188 Extractsfrom the Persian Work called [March, 



Sect. 2. Of the Mines of the Crystal. — The crj'stal is found in 

 seven places : In India, Turkistan, Europe, Arabia, China, 

 Armenia, and the remotest frontiers of Moghrib (Mauritania). 

 Some prefer the Arabian to the Indian, but the least valued is 

 the Armenian, which is called rim-bellor. 



Chap. XX.r—Of the Amethi/st (Dschemest). 



Sect. 1. Of the Properties of the Ameihyst. — The amethyst has 

 several colours, like the rainbow, and tour kinds : 1. Deep rose- 

 coloured and sky-blue. 2. Pale rose-coloured and deep azure. 

 3. Pale rose-coloured and sky-blue. 4. Deep rose-coloured and 

 pale sky-blue. The Arabians set an extraordinary value upon 

 tlie amethyst, and adorn their arms with it. 



iS'ee^. 2. Of the Mines of the Amerhijst. — It is found in the 

 environs of the village of Safwa, about three days' journey from 

 Medina. Wine drunk out of a goblet of amethyst does not 

 intoxicate.* 



Conclusion. 



Of various other Stones. 



Sect. 1. Of the Weschich, or Schebak {probably Jet). — It is a 

 black stone, easily broken, which reflects objects. It is of two 

 kinds ; the Indian and the Persian ; the former is better than 

 the latter. 



Sect. 2. Of the Chamaheu. — It is called the ass's stone; it is 

 very hard, and can only be bored by the diamond ; when broke 

 it divides into branches ; and when rubbed on a hard stone, 

 colours it red : the most beautiful is the blackish-red ; it is 

 found in the district of Karak. 



Sect. 3. Of Talc {Talk). — It is of two kinds : that produced in 

 the open air, and that found in mines. It is called sitarei semiuy 

 i. e. star of the earth, on account of its clearness and lustre. 

 Artificial pearls are made of it, which are scarcely distinguish- 

 able from the natural. They may be known from each other by 

 this, that the artificial swim on the v,ater, but the genuine sink. 

 The talc does not burn nor calcine in the fire. If you dissolve it 

 and rub the limbs with it, it makes them fire proof.f It is found 

 in many places; the best in Cyprus. The talc can neither be 

 pounded in mortars, nor broken to pieces with iron hammei-s. 

 The way to dissolve it is to boil it with beans, to wrap it then in 



• To (Ills opinion of the amelhysf, which is current alyo in Europe (by which it 

 has gained tlic honour of bcin;; used as .1 tost or touch stone it seems to owe its 

 Persian name, in « Iiich u e find the name o( Dsc/iem or Dschem.ithid, whose »nblet m 

 said lo have consisled of a single amethyst. The (ircck iinme A,ue5i,vrc,- is also tmin- 

 toxicatid, bnt it is originally to be derived from Dsclnmest, as the jasper from 

 Jascheb, the hyacinth from Jan//, the emerald from Semerrad, pearls (Mar»..ri(ae) 

 from Mencaiid, the turquoise from Firusf, the lapis lazuli (rom Liidschiu!i:rd, the 

 sardonyx from Snid, t.ilc from Talk, chalk fmm Knis, Sec. &c. 



t If this is ciinlirmed, it is probably the secret of the incombustibility of tfte 

 Dervise Rufaji, who performed all kinds of tricks with a red-hot iron. 



