410 PLIXT'S NATURAL IIISTOKY. [IW* XXXTIfr 



cn.\r. 17. TWELVE YAIUKTIKS OF THE SMAKAGDUS. 



Of this stone there are no less than twelve different kinds ; 

 of which the finest is the Scythian* 8 smaragdus, so called from 

 the country where it is found. None of them has a deeper 

 colour than this, or is more free from defects : indeed, in the 

 same degree that the smaragdus is superior to other precious 

 stones, the Scythian smaragdus is superior to the other varie- 

 ties. Xext in esteem to this, as also in locality, is the smarag- 

 dus of Uactriana. 29 These stones are collected, it is said, in the 

 fissures of rocks, when the Etesian 30 winds prevail ; a period 

 at which the earth that covers them is removed, and the stones 

 are detected hy their brightness, the sands being greatly agi- 

 tated by the action of the winds. These last, however, are- 

 much inferior, they say, to those of Scythia in size. The third 

 rank is held by the stones of Egypt, 31 which are extracted from 

 the hills in the vicinity of Coptos, a city of Thebais. 



All the other kinds are found in copper-mines, and hence it 

 is that, of these varieties, the smaragdus of Cyprus holds the 

 highest rank. The merit of them consists in their clear colour, 

 which has nothing thin or diluted in it, but presents a rich 

 and humid transparency, closely resembling the tints of the 

 sea, in fact. Hence it is that these stones are at once diapha- 

 nous and shining, or, in other words, rellect their colours and 

 allow the vision to penetrate within. They say that in this 

 island, upon the tomb of a petty kir.g named llermias, near 

 the fisheries 32 there, there was formerly a lion in marble, with 

 eyes made of smaragdi ; the brilliancy of which penetrated 



lava, or the preen Icelandic agate, as it is called, jrreen jasper, and also preen 

 l;iss. |f Beekmann, Hist. Jnv. Vol.11, p. C7^ Itokif* JttitioH. It has 

 also been suggested, with reference to this passage, that N ro was short- 

 sighted, and that this emerald was formed like a concave lens. The passage, 

 however, will hardly support siuii a construction. Ajasson thinks that it 

 must have been a Dioptase or Siberian emerald ; or else a green Corundum. 



^ Ajasson is of opinion that the Dioptase, Siberian emerald, or Mala- 

 chite emerald is meant, 



8 * Ajasson thinks that this may be the Dioptase or Achirite of Chinese 

 Bucharia; and that the merchant Achir Mahmed, from whom it takes its 

 name, was by no means the first to introduce it, or to circulate his wonder- 

 ful stories as to its formation. 



30 See 15. ii. cc. 47, 48, and B. xviii. c. 74. 



31 Mount Zalora. in Upper Kjjypt, still produces emeralds, and was pro- 

 bahly the only locality of the (jcn'uint stone that was known to the ancients. 



32 "Cctarias." 



