362 Oriental Accounts of Precious Minerals. [Aug. 



u The Badakshdni turquois essentially differs from the Nishapuri in 

 being able to withstand the heat of a fire for ten days without altera- 

 tion : for this quality it is much esteemed, although in other respects 

 not so good as the produce of Ansdr." 



Now the calaite, which contains 1 8 per cent, of water, would be 

 entirely destroyed by such an operation, while the bone turquois is 

 actually made in many places, by exposure to the fire of fossil bones 

 impregnated with iron ; and the fossil bones brought from the north 

 of the Himalayan range, when exposed to a red heat, are found 

 to assume the very appearance of odontolite* : it is possible, therefore, 

 that a supply of this artificial gem may find its way into Persia through 

 Balkh, and take its name from that country as its known market. 



Arguments are not wanting on the other hand to shew that the Bada- 

 kshani turquois is nothing more than lapis-lazuli^ or Idjaward, and the 

 descriptions of the two are mixed up together in the books before us, 

 like those of the emerald and topaz. 



Lapis-lazuli. 

 p. lajaward ; s. vaidurya. 



(i The country of Badakshan abounds in mountains, and contains se- 

 veral rivers. On the Jihun (Oxus) river, near where the Samarkand road 

 crosses it, is the mine of lapis-lazuli. This mineral has different shapes ; 

 one, like the egg of a hen, which is covered with thin, soft, and white 

 stony coats, is reckoned the best when pounded, it needs neither wash- 

 ing nor polishing ; the others are without covering and must be washed. 



" The method of washing is this : first to pulverize it and afterwards 

 to keep it wrapt in silk cloth, besmeared all over with gum sanda- 

 rach, which should be previously softened in very hot water, and then 

 rubbed over or kneaded with the hands ; it is kept in the water for 

 three days, until all the foreign matter has been washed out." 



This is exactly the process for manufacturing ultramarine from 

 lapis-lazuli, given in Ure's Chemical Dictionary. " There is also a 

 mine of lajavoard in that part of Kashan called kharud, or minor. It is 

 difficult to distinguish the Kashdni from the Badakshdni mineral, but 

 there is a considerable difference in their value : — the following test is 

 prescribed to recognize them : 



" First rub the specimen on a piece of stone without water, and 

 if in doing so it becomes dark, this immediately marks its spuriousness ; 

 secondly, put it in the mouth, and afterwards throw it into the fire ; 

 when it becomes red, take it out, and if it be not discolored, its 



* Vide Journal As. Soc. I. 77. Theophrastus enumerates fossil ivory of a 

 lighter or darker colour, as distinct from the sapphire, evidently shewing, that the 

 odontolitt or bone turquois was intended by eXecpus opvKTos. 



