134 
AMBERGRIS® 
England, the ambergris was selling for 255. an ounce, 
but he stated that he had sold his for 195. 6d. per ounce, 
to a broker who exported it to Turkey, Germany, and 
France, among the natives of which it appears to have 
been long celebrated for its aphrodisiacal properties. 
“ The use of ambergris, 5? says Brande, “ in Europe 
is now nearly confined to perfumery, though it has 
formerly been used in medicine by many eminent physi- 
cians. In Asia and part of Africa, ambergris is not only 
used as a medicine and perfume, but considerable use is 
also made of it in cooking, by adding it to several dishes 
as a spice. A great quantity of it is also constantly 
bought by the pilgrims who travel to Mecca, probably 
to offer it there, and make use of it in fumigations, in 
the same manner as frankincense is used in Catholic 
countries. The Turks make use of it as an aphrodisiac. 
Our perfumers add it to scented pastiles, candles, balls, 
bottles, gloves, and hair powder ; and its essence is 
mixed with pomatum for the face and hands, either alone 
or united with musk, though its smell is to some persons 
extremely offensive. Ambergris may be known to be 
genuine by its fragrant scent when a hot needle or pin 
is thrust into it, and its melting like fat of a uniform 
consistence, whereas the counterfeit will not yield such 
a smell, nor prove of such a fat texture. One thing, 
however, is very remarkable, that a resemblance to the 
smell of this drug, which is the most agreeable of all the 
perfumes, should be produced by a preparation of one 
of the most odious of all substances. Mr. Homberg 
found that a vessel in which he had made a long diges- 
