Inquisitive And Informative With A Touch Of Irony And Advocacy For The Whaling Profession.

Chapter 92 discusses the substance ambergris, its uses, and common misconceptions about it and the whales from which it originates.

In Chapter 92, the narrator delves into the curious substance of ambergris, emphasizing its value and various applications in perfumery, cooking, and flavoring wine. The chapter explores its mysterious origin, which puzzled the learned until recent times, and contrasts ambergris with amber. There's a particular focus on the irony that such a refined substance comes from the innards of sick whales. The chapter discusses the physical characteristics of ambergris, including the presence of squid bones within it, and muses about the interplay of decay and preservation. Additionally, the chapter aims to dispel negative stereotypes about whaling and the foul smell associated with it, suggesting that properly managed, whales and whaling can be quite fragrant. The source of stigmas against whalemen is traced back to historical practices in Greenland whaling.