4 12 PLINY'S KATUKAL nisrour. [Book XXSVITr~ 



us. Antipathcs 29 is a Mack stone, and not transparent : the mode 

 of testing it, is by boiling it in milk, to -which, if genuine, it 

 imparts a colour like that of myrrh. A person might probably 

 expect to find some extraordinary virtues in this stone, seeing 

 that, among so many oilier substances possessed of antipathetic 

 properties, it is the only one that bears Ibis name. The ma- 

 gicians will have it that it possesses the power of counter- 

 acting fascinations. 



Arabica 40 is a stone which closely resembles ivory in ap- 

 pearance, and, indeed, might easily be taken for it, were it not 

 for its superior hardness : .persons who have this stone about 

 them, it is thought, will experience a cure of diseases of the 

 sinews. Aromatitis, 41 too, is a stone that is found in Arabia, as 

 also in the vicinity of Phirce in Egypt: it is always full of 

 small stones, and like myrrh in colour and smell, a thing that 

 makes it much in request with ladies of rank. 42 Asbestos 43 

 is found in the mountains of Arcadia, and is of an iron 

 colour. Democritus informs us that aspisatis 41 is a native 

 of Arabia, that it is of a fiery colour, and that patients 

 should wear it attached to the body with camels' dung; ho 

 says, too, that it is found in tho nests of certain birds' 15 in 

 Arabia. The same writer also mentions another stone of this 

 name, that is found at Leucopetra in the same country, of a 

 silver colour, radiant, and an excellent preservative against 

 delirium. In India, he says, and on Mount Acidane in 

 Persia, there is a stone found that is known as " atizoc," 46 of a 

 silver lustre, three fingers in length, like a lentil in shape, 

 possessed of a pleasant smell, and .considered necessary by the 

 Magi at the consecration of a king. Augetis 47 is thought by 

 many to be identical with callaiua. 48 Amphidanes, 49 which is 

 also known as " chrysocolla,"^ is a stone found in that part of 

 India where the ants 51 throw up gold, and in it there are certain 



29 Counteracting-stone." 



40 Probably the stone mentioned in B. xxxvi. c. 41. 



41 " Aromatic stone." Ca>salpinus is of opinion that this is grey or 

 clouded aniber. 42 " Reginis." 



4 ' See B. xix. c. 4, and 1'. xxxvi. c. 31. * 4 Tho reading is doubtful. 



45 4t Called "nielancoryphi" in Chapter 33. 



46 Ajasson thinks that the reading should be " Aeizoe," from the Greek 

 dttZwrj, * long lived." 47 " Shining stone/' apparently. 



" See Chapter 33 of th?s Book. 4 * The reading is doubtful. 

 20 See B. xxxiii. c. 2 : where a fossil Chrysocolhi is also mentioned* 

 * l See B. xi. c. 30, and B. xxxiii. c. 21. 



