Page:The Periplus of the Erythræan Sea.djvu/233

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from the Red Sea. (The chrysodthos of Pliny, XXXVII, 42.)

8. Turquoise. A product of Persia, not occurring in India but

reaching the northwestern ports of trade. (The callaina of Pliny, XXXVII, 33.)

9. Garnet. Common in many parts of India; those of Rajpu-

tana being the best. (One of the 12 varieties, perhaps the alabandic , of Pliny’ s carbunculus. )

10. Jade and Jadeite; found mainly in Turkestan but also in

upper Burma, while a serpentine from Afghanistan is often substituted. While not produced in India, these all find their way to Indian markets. The leading market is China.

11. Lapis Lazuli, or ultramarine; also from Persia. Largely

used for decoration of all kinds and in demand in India, Egypt and the Mediterranean world from the earliest times. (The sapphires of Pliny, XXXVII, 39.)

12. Quartzose, including

a. Rock crystals, white and colored, which the Romans do

not seem to have distinguished from more precious stones. (The crystal of Pliny, XXXVII, 9-10. )

b. Agate, carnelian, bloodstone, chrysoprase, jasper, chal-

cedony, cat’s eye, onyx, opal, etc. ( Achates , murrhine; sarda; heliotropium ; c/irysoprasus ; laspis, carchedonia ; sar- donyx; astrobolos; onyx; opal (Pliny, XXXVII.)

13. Tourmalines, varying from black through red, dark blue, olive

green, and white, the red varieties being commonest in India. (The lychnis of Pliny, XXXVII, 29. )

For further discussion of the deposits and trade, see Lassen, I, 229-43; Tavernier, II.

“Beryls,” says Pliny (XXXVII, 20), ‘ “are produced in India, and are rarely to be found elsewhere. The lapidaries cut all beryls of a hexagonal form, because the color, which is deadened by a dull uniformity of the surface, is heightened by the reflection from the angles. If they are cut in any other way, these stones have no bril- liancy whatever.” (The crystals are naturally hexahedral. ) ‘“The most esteemed beryls are those which in color resemble the pure green of the sea. . . . The people of India are marvelously fond of beryls of an elongated form, and say that these are the only precious stones they prefer wearing without the addition of gold.”

In the Mrichchhakatikd , an early Sanscrit play, there is a scene which includes a row of jewelers’ shops, “where skillful artists are examining pearls, topazes, sapphires, beryls, rubies, lapis lazuli, coral