i6o NATURALHISTORYof^Oi^^r. 



gular virtue that when applied externally, or hung about the neck, 

 they are a prefervative againft the apoplexy, the plague, and other 

 contagions, I cannot admit, having no evidence of it, but muft 

 leave it to reft upon its own credit. It is certain that the dealers 

 in coral at Genoa, and Marfeilles, have a great vent for their 

 commodities in the eaftern countries. Tournefort fays, that all 

 over the eaft they wear necklaces and bracelets of coral beads 

 brought from Marfeilles. Poflibly could white coral be brought 

 into fafhion, a diligent fearch might procure as great a quantity 

 in our feas *. 



CHAP. VII. 



Of feveral kinds of Gems and curious Stones in Norway. 



Sect. I. Of Pebbles. Sect. II. Marble of different jinenefs and colour ; Spar, 

 or glittering ft 'ones, Alabajler, Chalk-fone, and the like. Sect. III. Sand- 

 Jlone, Mill-ftone and Slate. Sect. IV. Talk. Sect. V. The Magnet. 

 Sect. VI. Amianthus, or Ajbeftos. Sect. VII. Pyrites, and Quartz or 

 Marcafite. Sect. VIII. Cryfal and Ifnglafs. Sect. IX. Granate, Ame- 

 thyjl, Chalcedony. Sect. X. Jafper and Agate. Sect. XL Thunderbolts, 

 and other figurated f ones. Sect. XII. Some Jones plainly indicating their 

 fubjlance formerly to have been foft andfiuid. 



IN the order I propofed after the vegetables and plants in 

 Norway, follow the feveral fpecies of ftones, with the feveral 

 metals and minerals refident in them; but in this feventh chapter, 

 I fhall confine myfelf to the former, referring the metals and 

 minerals to the enfuing. 



SECT. I. 



It is the lefs neceffary to dwell upon the common pebbles, of 

 which the mountains here and in other parts chiefly coniift, they 

 being well known ; and I having offered my thoughts concerning 

 them in the fecond chapter, on the origin, formation, and diffe- 

 rent figures of the faid mountains; but one particular concerning 

 A^perifhabie ^^ £ e bbles muft not be omitted; which is, that a certain brown 



* Concerning the white coral fifhed for in the lakes of Numidia, and which differs 

 only in colour, Doctor Shaw, in Tom. II. App. p. 124. of his travels, fays, that it is 

 fcarce, but whether it bears a higher price there, I am not informed. 



2 kind 



Of Pebbles. 



