A XESTON'E. SEItBEX TINE. 89' 
capable of taking is so imperfect, that a person ignorant 
of its nature might consider it to be merely smoothed 
and Tubbed with oil. The ancient artists executed in 
it many beautiful and delicate figures; and it is impos- 
sible but to admire the industry and perseverance by 
which they produced even chains, and other hollow 
kinds of work, in jade. 
The Turks- cut it into handles for sabres and daggers, 
and into several kinds of vessels, to which they attach 
great value. 
. Jade occurs in granite (251) and gneiss (255). in Swit- 
zerland ; but the most beautiful specimens of this mi- 
neral are brought from Persia, Egypt, and Siberia. 
131. AXESTONE is a kind of jade, but differs from it in 
having a slaty texture; and in being less transparent and 
less tough. This stone is found in China, New Zealand, 
and on the banks of the river of Amazons, in America. 
And it is said that several of the tribes of American 
Indians form of it the axes which they use in place of 
iron. To explain how these people have been enabled 
to work a substance so rebellious as this is even to the 
file, and to other instruments of steel (of which they 
know not the use), it has been presumed that, when the 
stone is first taken from the earth, it is considerably less 
hard than when, by drying, its humidity is evaporated : 
that in this state they work it, and subsequently harden 
it, in some peculiar manner, by exposure to heat. 
132. SERPENTINE is a storte which, ivhen polished, 
has a near resemblance to marble, is of dark green colour, or 
reddish; variously streaked, and spotted with lighter green, 
red, brown , and ye Uow . 
It is found in beds t and in a massive state', is translucent 
at the edges ; and, when pounded, the powder feels soapy to 
the touch. 
There are few stones likely to prove more valuable in 
ornamental architecture, both for beauty and durabi- 
lity, than this. It admits of an excellent polish, which 
is not easily injured by the effects of air or water. It 
