Show queer wax of oregon Neli alem wax Is the name given a somewhat mysterious product found on the beach near the mouth of the Neli alem river in oregon it was observed by the early explorers of that coast later considerable deposits were found in the sands of the beach P ii 1840 several tons of this queer substance wore were shipped to hawaii und and since then many tons ton of it have been sent to northwestern markets opinion Is divided concerning the nature and orl origin in of this substance some hold thit that th it it la Is beeswax bc eswa anil and others conand that it Is 13 a mineral substance stan called crite it Is usually found in large rectangular blocks it nas fins a lione aroma when freshly out ut examination made in the laboratory of a western university shows that tile the substance closely resembles beeswax in composition and does d oes not accord with the properties of tills this conclusion oddly enough favors an indian legend of the wr eckof a ship at tile the mouth of the nehalem before the corning coining of the white man A spanish ship with supplies for the catholic missions mis sious in the north sailed from lower california in 1769 and was never afterward heard from 0 |