Chap. 15.J ADAMAS. 407 



which indomitable powers it is, that it has received the name 

 which it derives from the Greek. ^ 



One kind, about as large as a grain of millet in size, has been 

 called ** cenchros,"^ and another,^'' that is found in the gold 

 mines at Philippi, is known as the "Macedonian" adamas : 

 this last is about as large as a cucumber-seed in size. We next 

 come to the Cyprian'^ adamas, so called from its being found 

 in the Isle of Cyprus : it is of a colour somewhat inclining to 

 that of copper, but, in reference to its medicinal virtues, of 

 which we shall have to make further mention, it is the most 

 efficacious of them all. Next in succession to this we have 

 siderites,^^ a stone which shines like iron, and is more ponderous 

 than any of the others, but differs in its properties from them 

 all. For it breaks when struck by the hammer, and admits of 

 being perforated by other kinds of adamas ; a thing which is 

 the case, also, with that of Cyprus : in short, these two are 

 degenerate stones, and only bear the name of '* adamas" for 

 the purpose of enhancing their value. 



Now with reference to those affinities and repugnances which 

 exist between certain objects, known to the Greeks as '* sym- 

 pathia" and " antipathia," phaenomena to which we have en- 

 deavoured'^ to draw attention thoughout these books, they no- 

 where manifest themselves with greater distinctness than here. 

 This indomitable power, in fact, which sets at nought the 

 two most violent agents in Nature, fire, namely, and iron, is 

 made to yield before the blood of a he-goat.^* The blood, 

 however must be no otherwise than fresh and warm ; the stone, 

 too, must be well steeped in it, and then subjected to repeated 

 blows : and even then, it is apt to break both anvils and ham- 

 mers of iron, if they are not of tlie very finest temper. To 

 what spirit of research, or to what accident, are we indebted for 

 this discovery ? or what conjecture can it have been, that first 



8 See Note 1, above. ^ "Millet-seed." 



1* Ajasson says, that no doubt this adamas was Adamantine, or Hmpid 

 Corundum. 



11 Ajasson suggests that this may have been Dichroite, or Cordierite, 

 known also as lolite, or Water sapphire. 



12 Possibly the Siderite, sparry iron, or spathic iron of modern Min- 

 eralogy. Ajasson is inclined to think that it is Corundum, of a dark hue. 



13 See B. XX. c. 1, B. xxviii. cc. 23, 41, and B. xxxii. c. 12 



i* Brotero thinks that this was a story invented by the dealers, with a 

 view of concealing the real method of breaking the stone. 



