Chap. 30.] MOLOCHITIS. 



CHAP. 34. PRASIUS ; TIIKKK VARIETIES OF IT. 



There arc numerous other kinds also of green stones. To 

 the more common class belongs prasius ; : * one variety of which 

 is disfigured with Bpotn like blood, while another kind is 

 marked with three streaks of white. To all these stones 

 chrysoprusus 10 is preferred, which is also similar to the colouring 

 matter of the leek, but varies in tint between tojwzos and gold. 

 This stone is found of so large a size as to admit of drinking, 

 boats" even being made of it, and is cut into cylinders very 

 frequently. 



CHAP. 35. NILION. 



India, which produces these stones, produces nilion" also, a 

 ntone that differs from the last in its dull, diminished lustre, 

 which, when steadily looked upon, soon fades from the sight. 

 Sudincs says that it is to be found also in the Siberus, a river of 

 Attica. In appearance it resembles a smoke-coloured topazos, or, 

 in some cases, a topazos with a tint like honey. According to 

 Juba, Ethiopia produces it, upon the shores of the river known 

 to us as the jS'ilus; to which circumstance, he says, it owes its 

 name. 



CHAP. 36. MOLOCHITIS. 



Moloch His 4 * is not transparent, being of a deeper green, and 

 more opaque than smaragdus ; its name is derived from the 

 mallow, 41 which it resembles in colour. It is highly esteemed 

 for making seals, and it is endowed by Nature with medicinal 

 properties which render it a preservative for infants against 

 certain dangers which menace them. This stone is a native of 

 Arabia. 45 



3S The. stone now known as " Prase" is a vitreous, leek-green, variety 

 of massive cjuartz. 



39 This may possibly have been Plasma, a faintly translucent Chalce- 

 dony, approaching jasper, having a greenish colour, sprinkled with yellow 

 and whitish dots, and a glistening lustre. Or, perhaps, Bloodstone or 

 Heliotrope, a kind of jasper. 



40 See the pivculintr Chapter, and Note 31. 



41 ** Cynthia." Drinking vessels shaped like n hoat. 



47 Or * Nile-stone." Egyptian jasper, or Egyptian pebble, a kind of 

 quartz. 



43 Our Malachite, n green carbonate of copper. See B. xxxiii. c. 20. 



41 Called fio\u\tj or fta\a\ii in (Jrrek. 



45 Also ui Siberia, Shetland, the United States, and numerous other 

 localities. 



