Chap. 33.] CALLAINA. 427 



expressed by Archelaiis. Juba says that there is an island in the 

 Eed Sea called *' Topazos,"-^ at a distance of three hundred 

 stadia from the main land ; that it is surrounded by fogs, and 

 is often sought by navigators in consequence ; and that, owing 

 to this, it received its present name,^' the word "topazin" 

 meaning " to seek," in the language of the Troglodytae. He 

 states also, that Philon, the king's praefect, was the first to bring 

 these stones from this island ; that, on his presenting them to 

 Queen Berenice, the mother of the second Ptolemaeus, she was 

 w^onderfully pleased with them ; and that, at a later period, a 

 statue, four cubits in height, was made of this stone,-^ in honour 

 of Arsinoe, the wife of Ptolemaeus Philadelphus, it being con- 

 secrated in the temple known as the " Golden Temple.'* 



The most recent writers say that this stone is found also in 

 the vicinity of Alabastrum, a city of Thebais, and they dis- 

 tinguish two varieties of it, the prasoides^^ and the chrysop- 

 teron f^ which last is similar to chrysoprasus,^'ail the shades of it 

 tending, more or less, to resemble the colouring principle of 

 the leek. Topazes is the largest of all the precious stones, 

 and is the only one among" those of high value that yields to 

 the action of the file, the rest being polished by the aid of 

 stone of Naxos.^ It admits, too, of being worn by use. 



CHAP. 33. — CALLAINA. 



With this stone we must also couple another, which resem- 

 bles it more closely in appearance than in value, the stone known 

 as '' callaina,"32 ^^^ of ^ pj^j^ gi-eeii colour. It is found in the 

 countries^^* that lie at the back of India, among the Phycari, 



26 See B. vi. c 34. 



27 ToTrd^w, in Greek, signifies '* to conjecture." 

 23 It was agate, most probably. 



29 "Leek-green." Ajasson and Desfontaines think that this must 

 have been either Oriental Chrysolite or Oriental Peridote. 



30, Some would identify this with Oriental topaz or yellow corundum, a 

 variety of the Sapphire ; while others would see in it the genuine Topaz ; 

 and others, again, think it synonymous with the Chrysoprase. The name 

 " chrysopteron " means " golden- wing." 



31 " Leek-green and gold." An apple or leek-green Chalcedony, coloured 

 by nickel. See Chapters 20, 34, and 73, of this Book. 



32 See B. xxxvi. c. 10. 



33 Dana thinks this identical with the Turquois. Ajasson and Desfon- 

 taines identify it with Oriental Peridote. 



31 Turquois is found in large quantities in a mountainous district of Persia, 



