180 Extracts from the Persian Work called [Mabch, 



has three divisions: 1. Mischmischi, the apricot-coloured. 

 2. Narciidsc/ii, the orange-coloured. 3. Kahi, the straw-coloured. 

 The third and fifth kinds (the black and green), and the second 

 and fourth kinds (the yellow and white), are one and the same. 

 The sixth class (the blue) consists of four kinds: 1; Asrak, 

 the light-blue. 2. Ladschiiverdi, the azure colour. 3. Nili, 

 the indigo-coloured, each of which has several subdivisions. 

 Some divide the jakut into four classes : into the red, yellow, 

 dark, and white, as they count the peacock-coloured, and the 

 blue among the dark. The jakut cuts all stones, except cor- 

 nehans and diamonds,* and can only be cut by the diamond. 



Of other precious stones, only the Laal, of Bedachschan, has 

 the lustre of the jakut ; it is harder than all other stones, and 

 cool in the mouth ; the red jakut appears white in the fire, and 

 again attains its former colour when taken out of it. When it is 

 cut, it is called menisuh, and in its original state adschemi. 

 There are six kinds of precious stones similar to the red jakut. 



1. The Laal. 2. The Bidschadc. 3. The Bevefsch. 4. The 

 Kerke/id. 5. The Ae/7.7//. 6. The K user. The kerkend is of a. 

 dark-red colour, and the kerkiii reddish-black, and transparent' 

 in the sun. The kuser has all the colours of the various kinds 

 of the jakut. The difference between the jakut and the stones 

 that resemble it is, that it scratches them, is heavier, and bears 

 the fire. Thus the white Jakut weighs more than the crystal, 

 which it often resembles. 



Sect. 2. Of' the Mines cjf the Jakut. — On the island of Saha- 

 ran, which is 62 farsanges in diameter, and lies about 40 

 farsanges behind the island of Ceylon, is a high mountain called 

 Sahun, m which jakuts of all colours are found. In the year of 

 the Hegira, 669 (A. D. 1270), a mine o( Jakut was discovered to 

 the east of the village of Tara, in the third climate, and in the 

 same latitude as the Canary Islands, and half a day's journey 

 from Cairo, though some people assert that there is no jakut 

 mine except the mountain o( Sahun. 



Chap. III. — Oj' the Emerald. {Semerriid.) 



Sect. 1. Of the Properties of the Emerald. — It is divided 

 according to its colour. 1. Into the subabi, grass-green. 



2. jR//(««i, basilisk-green. 3. ^Sm/^/v?, leaf-green. 4. Sitidschari, 

 dirty-green. 5. Kerassi, euphorbia-green. 6. Assi, myrtle- 

 green. 7. SrtfcM^//, soap-green. The grass-green is of a beautiful 

 light colour, like the green worms which are often seen in the 

 grass ; it is the lightest, as the soap-green is the darkest. The 

 emerald, according to the degrees of its purity, is also divided 

 into the bright polished (saikali) and the dark {subtiani). The 

 first reflects every thing that is held before it like polished steel, 



* This statement of its hardness and weight characterizes it with the most preci- 

 iion. Tnoiigh the oriental carnclian is uncoinnionly hard, and diffituU to polish, 

 (kiifar too high estimate uf its hardness is a singc.lnr but prettv general error. 



