STEATITE. 
the mica: hence it appears, dispersed throughout the 
glaze, like plates or scales of silver or gold. Some 
artists use it in making artificial avanturines (85). 
It must be observed that the best mica is of a pure 
pearl colour ; and, when split into leaves, presents a 
smooth surface. 
SOAPSTONE FAMILY. 
124. STEATITE, or SOAPSTONE, i* a soft and unc- 
tuous substance, which has much t lie appearance of soap; and 
is generally of a -while or grey colour, intermixed with greenish 
or yellowish shades. 
It is somewhat more than twice as heavy as water ; ar,d in 
distinguished from indurated talc (135) by not splitting, like 
that substance, into slaty fragments. 
In the counties of Devon and Cornwall, and the 
islands in the vicinity of the Lizard Point, this mineral 
is found in considerable abundance. It possesses many 
of the same properties as fullers' earth, and is, like that 
substance, employed in the scouring of woollen cloth?. 
When mixed with water it may be formed into a paste ; 
and, in this state, it is easily worked, like clay,, for the 
manufacture of earthen ware. In the porcelain manu- 
factory at Worcester considerable quantities of steatite 
are employed. According to Dr. Shaw, the Arabs use 
it in their baths, instead of soap, to soften the skin. 
As it becomes hard in the fire, and does not alter 
its shape, this substance has been successfully adopted 
for imitations of engraved gems. The subjects are en- 
graved upon it with great ease in its natural state; it is- 
then exposed to a strong heat; afterwards polished, 
and then coloured by means of certain metallic solu- 
tions. 
We are informed by travellers, that some of the savage 
tribes eat steatite, either alone, or mixed with their 
food, to deceive hunger. The inhabitants of New 
Caledonia eat considerable quantities of it. Humboldt, 
the South American traveller, assures us that the Oto~ 
macks, a savage race of people, who live on the banks 
