Page:Theophrastus - History of Stones - Hill (1774).djvu/93

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XXXII. There is alſo an incombuſtible Stone found about Miletum[1], which is of an angular Shape, and ſometimes regularly hexangular; they call this alſo


    of Mr. Chriſtie's, under the Name of a Jacinth, for a very conſiderable Sum of Money; and very well it was worth it.

  1. The Miletian Kind is generally ſuppoſed to be that called by other Authors the Alabandine, as the Places from whence they have their Names are in the ſame Kingdom. Theophraſtus, who deſcribes the Miletian, has not mentioned the Alabandine; and Pliny, who deſcribes that, has not named the Miletian.

    The other Gems, by the Antients included in the general Name Carbuncle, are diſtinuigſhed by later Writers into various Species of the Ruby, Garnet, Almandine, and Hyacynth; and are,

    1. The Rubinus verus, the True Ruby. This is of a fine blood Colour, and of extreme Hardneſs, and, when large, is by ſome ſtill called a Carbuncle. This is from Cambaja, Calicut, Coria, and the Iſland of Ceylon.

    2. The Balaſs Ruby, Rudinus Balaſſius or Pallacius. This is of a paler red than the former, and tinged with a mixture of blue; its common Shape is oblong and pointed. And either this or the Rock Ruby, as it is called,which is a Species of the Garnet hereafter to be mentioned, is probably the Carbunculus Amethyſtizontes of Pliny. The Balaſs Ruby comes principally from the Iſland of Ceylon.

    3. The Rubinus Spinellus, the Spinell Ruby. This is of a clearer red than the Balaſs, but is not ſo bright nor hard as the true Ruby.

    4. The Rubacus, the Rubacelle. This is red, with a caſt of yellow, and is the leaſt valuable of all the Kind.

    5. The Granatus verus, the true Garnet. This is a very beautiful Gem, and was, as before obſerved, the Carbuncle of Theophraſtus, and Carbunculus Garamanticus of the Antients in general: Its Colour is a deep red, approaching to that of a ripe Mulberry, but held to the Sun, or ſet on a light Foil, a true Fire Colour. This is ſometimes found of a conſiderable Size.

    6. The Granatus Sorranus, the Sorane Garnet. This is of an intenſe red, but with ſome mixture of yellowiſh, or of the Colour of the Hyacynth of the Moderns.

    7. That Species of the Garnet called the Rock Ruby, the Rudinus rupium, and by the Italians Rubino de la Rocca. This is a very