89 
stitute. But what the eye fails to detect the finger of time 
will soon indicate, for the water which had been forced into 
it, is evaporated by a short exposure to the air, and the 
defects which were hidden by the water then become manifest. 
Gentlemen who purchase articles in ivory would do well, 
and be more certain to get what they want, — the best ivory, if 
they would not insist on having the transparent kind ; for 
should they get the genuine article, it will eventually become 
white ; so that, by taking the white in the first instance, they 
are not likely either to cheat themselves or be cheated by 
others. Whatever blemishes there may be in the white kind, 
they are always apparent to the eye. 
It should be borne in mind that all transparent ivory is 
indebted for that quality to the water contained in its pores. 
But there is this difference, that, whilst the ivory which is 
made transparent by soaking in water, gives off that water 
rapidly on exposure to air, the other kind, which has received 
its water from nature during its growth, appears to retain it 
with greater tenacity, giving it off more slowly to the 
atmosphere. 
The import of Cameroon ivory is very limited, and a con- 
siderable portion of it is purchased by French and German 
merchants, who outbid the English dealer, and select the best 
and straightest tusks. Besides its high price, there is great 
risk in purchasing Cameroon ivory ; it is frequently inter- 
sected through its mass by circular rings of a different colour 
from the ground colour. Some tusks are much spotted, and, 
when cut, they have the appearance of what Geologists call 
" amygdaloid." The defects I have named reduce the value 
of the article 30 per cent., and the risk is such as to deter 
many manufacturers from purchasing it ; for, unless the 
articles into which the perfect tusks are cut can be sold 
at a price that will cover the loss on the inferior, a trades- 
man is not safe in purchasing. 
