356 Minerals of Ceylon. 
marine, sea-green sapphire is very beautiful and of an ex- 
cellent quality. 
The hlood stone, the nephrytus or Mdney stone are common. 
The serpent stone is dark brown with a spot in the middle like 
an eye. The Indians frequently employ this stone, in the case 
of a man being bit by a serpent, to suck out the poison, which 
they say it will do ; they afterwards throw the stone into wai in 
milk to extract the poison and enable it to recover its former 
quality. Tl:e hog stone is pounded and given in water for 
fevei's. The bezoar stone is found in Cow Island near Jafna. 
Jf^hite crystal is abundant. Yellow and brown crystals, only 
differing in colour, are also met with ; and the whole are used 
for buttons and other ornaments. 
The blade crystal is a species of shirk It presents a shining 
surface, but is not transparent. It is too common to be of any 
great value. 
The cat's eye is a species of opal, and receives its name from 
a white sparkling ray in the centre, which still meets the eye 
whichever way you turn it. This stone is much esteemed by 
the natives of India, and a perfect one of the size of a nut will 
fetch sixty rix-doilars and upwards. Those of Ceylon often 
fetch 500 dollars. The rarity and curiosity of the cat’s-eye 
is the cause of its high price. It is much w^orn in rings by 
the Indians. 
Cornelians, and other stones of the same description, are 
found in Ceylon in great plenty. Precious stones were formerly 
an article of revenue, and collected by farmers, who contracted 
for a particular range with government; This plan, however, 
has for some years back been given up, as the stones found 
ill the King of Candy’s dominions were superior to those of 
