664 
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
much like diamonds that some people are deceived. Both of these 
kinds are found in Calicut, in Cananor, and in many parts of the 
kingdom of Eisnager. Those found in Pegu are, however, much better, 
and those found in Ceylon best of all. But although these stones are 
so pleasant to the eye, you will never find one, however big and clear 
and good in water, that comes up to one thousand cru%ados or one 
thousand pardaos. This I say from what I have heard in these 
countries. "When you go to Cochin you can buy in Calicut and in 
Cananor any quantity of the pieces that remain after the stones are 
cut, and whole stones too, for they cost very little money. ^ 
R. Tell me about jacinths and garnets. 
0. Of these there is such an abundance that you will need but 
little money to buy a bagful of them. You will find many in Calicut 
and in Cananor. The cut stones are sold at the rate of a corja (that is 
a score) for a mntem, and the uncut ones very much cheaper. The 
garnet is found in such abundance not only in these countries, but also 
in all the lands of Cambaia and of Balagate, that it is sold in the 
markets at a very low price. ^ 
^ The colours of sapphires range from watery translucent and absolutely colour- 
less transparent white, through many shades of blue up to dark blue, approaching 
even to black. 
As to the former working of deposits containing sapphires in any part of peninsular 
India I have no definite information, and some of the reputed discoveries of sapphires 
have turned out on close examination to refer to other stones. That sapphires do 
occur in India is not only rendered probable by the fact of the numerous localities 
where the coarser kinds of corundum are found, but is absolutely established by 
the recorded fact that they are to be found in the sands of the seashore of Travan- 
core, where with rubies (i.e. red sapphires), Oriental topazes (i.e. yellow sapphires), 
garnets, and jacinths, they form bands of colour assorted by the waves (Dr. WiUiam 
King, Eec. Geo]. Survey of India, vol. xv., p. 89). 
Since very early times the sapphires of Ceylon and Burmah have been a regular 
commodity for sale and export in the Indian markets. I have elsewhere described 
the discovery of sapphires in the Himalayas, but there is no record of the existence 
of that source having been known before the year 1880 {Froceedings Royal Dublin 
Society, Pt. vii., vol. iv., 1885). 
2 The term jacinth or hyacinth is one which at different periods appears to have 
done duty as a name for very different stones. In early times it appears to have 
been applied to a variety of corundum, indeed it is derived from the Arabic and 
Persian yacut^ i.e. ruby. By jewellers (*' Precious Stones and Gems," by Edwin 
Streeter, Part ii., p. 81) and possibly here also by Garcia, it is applied to the 
hyacinthine variety of garnet, otherwise known as cinnamon stone. By minera- 
logists it is now restricted to clear varieties of the mineral known as zircon (or 
iargoon). Its colours vary from white, green, and yellow to red. Prom a colour- 
less variety which presents great brilliancy and refractive energy a false diamond 
