3 8 O F E A R T H S. 



painting in Frefco, for which they held it in great efteem. It is 

 fuppofed not to have been in any plenty with them, as they are 

 faid to have adulterated it with the Cimolia. They had it from 

 Cirene, from the ifland of Crete, and from Parztonium in Mgypt ; 

 from which two laft places it obtained the name of Cretan Earth, 

 and Paraetonium. It is only ufed at Calleley in whitening hearth- 

 flones and chimney-pieces. 



The purple and white foap-earth, the Steatites <vera (b), is found 

 in veins on the fame hill, by the road-fide. It is white, with 

 ftreaks of different degrees of purple. It is of a fine, clofc, and 

 equal texture, and glofly Airface ; foft and uncluous in handling, 

 nor colouring the fingers ; not melting in the mouth, nor diffu- 

 fible in water. Cut through in the vein, it breaks into irregular 

 pieces. It does not eiFervefce with Aquafortis, In the fire it ac- 

 quires a confiderable hardnefs. From its refemblance to hard 

 foap, it has its name of foap-earth ; and the name of Steatites, 

 from s-ia.<>, fuet, from its likenefs to the fat of animals. The 

 antients called it Cimolia, from the ifland Cimolus, now called Ar- 

 gcntire, where it is found in great abundance. 



There is a variety of it at the fame place of a beautiful peach- 

 bloflbm colour. 



(b) Steatites vera. Da Cofta. Hift. FofT. p. 36. No. 14. 



Argilla indurata albo-purpurea Isvis, Steatites recentiorum, Cimolea purpurafcens anti- 

 quorum. Hill. Hift. Foff. p. 22, No. ii. 



Cimolea ad purpuram vergens. Plin. Hift. Nat. 1. 35. c. 1 7. 



Ollaris fibris acerofis friabilibus incarnatus ; foapy-rock Cornubienfibus. Gronov. Ind. 

 Supell. Lapid. p. 12. 



Terra Cimolia alia ad purpureum vergens, ex Britannia et Ilva fub nomine boli candi Ji 

 et carnei. Mercat. Met. Vat. p. 23. 



Thefe 



