Ceylon.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE 



207 



their shape, and not perfectly round, should be rejected. It is also an im- 

 perfection when they have large drilled holes, or are rubbed flat about the 

 edges of then* holes by long use. As no allowance is made for tassels, care 

 should be taken that as little silk, &c. are in them as possible. 



Of the smallest size, or seed pearl, the most diminutive is of more value 

 than the middle size, provided it runs smooth, round, and of a fine silvery 

 lustre. This kind being sold by the ounce, care should be taken that the 

 tassels are very slight, as an allowance of £5 per cent, only is made in Eng- 

 land, though the silk, &c. are generally much heavier. 



Ceylon Stones. — Stones of various kinds are found on Ceylon, but 

 the greater part of them are of a very inferior quality. The Moors carry 

 on a considerable trade in them. All such stones as are transparent, and 

 sufliciently hard to take a polish by grinding, are called precious stones. 

 They are known by the following names: — 



Ruby. — The ruby is more or less ripe, which, according to the Indian 

 expression, means more or less liigh -coloured. The ruby is for the most part 

 blood red ; the dotper red the colour, the larger the stone, and the clearer it 

 is, without any flaw, so much greater is its value ; however, they are seldom 

 found here of any considerable size : for the most part, they are small, fre- 

 quently of the size of particles of gravel, grains of barley, &c. The higher 

 the colour, the clearer and more transparent they are. 



Amethysts. — These stones are sometimes found of a large size, but ge- 

 nerally very small ; the larger their dimensions, the paler and less coloured 

 they are, and therefore less valued and esteemed. The small are of the deep- 

 est colour, but notwithstanding of no great value. The dearest and most 

 valuable are those which are high-coloured, without flaws, and of some 

 tolerable size. 



Robals are dark-coloured stones, darker than the ruby, and not so hard. 

 They are found mostly in small pieces, are cut for setting in rings, and are 

 frequently exposed to sale for rubies. 



Hyacinths are small yellowish brown, or reddish stones, which, as 

 well as robals, are frequently offered for sale under the denomination 

 of rubies. ■ 



Cinnamon Stone in some measure resembles the oil drawn from the 

 best and finest cinnamon ; it is not, however, always alike, but more or less 

 pale, or of a deep orange colour. These stones are seldom found of any 

 considerable size in a perfect state; but in general, even the small ones, 

 cracked longways and across, which destroys their clearness, and renders them 

 unfit for cutting. 



