The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-02

was lank and scrawny, and lolled list
lessly on the dark blue surface of tie
Gulf Stream, while itsimoFe~ rotund
snd sportive comrades~siashed about
vigorously, aId sent the limpid waters
| far above them to fall in refreshing
sprays. It was mystery why any
whale at that season should have pre-
serted an ill-fed condition. as the
feeding grounds had been unusually
we'll populated by the tentaculated
and foul.mouthed cutie fish, and no
whale had need to 60 a single day
with an empty stomach. Perhaps If
the two we'll conditioned animals had
been less frolicsome, and the third
more aroused. they would have been
on the alert for defence. AS it was, a
long, narrow boat, pointed at both
ends, bore down unobserved upon
them. and the whalemen sent with
unerring aim their weapons straight
into the two bulky creatures. The
scrawny whale escaped, though it
made no motion to get away; but be-.
! cause it was evident there would be
but little, if any, oil or spermaceti in
the animal, and because the capture Of
the two specimens had been more
than was expected, it was left unmo-
Tested, still rocking lazlly in the sea.
Next day, to the amazement OF the
whalemen, the animal was seen IN al
most exactly the same spot, as though
inviting death. Forthwith it, too, was
disposed of, the easiest task, the men
agreed, that they hsd in many a day:
But little more than two barrels of oil
we're found IN the emaciated whale.
Another and vastly more important
discovery was the largest single lot Of
ambergris ever sold in this country.
It was exchanged for a check signed
by well known drug firm of this city,
whose figures rounded close onto $780,
600! Never had so large check been
seen till then in the little Cape Cod
fishing town where it was divided
among the whalemen OF the fleet, as
each man on whaler receives certain
percentage of the proceeds Of voy.
age. The number of pounds found
aggregated over $50, valued at $50 per
ounce, the price paid for the best am
bergris.
It would seem that the animal had
sickened of a malady caused by the
unnatural growth, and such was un-
doubtedly the case, and, if its suffer.
ings had not been brought to an end
by the whalemen, it would have lin
eered till the disease itself had finally
caused death. Such profound mys-
terry has surrounded this strange sub.
ect, and so many fallacies have been
written in regard to it, that some of
the latter encyclopedias have-per-
haps wiseiy--left it untouched, or, if
treating 1t at all, have ventured on bnt
the barest generallties, for trustwcr.
thy facts relating to this most inter-
esting and singular product are few
and far between.
Ambergris is now ascertained be-
yond doubt to be generated by the
large-headed sperm whale, and is the
result of the diseased state of the
: animal. The victim of this rare NAL
ady may possibly, in extremely rare
cases (but of this we are not convinced
by actual knowledge), throw off the
morbi6c substance, or finally die of
the ailment. The disease is located in
the intestinal canal, and some savants
suppose it to be caused by hillary
irritation. After deep study on the
; subject several modern scientists have
agreed that the disorder is akin to the
new fashionable human peril, appen-
dicitis, intensified and prolonged in
! this great mammal.
It is known that the ambergris
! whale feeds upon the cuttleish. This
creature is armed upon it's head with
sharp pointed, curved back horn re-
sembling 9 birds beak, much like that
of parrot, only the lower mandible
| is the largest. This is found-as it is
too indestructible to be digested-in
many specimens of ambergris, and
! may oftentimes aid in establishing a
seated disease. 1t may be considered,
/ though, to be but the primary cause
/ of irritation, as much Of the finest
ambergris is entirely free from the
tough little horn. Such is the effect
in the whale OF the magnified-and
tremendously magnifed-illness which
established in our own comparatively
puny organism causes fatal collapse,
unless quickly and heroically attacked
by the almost miraculous modern skill
Of the surgeons gifted hand.
Almost awestruck are the sailors
when the cry of "Ambergris!" is ut
tered. This is the happy event of a
lifetime The substance is carefully
taken from the bowels of the whale
and is packed in casks, If it is in liquid
form, or in sacks if it is dry enough.
1t is then brought, in its nauseatingly
oaoriferous condition, direct to Bos-
ton, where it is appraised by the head
of the largest drug firm in the city.
This young man has no enviable task
before him in ascertaining the value
OF the article. He has to examine the
fetid mass, which is sometimes in a
rank liquid state, sometimes OF the
consistency of soft putty, and again a
chalk like substance. That which is
more like putty usually is to be best
relied on for making the best market
an mDergris, and gradually as it dries
the only curing process it under
| goes-the unwholesome dark shade
tlrns to a soft squirrel gray. The
substances lightens in weight, and the
sab;le fascinating odor develops, as
o .ior almost indescribable, like the