China.] 



OMENTAL COMMERCE. 



of a fine pure equal texture, with a smooth regular surface, and is commonly 

 found in the shape of a pebble stone. It is from one to four inches in 

 diameter, and its ground is of a paler red with one that is deeper, disposed in 

 concentric veins round from one to three points; but this does not appear 

 without close examination. Besides these, it has irregular bright yellow 

 blotches that are never intersected by the veins, but are either within or 

 on the outside thereof; and they arc always extremely short — never above- 

 one sixth of an inch in length. It is very hard, and will bear a fine polish. 



The yellow Agate has been found from one to seven inches in 

 diameter, in various shapes and sizes; but they are all of a very firm compact 

 texture. It is sometimes of the same colour throughout ; sometimes it con- 

 sists of irregular veins, and at others it has a pale and almost white ground, 

 veined and spotted with a strong yellow, exactly resembling that of fine 

 yellow bees-wax. It is very hard, and capable of a fine polish ; but the 

 degree of transparency differs greatly, for sometimes it is as much so as the 

 rest, aud at others it is almost entirely opaque. It is found in India, and is 

 used for making knife-handles. 



The pale yellow Agate, variegated with white, black, and green, is 

 called Leonina, from its resemblance to a lion's skin. It is more variegated 

 than the rest of the stones of this kind, and has a fine compact close texture, 

 though it is found in very irregular shapes, with a rugged outside. The 

 ground is always a pale yellow, but very differently disposed. It breaks 

 with some difficulty into pieces with fine smooth surfaces. It is brought 

 from India, but is not commonly known, being very scarce. 



The b lackish vein En hrown Agate is found in pieces that have a 

 pretty smooth surface, though of an irregular shape, from two to seven 

 inches in diameter. The brown is pretty deep, and freely clouded, spotted, 

 and veined with a colour that is almost black, and the veins are paler and 

 browner than the other variegations. The veins are disposed in irregular 

 and concentric circles, and the innermost are generally broadest, It is capa- 

 ble of a very beautiful polish, and is commonly cut into seals, buttons, heads 

 of canes, and the tops of snuff-boxes. It is frequently adorued with 

 fictitious colours, which sink into the substance so much, that they appear 

 like the natural veins of the stone, and then it is of great value. 



Alum is an article of considerable trade at China, from whence it is 

 carried to various parts of India. It is generally in large lumps or pieces, 

 clear and transparent. It is seldom imported into England, it being pro- 

 duced there in large quantities. 



Amomum Vbrum, or true Amomum, is the fruit or seed-vessel of a 

 plant {Ardvaca and Eh, San.) growing in Arabia, several parts of the East 



