Ball — On the Sapphire Mines in the Himalayas. 395 



no importance, as there was no pretension of exact accuracy in the 

 statement. We may safely conclude, I think, that the specimen 

 now exhibited is from Paldar. It is a slightly distorted double 

 hexagonal pyramid, weighing 126*425 grammes, and measuring 

 2*25 in. in length, by 1'8 in maximum breadth ; the sp. g. is 3"98. 

 Before the apices of the pyramids were broken oif it may have 

 been longer. In colour it is somewhat mottled, the blue being 

 irregularly suffused through the greyish white of the bulk of the 

 stone. Where broken it presents a somewhat opalescent appear- 

 ance, and this indeed, it is stated, was the cause of its mutilation, 

 as its former possessor was told by some one that if he broke it he 

 would find opal inside. Fortunately the ignorant advice so offered 

 was only partially acted upon, and this interesting specimen will be 

 preserved in our mineralogical collection. It is certain that, even 

 if it does not contain portions of perfect and uniform colour, it is 

 still such a stone as the astute jewellers of Oeylon would value for 

 cutting. I have several stones cut by these adepts, which when 

 looked at in their setting, present a very good colour, owing to the 

 ingenious way in which the blue portion of an otherwise colourless 

 stone has been manipulated so as to form a back. 



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