208 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Ceylon. 



Cat's Eye, a very hard stone, which approaches more or less to white, 

 or green, and is semi-diaphanous, with a streak of the breadth of a line in 

 the middle, which is much whiter than the stone itself, and throws its light 

 to what side soever it is turned. In this respect therefore it resembles a 

 cat's eye. The largest is of the size of a hazel-nut; others are found much 

 smaller. In its rough state it seems to have no angles nor signs of crystal- 

 lization. Its value is in proportion to its size and purity. One of the size 

 of a nut, without flaws and imperfections, is sometimes valued at 50 or (iO 

 rix-doilars. They are cut convex and oblong, without faces, so that the 

 streak which intersects them comes in the middle, and they are afterwards 

 set in rings, which are worn by the natives. 



White Crystal is found both crystallized and worn smooth by the 

 water ; is in uneven, flat, and long pieces, full of pits and hollows ; the colour 

 is clear, more or less of a watery hue or shining white ; it sometimes is found 

 in lumps of six inches in diameter. 



Yellow Crystal is nearly the same as white, with this distinction, 

 that il appears of a disagreeable yellow colour ; it is seldom if ever crystal- 

 lized, hut always worn down smooth by the agitation of the water into round 

 pieces, with a rough knobby surface. 



Brown Crystal is distinguished by its being of a blackish cast, or that 

 of pale ink. When laid upon any substance, it does not seem to be transpa>- 

 rent, but may be seen through if viewed against the light. The pieces are 

 the size of a walnut, and are cut into buttons and other uses. 



Black Crystal is quite black and shining, but not transparent; some 

 pieces are as large as a walnut, others as small as a pea. They are cut and 

 polished for buttons, and bear a great resemblance to jet ; it is very common, 

 and of but little value. 



Jaugoon, or Zircon, is a kind of stone of the nature of a diamond, but 

 much softer ; according to some lapidaries, the jargoon comes next in hard- 

 ness to the sapphire; and as they have, when cut and polished, a great 

 resemblance to the diamond, they are made up in various kinds of jewellery ; 

 they are generally very smaU, of a smooth surface, and a bright shining 

 lustre. The larger they are, the more they are esteemed. 



Blue Sapi'iure. — Sometimes these are so pale, that they almost exhibit 

 the appearance of water, but generally they are of a dark blue, uniformly 

 coloured, and of round and various other shapes ; they are sometimes to be 

 met with as large as a hazel-nut, but most of them are much smaller. 



Green Sapphire occurs of a bright green, a greenish, and a palish 

 white colour, and is a genuine sapphire. 



