****Konds and frecious stones. 30^ 
ft * ^Om '■®niove those blemishes which materially 
fett^ beanty, and consequently from its value. 
M.'''''ih~ of flaws is a matter of great importance. 
•wiU„ 'Ji iiawi 
'M which the diamond is cut, and its 
refrangibility, the smallest fault is magnified, 
alsQ .obtrusively visible in every face. For this 
**' means an easy matter, at all times, 
' ^ "'bether a flaw is, or is not, superficial j and a 
3 correct and well-practised eye, may often 
great advantage stones which appear to be 
'also 
to 
- uirough, but are, in fact, oiily superficially 
osteemed, and, at the same time, nearest colour 
\Vo>' 
hubv, is pure carmine, or blood red of 
“host "^^oosity, forming, when well polished, a blaze 
^^'joisite and unrivalled tint. It is, however, 
V' mixed with blue in various propor- 
'osso "■ °ocurs rose-red and reddish-white, crimson, 
lilac-blue, the latter variety being 
'V ^'^be Amethyst. It is a native of Pegu, and 
S Sir! 'o Ibe sand of certain streams near the 
?!e^^^Pbire^'l Ibe capital of that country : it also occurs, 
boijj j' *0 the sands of the rivers of Ceylon. A ruby 
A ’ gooti ? ‘dolour and transparency, is much less common 
.'^naond, and when of the weight of tliree or 
IkJ.'S Of 
• is 
®ven more valuable than that gem. The 
H J ..ULiauic Lli.U. ...a., 5...... 
- monarchs of Ava and Siam, mono- 
■ v’batt'e ‘““bies, in the same way as the Sovereigns of 
ij . Monopoly of diamonds. The finest rubv in 
possession of the first of these Kings: its 
into a proverb, and its worth, when com- 
The Subah of .the Dccrin, 
inestimable. 
hK ^ prodigiously fine one, a full inch in 
Vi\^^ao-r,n of Europe cannot boast of any of a 
^^^phire ranks next in value to the ruby : 
^ bittk* oolour is a clear and bright Prussian blue 
o degree of transparency . The astkrias, trf 
^1, 
^ “ remarkable variety of tliis beautiful gem : 
Parent, with a reddish purple 
'Vi, 
tinge. 
Of 
a silver mine, facing p. 202, accompanied by 
