226 PEARLS. 



LIB. iv. emeralds stones of forty cubits long, and in some places 

 foure broade, and in others two ; and that in his time there 

 was in the temple of Hercules at Tyre, a pillar of emerald. It 

 may be, as Plinie saieth, it was of some greene stone, some 

 what like to the emerald, and they called it a false emerald. 

 As some will say, that in the Cathedrall Church of Cordova 

 there are certaine pillars of emeraldes which remaine since 

 it was a mosque for the Kings Miramamolins Moores, 1 

 which raigned there. In the fleete, the yeare one thousand 

 five hundred eighty and seven, in the which I came from 

 the Indies, they brought two chests of emeralds, every 

 one weighing at the least foure arrobas, whereby wee may 

 x4 . xxix&amp;gt; see the aboundaunce they have. The holy Scripture com- 

 poc. xxi. mends these emeralds as pretious iewels, they number them 

 amongest the pretious stones which the hie Priest carried 

 on his Ephod or breast-plate, as those which did beautifie 

 the walles of the heavenly Jerusalem. 



CHAP. xv. Of Pearl es. 



Now that w r e intreat of the great riches that comes from 

 the Indies, it were.no reason to forgette the pearle, which 

 the Ancients called Margaritas, and at the first were in so 

 great estimation, as none but royall persons were suffered 

 to weare them ; but at this day there is such aboundance 

 as that the negresses themselves do weare chaines thereof; 

 they growe in oyster shells, in eating whereof I have found 

 pearles in the middest of them. These oisters within are of 

 the colour of heaven, very lively, and in some places they 

 make spoones of them, the which they call of mother of pearle. 

 The pearles do differ much in forme, in bignes, figure, colour, 

 and polishing; so likewise in their price they differ much. 

 Some they call Ave Marias, being like the small graines of 



1 &quot;Reyes Miramamolines Moros,&quot; meaning the Khalifas of Cordova. 



