and extensive collec- 

 tion of pipes, etc., belonging to W. Bragge, Esq., shown at 

 the London Exhibition, South Kensington, in 1872, there 

 were some very large amber mouth-pieces for hookahs, 

 both clouded and clear ; also in the case of Mr. F. Kapp, 

 of 62, Dean Street, Soho. In Turkey, as much as ^300 

 has been given for a very fine mouthpiece. I recently saw 

 at the shop of Messrs. Phillips, Cockspur Street, a magni- 

 ficent pair of amber tubes or mouth-pieces attached to 

 hookahs. 



The Turks esteem amber for mouthpieces, in the belief 

 that no infectious disease can be communicated through 

 it ; the Germans now prefer it for its rich colour and 

 its soft, waxy feeling in the mouth. Its value differs 

 greatly, according to its tint and opacity, and herein a 

 novice would be easily deceived. The bright yellow trans- 

 parent amber is least valuable, however it may catch the 

 eye. Dark, nearly opaque yellow has a much higher value, 

 and the best of all is the opaque lemon-coloured. Mr. J. J. 

 Jeans, the British vice-consul at Catania, showed at the 

 Dublin International Exhibition in 1865 an amber neck- 

 lace, consisting of 21 large flattened beads and 22 small 

 ones. The ornament was of considerable mineralogical 

 interest, the amber being found on the banks of the Simeto, 

 a little river watering the plain of Catania. The specimen 

 showed various colours of this rare substance — bright red, 

 wine red, reddish yellow, and bluish. 



According to recent accounts, one of the Shah of 

 Persia's most esteemed talismans or amulets is a cube of 

 amber reported to have fallen from heaven in Mahomet's 

 time. It is worn round his neck, and is supposed to render 



