Ball — On the Colloquies of Garcia Be Orta — II. 663 
move to the stone and therefore the loadstone does not weigh more 
with much iron than it does with little. 
0. I and others have found by experiment that this is not true ; 
but you must therefore not be astonished, because man cannot penetrate 
into everything. 
[Readers will probably remember that Sindbad tells the same story 
as that quoted above from Antonio Musa, which proves that the 
properties of the loadstone were observed at an early period. And in 
conjunction it may be mentioned that as a matter of fact enormous 
deposits of magnetic iron occur in several parts of India, especially in 
southern India. Garcia does not appear to have known that loadstone 
is an ore of iron. His experimental demonstration of the myth, as 
also of others elsewhere, marks a stage of progress. The explanation 
by Pariense the philosopher is delicious.] 
COLLOaUY XLIY. 
Das pedeas peeciosas, que sao, safiea, jacinto, geanada, eubi, 
MEDICIlfAES. 
[Concerning medicinal precious stones : the sapphire, jacinth (or 
hyacinth), garnet, and ruby.] 
R. E'ow let us speak, for it is most necessary to physic, of the 
j precious stones which enter into compounded medicines and electu- 
: aries. 
0. I can only tell you of the medicinal stones which are found in 
i India, for if we were to speak of all kinds we should never come to an 
I end. Indeed, I only speak of such as enter into the electuary of gemis, 
commonly called fragmenta precosia. 
1R. Tell me of these now, and afterwards I will ask you some 
.questions about other stones. 
0. I will do so in a few words — and yet it is more necessary to 
advise you to take away ten cruzados worth of these other stones, in 
order to give them to the apothecaries of Castile, that they mayhence- 
iEorth buy the genuine stones — and they are not so dear. The first is 
ibhe sapphire, a stone that deserves to be rated very highly, though it 
is bought for little money. The blue colour of this stone is very 
agreeable to the sight. There are two kinds of it, one very dark and 
|;he other very light. The latter kind we call safira de agua (water 
liiapphire), and it is not of a very great price. Sometimes the lighter 
I tones are mounted with a certain foil, which makes them appear so 
I E.I. A. PEOC, SEE. III., VOL. I. 3 B 
