Wabaling Relics.

NE of many interesting series of relics of the old Whaling days consists of the carved pieces of whalebone, which were made by the whalers to while away their long weary weeks in the Ice-fields. For this purpose pieces of the jaws of whales, teeth of the Sperm Whale, and the tusks of Narwhal were carved into objects useful and ornamental, or were decorated by various views, mottoes, or messages to their sweethearts.

The Hull Museum has recently obtained a large series of these objects, among them being the following a massive pair of Narwhal tusks, measuring 6 ft. 4 ins. by 24 ins. and 2 ins. respectively, presented by Captain Norman. Sometimes these Narwhal tusks were carved into elaborately decorated walking sticks, and three examples of these are in the Pickering Museum of Fisheries and Shipping at Hull. The length of each of the two specimens, of which illustrations of the handles are given (Fig. 1), is 3 ft., and the other, which is more in the form of a "swagger-cane swagger-cane" with a small tooth for the handle, measures 2 ft. 6 ins. Among Sperm Whale teeth are several of different

sizes.

The first is a beautifully polished tooth with a whaling scene engraved on each side. One side shows a whaler and two boats in which the occupants are in the act of harpooning a whale (Fig. 2). On the other side of the tooth is a representation of the whaler "flensing" or hauling in the blubber, and underneath is the inscription "Phoenix of London." This tooth measures 6ins. by 3 ins.

Nos. 2 and 3: a pair of large Sperm Whale teeth.

The former has a view of a harbour on it, showing several "Whalers " at anchor; a small boat approaching a fort, apparently Chinese. In the foreground is

FIG. I.

tropical foliage. The second example shows a whaler at anchor, with a small boat approaching the shore. On the right is a burning volcano and on the left a

light-house or tower, and tropical vegetation. These teeth measure 8 ins. by 4 ins. each.

No. 4: a fine tooth engraved on both sides. On

one

other a sketch showing the whalers in the background, and two boats, from each of which a whale has been harpooned. The point of this tooth has been sawn off. Measurements: 7 ins. by 3 ins. No. 5. This tooth has carved on it a representation

of the old Eddystone Lighthouse, built in 1759, and shows the waves washing high around the Lighthouse, and a whaler in the offing. Underneath is the word Eddystone." (Fig. 3.)

No. 6. A large tooth, in the centre of which is carved a pedestal and bust, over the head is the letter "T"; the whole surmounted by the Royal Arms. On the

base of the pedestal are the letters "G.C." On either side are representations of flags, spears, halberds, cannon and shot, and shot, banners and various insignia. Measurements, 8 ins. by 3 ins. (Fig. 4.)

No. 7. A smaller tooth on which is very crudely drawn the figure of a girl in quaint costume, bending over a plant. Measurements: 6 ins. by 24 ins.

No. 8. A small crudely carved tooth with a representation of the old Australian arms in the centre, surmounted by the words " Advance Australia " in a scroll, and the letters "C.E." The supporters are a Cassowary and a Kangaroo. Measurements: 5 ins. by 2 ins.

Nos. 9 and 10. A pair of small teeth of the Sperm Whale. On the first is engraved a representation of a sailor and his lady in the quaint costume of the time; the sailor is holding the lady's left hand in his right, while his other hand is round her waist in the approved style. A small cottage and three trees form the back-ground. On the second example are engraved the figures of a man and woman seated on a settee, with a child seated near, on a footstool. Measurements: 3ins. by 1 ins.

No. II. A small tooth with representation of a full-rigged whaler, neatly engraved. 3 by 1 ins. Snuff boxes, patch boxes, etc., were also made from walrus tusks.

I

The first consists of a small oval box, 22 ins. long by 2 ins. wide and 1 in. deep. The sides of both box and lid are made from sections of a Walrus tusk. The top and bottom consist of thin pieces of mahogany, which are fastened to the sides by small wooden pegs. Let into the lid is an oval plate made from a walrus tusk, which is crudely ornamented with milled oval lines in pairs. Within the innermost pair of lines are the letters "M.S." and the date 1712. Between the second and third pair of oval lines are the words, "If you love mee lend mee not." This example was This

presented to the Museum by Miss E. Jackson. (Fig. 5.)

The second example is precisely similar in shape and construction to the box already mentioned, the ivory being fastened to the wood by small pegs. The top, however, is more elaborately decorated by nine pieces of ivory, the centre one being lozenge-shaped, bearing the initials "T.F." and dated 1665. Around this are

four triangular pieces, and outside are four kidneyshaped pieces. The inscription originally has obviously been the same as the one described above, but at some later period, though not recently, two pieces of ivory have been lost, and have been replaced. The remaining pieces, containing part of the original, "If you love mee lend mee not," read (a) Love Mee, and (b) Mee Not; and a former owner, wishing to complete the motto, made a guess, and on one of the new pieces of ivory inserted the word "either" and on the other