The beauty and hardness of amber have caused it to be long esteemed by smokers for mouthpieces of pipes and tubes for cigar-holders. In the fine and extensive collection of pipes, etc., belonging to W. Bragge, Esq., shown at the London Exhibition, South Kensington, in 1872, there were some very large amber mouth-pieces for hookahs, both clouded and clear; also in the case of Mr. F. Kapp, of 62, Dean Street, Soho. In Turkey, as much as £300 has been given for a very fine mouthpiece. I recently saw at the shop of Messrs. Phillips, Cockspur Street, a magnificent pair of amber tubes or mouth-pieces attached to hookahs.

The Turks esteem amber for mouthpieces, in the belief that no infectious disease can be communicated through it; the Germans now prefer it for its rich colour and its soft, waxy feeling in the mouth. Its value differs greatly, according to its tint and opacity, and herein a novice would be easily deceived. The bright yellow transparent amber is least valuable, however it may catch the eye. Dark, nearly opaque yellow has a much higher value, and the best of all is the opaque lemon-coloured. Mr. J. J. Jeans, the British vice-consul at Catania, showed at the Dublin International Exhibition in 1865 an amber necklace, consisting of 21 large flattened beads and 22 small ones. The ornament was of considerable mineralogical interest, the amber being found on the banks of the Simeto, a little river watering the plain of Catania. The specimen showed various colours of this rare substance-bright red, wine red, reddish yellow, and bluish.

According to recent accounts, one of the Shah of Persia's most esteemed talismans or amulets is a cube of amber reported to have fallen from heaven in Mahomet's time. It is worn round his neck, and is supposed to render

him invulnerable. The small and waste pieces of amber form the base of an excellent varnish, and the source of succinic acid. The trade in amber to this country would appear to be largely on the increase. In the five years ending 1853, our imports of rough amber averaged about 43 cwts.; in 1867 they reached 60 cwts., and in 1870 had risen to 329 cwts. Besides this, we import a considerable quantity of manufactured amber in beads, mouthpieces, etc. The average annual value of the amber, as declared in the last six years, is about £2,400, but this is far below its real value. Amber beads, again, are mixed with the general item "Beads" in the official imports.

Amber often contains insects, flies, ants, spiders, etc., embedded in the resin, some of which are so delicately formed that they could not have been thus enclosed except in a fluid mass, such as a volatile oil or natural balsam. They occur also frequently in the courbaril resin of South America, in Indian dammar and anime, and in copal from Accra, West Africa.

Amber is found in primary deposits on the coast of East Prussia. The amber-bearing stratum, which lies partly below the sea level, partly above, is a bluish-green colour, and consists of a coarse-grained sand, whose particles have a yellow coating. In this blue earth is found the amber to the amount of one kilogramme per 20 cubic feet. The pieces of amber found are generally weathered, but have retained their original shape, showing that the sea has had but little action on them. The colour is far from constant, being of all shades of yellow and brown.

The amber-dredging establishment at Schwarzort, on the Curish Haff (near to Memel), produces about 80,000 to 90,000 lbs. of amber every year, and is still in the hands of a Konigsberg firm, which keeps its transactions very secret.

Four steam-dredges are employed for the collection of the amber, as well as a considerable number of dredges worked by hand. The amber is found almost uniformly in separate nodules, with lignite, disseminated in the sand, at a depth of from 10 to 12 feet. The dredging is carried on day and night, by "shifts" of men, working eight hours each. About 400 persons are so employed, and their wages are, on the average, 2s. 6d. per shift. The quantity of amber collected is considerable, amounting to about 288 lbs. per shift, and for six days' work 51,184 lbs. The sand, after being dredged up, is sent on shore, where it is washed, in order to find the amber.

The method of obtaining amber from its ocean place of deposit in other parts is much on the principle of the ordinary submarine diving-dress. A woollen garment covers the entire body of the diver. This is again encompassed by an india-rubber dress, made in one piece, but differing in shape from the old-fashioned diving-dress, and allowing the diver to lie at full length. The helmet, also, is of a novel construction. Firmly fastened to it, and resting on the shoulders, is a small air-chest, made of sheetiron. This last is connected with the air-pump in the boat above by an india-rubber tubing, 40 feet long, and with the diver's lungs by another india-rubber tube, the mouthpiece of which is held by the diver between his teeth; the whole apparatus being scientifically arranged so as to admit a sufficient supply of pure air from above, and means of exit for the expired breath. The helmet is provided with three openings, covered with glass and protected by wire, for the use of the eyes and mouth. When this contrivance has been screwed on to the person of the diver, a rope tied round his waist, and half a hundred-weight of lead attached to his feet, shoulders, and helmet, he is ready for his plunge. Down,

fathoms deep, he descends into the amber world. He stays there, maybe, for five hours at a time, hooking, dragging, tearing the amber from its bed with his heavy two-pronged fork. Often it resists his utmost efforts. However cold the weather may be, these men of iron strength will come up from their submarine labours streaming with perspiration. The overseer stands in the boat to receive the amber from their pockets. In case he should wish to ascend before the usual time, the diver has to close his mouth and breathe five or six times through his nostrils, by this means filling the apparatus with air, which will bring him to the surface without other assistance.

The diving-boats are manned by eight men each—two divers, two pairs of men who work the air-pumps alternately, with their eyes fixed on a dial-plate, by which the supply of air is nicely indicated, one man to hold the safety-rope attached round the diver's body, and haul him at the slightest sign from below, and the overseer.

At the Vienna Exhibition, 1873, some interesting diving apparatus was shown, as used on the eastern coast of Prussia, for obtaining amber. This apparatus, which received a gold medal at the Moscow Exhibition of 1872, is constructed on the system of MM. Rouxquayrol-Denayroux; some alterations and improvements having, however, been introduced, so as to give greater safety. The air is transmitted to the diver through long india-rubber tubes, by means of an easily transportable air-pump, with two cylinders. These tubes, which are strengthened by spiral wires, conduct the air to a regulator carried on the diver's back. The completely air and water tight dress of the diver is connected by an india-rubber ring with a copper helmet, or also with a mask, the helmet and mask being provided with strongly grated windows. The helmet is

used for works under water in which the head of the diver has to be kept upright (repairing ships, for instance), while the mask is adopted for researches and examinations on the sea bottom.

A great advantage of this arrangement is that the diver has always a certain reserve quantity of air in the regulator, so that a falling off in the supply of air is not connected with immediate danger or disadvantages for him. The supply of air to the diver is regulated by a peculiarly constructed valve, by means of which the pressure, under which the air is supplied, corresponds always with the depth of the water in which the diver is acting.

The air coming from the diver is not allowed to mix with the fresh supply of air, but escapes to the surface through a side-port closed by an india-rubber valve. The diver is able to increase or diminish his specific weight by simply altering the volume of air between his dress and body; and, in this manner, it is in his power to ascend or descend as he likes.

The principal

Amber constitutes an important article of trade on the Dantzic coast, and it is exported, both in pieces and worked, to Austria, France, and the East. This trade is completely in the hands of a few families. deposit is found on the coast of Samland, from Pillau to Gross Hubnicken. In this space of three miles the extraction of amber is farmed by the Government. The annual yield is about 200,000 lbs. The produce is classed into six qualities, according to the size and quality of the pieces.

The largest piece known is 13 inches long by eight and a half inches wide, and three to six inches thick. It weighs 13 lbs., and is in the Berlin Museum. At the Great Exhibition of 1851, two pieces were shown, for beauty and