THE TECHNOLOGIST. [March 1, 1864. 



372 THE GEJIS OF AUSTRALIA. 



In commerce there are three varieties of these cardamoms, known 

 as the short, short -longs, and the long-longs. Of these the short are 

 more coarsely ribbed and of a brown colour, and are reckoned the best 

 of the three. The long-longs are more finely ribbed and of a paler 

 colour, seeds are white and shrivelled. The short-longs merely differ 

 from the latter in being shorter or less pointed. It is usual to mix the 

 several kinds together when ready for exportation. The seed is aroma- 

 tic and carminative, and is much valued as a condiment, especially in 

 curries, throughout India and most other countries. As a cordial and 

 stimulant, they are often used medicinally, but more frequently as cor- 

 rectives, in conjunction with other medicines. A volatile oil is procured 

 from the seeds by distillation, which has a strong aromatic taste, soluble 

 in alcohol. It lose? its odour and taste by being kept too long. The 

 natives chew the fruits with betel, and use it in decoction for bowel 

 complaints, and to check vomiting. In infusion they are given in 

 coughs. 



The following shows the quantities and value of the cardamoms 

 imported into the United Kingdom from India for five years : — 

 Quantity. Value. 





lbs. 



£ 



1858 ... 



... 149,886 ... 



... 23,551 



1859 ... 



... 66,525 ... 



... 13,764 



1860 ... 



... 123,296 ... 



... 27,015 



1861 ... 



... 104,767 ... 



... 23,6fi0 



1862 ... 



... 132,718 ... 



... 37,590 



THE GEMS OF AUSTRALIA. 



BY DR. BLEASDALE. 



I have often wondered that no one undertook to make a collection 

 of, and report upon, the precious stones, which from time to time were 

 picked up about the gold-fields, and aid the miners with a few hints as 

 to the stones they should look for, in what place they would be likely 

 to find them, and the probable value attaching to them in their rough 

 state, or in a wrought condition. "When once it became known that 

 our mines yielded gems as well as gold, I could not help thinking it a 

 pity such fine opportunities as were every day afforded of collecting 

 them should be lost, when little more would be required in order to 

 obtain them than a sharp look out when washing for the gold, and occa- 

 sionally examining the sluices, water-courses and boxes in which the 

 gravel and sand are agitated and washed. Neither would the additional 

 time and labour needed be of much importance, since being for the 

 most part specifically much heavier than quartz pebbles and sand, they 

 would find a lodgment in such cases not far from the gold. In fact, 



