Commercial Consideration of Emery. 321 



arts, as much for the facility with which it was obtained as 

 in the uniformity of its quality. The emery exists in very 

 great abundance on this island, and notwithstanding the 

 quantity already extracted, there still remain immense depo- 

 sits of it. 



The price of this substance at the end of the last century 

 was from 40 to 50 dollars the ton, and between 1820 and 

 1835 it was at times even less. About this period the mo- 

 nopoly of the Naxos emery was purchased from the Greek 

 government by an English merchant, who so regulated the 

 quantity given to commerce that the price gradually rose from 

 40 to 140 dollars the ton, — a price at which it was sold in 

 1846 and 1847. It was at this time that Mr Smith commenced 

 examining and developing the emery formations of Asia 

 Minor, until then unknown. And after making a report to 

 the Turkish government, the monopoly of the emery of Tur- 

 key was sold to a mercantile house in Smyrna, and since 

 then the price of this article has diminished to 50 and 70 

 dollars the ton, according to the quality. Such are the 

 prices in the English market. 



The different mines explored are those of Naxos, of an 

 ancient date ; of Kulah, commenced in 1847, and now aban- 

 doned for those nearer the sea ; of Gumuch-dagh, commenced 

 in 1847, and worked largely ; and of Nicaria, commenced in 

 1850. From all these different places the emery goes to 

 Smyrna, and from there principally to England, the vessels 

 taking it at a very low price, as it serves for ballast. 



The various mines belong to the Turkish and to the Greek 

 government. The Greek government now sells its emery 

 in lots of several tons. The Turkish government sells the 

 entire monopoly of its mines, and consequently its opera- 

 tions are controlled by a single interest ; but in all probabi- 

 lity this monopoly will be done away with, in virtue of a 

 commercial treaty existing between Turkey and the other 

 powers. If this takes place, the price of emery will be still 

 further diminished. 



Of the different varieties of emery employed in the arts, 

 that of Naxos is still preferred, and with reason, as it is 

 more uniform in its quality than that coming from Kulah 



VOL. L. NO. C. — APRIL 1851. X 



