JARGOON. 29 
disposed of by lottery, in 1800, for 22,0007. ; and is 
now in the possession of Messrs. Rundell and Bridge, 
jewellers in London. 
A large star, cross, and chain, worn on grand gala 
days by the Prince of Brazil, as Sovereign of the dif- 
ferent Portuguese orders of knighthood, are each or- 
namented with a great number of magnificent diamonds, 
set in gold. The centre diamond of the star is alone 
valued at 800,000/. 
When the diamond is rubbed it will attract bits of 
straw, feathers, hairs, and other small objects ; and if 
exposed to the rays of the sun, and immediately taken 
into a dark place, some diamonds will appear luminous. 
ZIRCON FAMILY. 
51. JARGOON is a gem usually of smoky yellow or 
brownish colour, and sometimes limpid : if placed upon any 
object, it exhibits of it a very distinct double image. 
The primitive form of its crystal is an octohedron (Fig. 5), 
but it is frequently crystallized in right-angled prisms, termi* 
nated by four-sided pyramids. 
In hardness this stone does not much exceed that 
of the emerald. The greyish white and yellowish 
white varieties of jargoon are valuable chiefly on ac- 
count of their resemblance to the diamond. The darker- 
coloured varieties can be deprived of their colour by 
heat ; and, in this state, though in lustre they are 
infinitely inferior to them, they are sometimes substi- 
tuted for diamonds. Jargoons are now seldom used 
except for the jewelling of watches and time-pieces. 
About a century ago, they were much used in 
mourning ornaments, for which the dark tone of their 
colour, and their almost adamantine lustre, were sup- 
posed to be peculiarly appropriate. 
The jargoon is principally brought from the island 
of Ceylon; but it is occasionally found in France, and 
Spain, and in granite rocks near Cuffel, in Dumfrie- 
shire, Scotland. 
