ON ORICHALCUM. 977 



fectly in colour; but which, upon being handled, always emits a 

 strong and peculiar smell, not observable either in gold or gilded 

 copper. 



The kings of Persia, who preceded the Darius mentioned by 

 Aristotle, were in possession of similar vessels ; but they seem to 

 have been rare, and of course were held in high estimation. Among 

 the magnificent presents of gold and silver vessels which Artaxerxes 

 nd his counsellors gave to Ezra, for the service of the temple at 

 Jerusalem, there were twenty basons of gold, and but two vessels 

 of yellow shining copper, precious as gold, or, as some render the 

 words, resembling gold*. Sir John Chardin, in his MS. note, 

 has mentioned a mixed metal used in the East, and highly esteemed 

 there; and, as the origin of this composition is unknown, it might, 

 for aught we know, be as old as the time of Ezra, and be brought 

 from those more remote countries into Persia, where these two ba. 

 sons were given to be conveyed to Jerusalem. *' I have heard," 

 says the note, " some Dutch gentlemen speak of a metal in the 

 island of Sumatra, and among the Macassars, much more esteemed 

 than gold, which royal personages alone might wear. It is a mix- 

 ture, if I remember right, of gold and steel, or of copper and steel." 

 He afterwards added to this note (for the colour of the ink differs), 

 " Calmbuc is this metal composed of gold and copper. It in co- 

 lour nearly resembles the pale carnation rose, has a very fine grain, 

 the polish extremely lively. I have seen something of it, &c. Gold 

 is not of so lively and brilliant a colour ; I believe there is steel 

 mixed with the gold and copper." He seems to be in doubt about 

 the composition, but very positive as to its beauty and high esti. 

 mationt. 



The supposition of brass having been anciently made in India, 

 seems to be rendered improbable by both Pliny and Strabo; Pliny 

 expressly saying, that the Indians had no copper! , and without 

 copper we are certain that brass cannot be made ; and Strabo re. 

 presenting them as so ignorant of the art of fluxing metals, that 

 according to him, if they had been possessed of the materials, they 

 would not have had the ability to use them for the composing of 

 brass. But these writers, it is apprehended, knew very little of 

 India. Strabo, in particular, laments his want of materials to 

 compose a consistent account of India; and few of the authors 



Ezraviii.27. f Banner's Obs. on Scrip. Vol. II. p. 491. 



J Hist. Nat. L. XXXIV. t. XVII. $ Gto. L. XIV 



T 3 



