THE TECHNOLOGIST. [March 1, 1864. 



376 THE GEMS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Amethi/sts. — In great abundance on the Ovens and elsewhere. 



1. Yellow, very abundant, and frequently fine, of the Cairngorm variety. 



2. Purple, also abundant. 3. White rock crystal : this is the stone 

 which oft in tempts persons with the notion they have discovered a 

 diamond. 



Jaspers and Agates. — Very abundant on the Ovens, and some of them 

 large, and very beautifully variegated. 



With regard to improving and diffusing the knowledge of precious 

 stones among the mining populations, especially in districts like Beech- 

 worth, where so many have been already found, and facilitating the 

 collection of them, I would suggest two things : — First, that the Athe- 

 naeum or Mechanics' Institution should be provided with a few suitable 

 and secure glass cases, in which the stones found might be placed for a 

 time by their owners for exhibition. The larger the number of each 

 kind that can be got together the better, as then all the different shapes 

 of the crystals, and tbeir shades of colour, can be compared. It is only 

 by getting together quantities of the different species, and showing them 

 in a collected form, that any adequate idea of either the beauty of indi- 

 vidual specimens, the abundance of the material, or even the local 

 monetary value of them, can be ascertained. In this way, too, the 

 various crystalline forms of the different classes can be most easily im- 

 pressed on the mind, and occurring specimens readily recognised in the 

 often hasty operation of washing for gold. In all cases when practi- 

 cable, cut and polished specimens should be placed along with the rough 

 stones. The importance of this recommendation cannot be exaggerated. 

 Secondly — -As to more carefully searching for gems, I would suggest 

 that schoolmasters, teaching on places like the Woolshed, for example, 

 should try to interest the children in searching for them in their play- 

 hours, and induce them to bring all the smaller crystals, no matter of 

 what colour, that they can find. With very little teaching they would 

 soon learn to reject the mere worthless quartz crystals, and become 

 expert collectors. Their quick eyes and nimble fingers would enable 

 them to pick up rapidly any crystal of value that was lying exposed on 

 the heaps of tailings or in the sluices. It is certain they wouid often 

 find stones that would be at once worth a considerable sum of money. 

 As to children's fitness for this work or amusement, I will make one 

 extract from the writings of the celebrated traveller and trader in gems, 

 Tavernier. The following was witnessed by him, on his visit to the 

 mine of Roolconda : — " A very pretty sight is that presented every 

 morning by the children of the master miners and of other inhabitants 

 of the district. The boys (the eldest of whom is not over sixteen, or 

 the youngest under ten) assemble and sit under a large tree in the public 

 square of the village. Each has his diamond-weight in a bag, hung on 

 one side of his girdle, and on the other a purse containing sometimes as 

 much as 500 or 600 pagodas. Here they wait for such persons as have 

 diamonds to sell, either from the vicinity or from any other mine. 

 When a diamond is brought to them, it is immediately handed to the 



