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derived are the Western Coast of Africa and Hindoostan, 
and, according to the source whence derived, it receives the 
appellation of African or Indian ivory. Each of these kinds 
is again subdivided into varieties, indicative of the locality 
whence derived. Gambia, Angola, Cameroon, Cape Coast, 
&c, are some of the African varieties ; and Madras, Bom- 
bay, Siamese, and Ceylonese, some of the Asiatic varieties, 
each of them having some distinguishing character. 
The most esteemed of all these varieties is the Cameroon . 
there is no other that is equal to it in beauty, durability of 
colour, and fineness of grain. The appearance presented by 
ivory of this description, when cut into pieces, is semi- 
diaphanous. The colour varies in different tusks from a 
milky white to a pale gold colour, which last is designated 
by ivory dealers transparent. In some of the best tusks 
this transparency can be distinguished even on the outside 
of the tusk. This kind obtains the highest price in the 
market, being from ten to fifteen per cent, higher than the 
next in order of quality. Although this kind of Cameroon 
retains its transparency for a longer period than any other, 
it eventually becomes white, and should there have been any 
blemishes hidden by the colour, those blemishes then become 
apparent ; so that the milky white Cameroon is in the end 
the most beautiful, as it never changes colour, at least for a 
very long period, and is never deceptive in its appearance. 
Some fastidious gentlemen, who imagine they have a 
thorough knowledge of ivory, will insist on having the 
handles of their table cutlery of the above transparent kind 
of ivory, thinking that by so doing they will be sure to 
obtain the best quality ; but they know not that the import of 
Cameroon is very limited, and is not always to be had. The 
manufacturer in this case, to please his customer, will make 
him some transparent Cameroon out of Angola, by soaking 
it in water, so that a practised eye would not detect the sub- 
