The Opelousas courier., 1896-12-19

OF the genus physeter; the third,
however, though OF the same species,
was lank and scrawny, and lolled list
lessly on the dark blue surface of the
Gulf Stream, while itsimore rotund
and sportive comrades sIashed about
vigorously, and sent the limpid waters
far above them to fall in refreshing
sprays. It was a mystery why any
whale at that season should have pre-
scented an ill-fed condition, as the
feeding grounds had been unusually
we'll populated by the tentaculated
and foul-monthed cutie fish, and no
whale had need to go o 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 TIE same spot, as though
inviting death. Forthwith it, too, was
disposed OF, the easiest task, the men
agreed, that they had in many a day.
But little more than two barrels of oil
were found IN the emaciated whale.
Another and vastly more important
discovery was the largest single lot OF
ambergris ever sold in this country.
1t vas exchanged for 8 check signed
by a well known drug firm of this city,
whose figures rounded close onto $780,
900! Never had so large a 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 a whaler receives a certain
percentage of the proceeds of a 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
growth, and such was IN
doubtedly the case, andsif its suffer
ings had not been brought to an end
by the whalemen, it would have lin
gered till the disease Itself had finally
causedSacth. Such pr>Saund mys-
terry has sutNpunded this strac>se sub
ject, and SO Many fallacies havebeen
written in regard to it, that some of
the latter encyclopedias have-per-
haps wisely--left It untouched, or, if
treating 1t at all, have venturea on but
the barest g%enerallties, for trustwcr.
facts relating to this most inter
and singular product are few
and far between.
Ambergrls is now ascertained be.
yond a 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 mall
may possibly, in extremely rare
cases (but of this we are not convinced
by actual knowledge), throw off the
morbific substance, or finally die of
the ailment. The disease is located in
the intestinal canal, and some savants
suppose it to be icaused by a hillary
irritation. After a dsep study on the
several modern scientists have
that the disorder is akin to the
new fashionable human peril, appen-
intensified and prolonged in
his great mammal.
1t is known that the ambergris
whale feeds upon the cuttlefish. This
creature is armed upon its head with
! sharp pointed, curved back horn re.
'embling a birds beak, much like that
II a parrot, only the lower mandible
8 the largest. This is found-as it is
100 indestructible to be d~igested-in
many specimens of ambergris, and
nay oftentimes aid in establishing a
eated disease. It may be considered,
hough, to be but the primary cause
# irritation. as much of the finest
is entirely free from the
ough little horn. Such is the effect
n the whale of the magnified-and
tremendously magnifed-illness which
established in III own comparatively
'uny organism causes a. fatal collapse,
|nless quickly and heroically attacked
y the almost miraculous modern skill
+ the surgeons gifted hand.
Almost awestruck are the sailors i,
7hen the cry of "Ambergris! !" is ut
cred. This is the happy event Of a
lfetime. The substance is carefully s
from the bowels of the whale
is packed in casks, if it is in liquid l
orm, or in sacks if it is dry enough. {
t is then brought, in IFS ~nauseatingly
doriferous condition, direct to Bos-
On, where it is appraised by the head {
+ the largest drug firm in the city. c
his young man has no enviable task t
him in ascertaining the value
f the article. He has to examine the
It'd mass, which is sometimes in a !
snk liquid state, sometimes of the t
consistency of soft putty, and again q |
substance. That which is S
lore like putty usually is to be best a
elied on for making the best market {
nbergris, and gradually as it dries /
the only curing process it under I
oes-the unwholesome dark shade
rms to a soft squirrel gray. The
distances lightens in weight, and the
lbtle fascinating odor develops, as b
Tor almost indescribable, like the h
lending of new-mown hay, the damp $
cody fragrance of a fern copse, and +