OS 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Gulph of Persia. 



SnticJn/ar, SnnJ, the yellow sulphuret, (Htirtu!, Hind. HnrUaht, San.) 

 called auripigmentum, or orpiment; by the Arabs, zarnich, and the red 

 sulphuret, ( jlfajwtl, Hind., Mamih Silah, San.,) or realgar. Arsenic, 

 properly so called, is a moderately heavy, compact, hard, brittle concrete, 

 of a crystalline or vitreous appearance, gradually changing, from exposure 

 to the air, to a milky hue, like that of porcelain, and at length to the 

 opaque whiteness of white enamel ; the large masses preserve their trans- 

 parency longer than the small, and in dry longer than in a moist air. In 

 the fire it neither burns nor perfectly melts, but totally exhales in thick 

 fumes of a strong fetid smell, resembling garlic. Great caution is necessary 

 in all operations upon arsenic, to avoid its fumes. 



Assapoetida (Iling, Hind., Hinga, San.) is the concrete juice of the 

 root of a species of Ferula, growing in Persia, which abounds with a thick 

 milky juice, yielding an excessively strong fetid smell. Assafoetida has a 

 nauseous, somewhat bitter, biting taste ; the stronger these are, the better, 

 as age diminishes both. It is originally in small drops ; but when packed, 

 it forms irregular masses, composed of little shining lumps or grains, which 

 have the different shades of white, brown, red, or violet. It should be 

 chosen clean, fresh, strong scented, of a pale reddish colour, variegated 

 with a number of fine white tears ; when broken, it should somewhat re- 

 semble marble in appearance, and after being exposed to the air, should 

 turn of a violet red colour. Its peculiar scent and taste will distinguish the 

 genuine from the adulterated ; that which is soil, black, and foul, should be 

 rejected. The packages should be carefully examined, or there will be 

 considerable waste ; they should also be tight, or the smell arising from 

 this drug, will injure any other that is stowed near it. Freight 20 Cwt. to 

 a ton. 



Auiupigmbntcm, (Hartal, Hind., Haritala, San., Zamich, Arab.) 

 or orpiment, so called from its being used as a gold pigment, is a native 

 fossil, found in Turkey, and the eastern countries ; some is also met with 

 in Bohemia, but interior in goodness to the other. The best sort is of a 

 lively gold colour, here and there intermixed with pieces of a vermilion red, 

 of a shattery, foliaceous texture, somewhat flexible, soft to the touch like 

 talc, and sparkling when broken. The inferior kinds are of a dead yellow, 

 inclining more to greenish, and want the bright appearance of the fore- 

 going. It burns in the fire, but not very easily, with a dark, blueish, white 

 flame, a sulphureous smell, and at the same time melts and becomes red. 

 It is usually brought to England under its Hindoo name, Hartal. Its 

 principal use is as a colouring drug amongst painters, bookbinders, &c. 

 Great care is necessary in securing it, or it will from its weight break the 



