ORIENTAL RUBY. 31 
of the Ville du Puy, among the sand ofa rivulet near 
Expailly. In the summer-time, when the rivulet is 
nearly dry, they are collected by persons, each of whom 
is furnished with a small tray and a linen bag, Where- 
ever there are small depressions in which the water has 
been stationary, these persons enter them, and fill their 
trays with the sand. This they wash in water in such 
manner that the lighter particles are carried away ; 
whilst the heavier ones of gravel, sapphire, and other 
articles, remain at the bottom. 
Some sapphires exhibit a kind of opalescence, or 
whitish floating light in their interior. Sapphires lose 
all their colour in the fire ; and, after having been sub- 
jected to heat, they are so hard and transparent as 
sometimes to be sold for diamonds. 
54. ORIENTAL RUBY is a precious stone of intense and 
bright red colour, occasionally varied with blue, and some- 
times party-coloured. 
In the general form of its crystals it much resembles the 
sapphire (53). 
The ruby is imported into this country from the East 
Indies, though seldom in a rough state, as the stones 
are almost always first cut by the Indians for the purpose 
of ascertaining their value. They are said to be found 
in the sand of certain streams near the town of Sirian, 
the capital of Pegu ; and with sapphires in the sand 
of rivers in Ceylon. But they are so seldom seen of 
large size, that a ruby above thirty-one carats' weight, 
of perfect colour, and without flaws, is even more es- 
timable than a diamond of equal weight. The ruby is 
usually set with a foil ; but, if peculiarly fine, it is 
sometimes set without bottom, that the stone may be 
seen through. 
Ta vernier, the Eastern traveller, states that, in the 
throne of the Great Mogul, he saw 108 rubies, which, 
on an average, weighed from 100 to 200 carats each. 
Among the jewels of the King of Candy, that were 
sold by auction in London, on the 13th of June, 1820, 
