Chap. 44 ] liEUCOCHETSOS. 435 



also, a transparent stone with a 'refulgence like that of gold. 

 The stones of India are the most highly esteemed, as also those 

 found among the Tibareni,^^ provided these last are not of a 

 mottled hue. The worst in quality are those of Arabia, the 

 colour of them being turbid and mottled, and their brilliancy 

 interrupted by cloudy spots : even too, when they happen to 

 be limpid, they have all the appearance of being fuU, as it 

 were, of a peculiar dust. The best stones are those which, 

 when placed by the side of gold, impart to it a sort of whitish 

 hue, and so give it the appearance of silver. When this is the 

 case, they are set in a bezel that is open on either side ; but 

 when the stone is of inferior quality, a ground of aurichalcum*^ 

 is placed beneath. 



CHAP. 43. — CHKTSELECTRUM. 



Though it has now altogether gone out of use for jewellery, 

 there is a precious stone known as *'chryselectrum,"^° the colour 

 of which inclines to that of amber f^ but only when viewed by 

 a morning^^' light. The stones of Pontus are known by their 

 lightness. Some of them are hard and reddish, while others, 

 again, are soft and of a soiled appearance. According to Bocchus, 

 these stones are found in Spain as well; in a spot where, 

 according to him, fossil crystal has been discovered, in sinking 

 to the water-level for wells. ^^ He tells ns also that he once 

 saw a chrysolithos twelve®* pounds in weight. 



CHAP. 44. — LEUCOCHRTSOS : FOTJE VARIETIES OF IT. 



There is also a stone known as *'leucochrysog,"®* with a 

 white vein running across it. To this class, too, belongs cap- 

 nias f^ a stone also which resembles glass in appearance ; and 

 another which reflects a tint like that of saffron. These stones 

 are imitated in glass, to such a degree of perfection, that it is 

 impossible to distinguish them by the eye. The touch, how- 

 evei-, detects the difference, the imitation being not so cold as 

 the real stone. 



^8 In Pontus : see B. vi. c. 4. ^^ See B. xxxiv, c. 2. 



^^ Supposed to be yellow-white Hyacinth. See Chapter 12 of this Book. 



81 " Electrum." ^2 gee Chapter 76 of this Book. 



y3 See Chapter 9 of this Book. 



9^ Yellow quartz crystal probably, or False topaz, 



8^ " White gold stone," It has not been identified, 



^ " Smoke-stone." A jasper has been so called in Chapter 37. 



