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CHAP. 30.—CARCHEDONIA.

Carchedonia,1 too, is said to have the same property, though far inferior in value to the stones already mentioned. It is found in the mountains among the Nasamones,2 being produced, the natives think, by showers sent for the purpose from heaven. These stones are found by the light of the moon, more particularly when at full: in former days, Carthage was the entrepô for them. Archelaüs speaks of a brittle variety being found in the vicinity of Thebes also, in Egypt, full of veins, and similar to dying embers in appearance. I find it stated, too, that in former times, drinking-vessels used to be made of this stone and of lychnis:3 all these kinds of stone, however, offer the most obstinate resistance to the graver, and, if used for seals, are apt to bring away a part of the wax.

1 Not identical, most probably, with the Carchedonian or Carthaginian stone mentioned in Chapter 25, which was probably a garnet or a ruby. Ajasson has no doubt that it is identical with jasper quartz, including the varieties called Striped or Riband jasper, and Egyptian jasper.

2 See B. v. c. 5, and B. vii. c. 2.

3 Tourmaline, probably, in combination with other mineral substances.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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