Polangen, the frontier town of Russia, is famous for its trade in amber.
This substance is found by the inhabitants on the coast, between Polangen
and Pillau, either loosely on the shore, on which it has been thrown by
the strong north and westerly winds, or in small hillocks of sand near the
sea, where it is found in regular strata. The quantity found yearly in
this manner, and on this small extent of coast, besides what little is
sometimes discovered in beds of pit coal in the interior of the country,
is said to amount to from 150 to 200 tons, yielding a revenue to the
government of Prussia of about 100,000 francs. As amber is much less in
vogue in Western Europe than in former times, the best pieces, which are
very transparent, and frequently weigh as much as three ounces, are sent
to Turkey and Persia, for the heads of their expensive pipes and hookahs.
Very few trinkets are now sold for ornaments to ladies' dresses; and the
great bulk of amber annually found is converted into a species of scented
spirits and oil, which are much esteemed for the composition of delicate
varnish. In the rough state, amber is sold by the ton, and forms an object
of export trade from Memel and Konigsberg.--_Granville's Travels in
Russia_.
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The head of the late Dr. Gall has been taken off agreeably to his wishes,
and dissected and dried for the benefit of science.
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