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This depression has three mounds which are like three triangular bricks
supporting a hearth. These stones are taken out from there. That the stones assume a specific form should not evoke any surprise since among the mountains in the vicinity of Parshawar, there is a mountain which has the colour of iron. Its stones and particles are like thick unbaked bricks and somewhat like pieces of iron and of approximately the same weight, although lighter. Stones from near Fort Nandna 71 in the region of Mankawar in Hind were brought to me. They were both big and small, but measured a span or less. They had a tinge of white and appeared white. They were quite transparent and bore resemblance to jamast. All looked like cast amulets having hexalateral shapes, with two conical shapes adjoining the elongated sides. They had smooth surfaces, and anyone who observed them could not suspect that they had not been polished and moulded. I saw that some of the stones had other stones studded on them, these being of another species and non-transparent. If the latter were to be rubbed, they would be on level with the stones on which they were studded, and, if rubbed on sides, the marks of friction would be all too visible. Nor would any evenness be produced. This being so, I judged that this was their natural and not artificial form. Existence of stones of a similar description was reported to me in a well in the mountains near Ghaznah. The people of India prefer the diamond that is unbroken and whole
in shape with its sides sharp. They do not like diamonds with broken sides. In fact, they tend to regard this as an evil portent. Possibly this is so, because such a diamond has been overcome by something else. They hold the same belief about idols. They do not like those that are broken or bear some defect. The people of 'Iraq and Khurasan do not distinguish between the
different kinds of diamonds or their colours. All diamonds are alike in their eyes, as they use them for drilling and for creating poison. They do not venerate the diamond like the Indians do. The Indians call its white variety Brahmin and the yellow one Khatri. They do not like the other varieties and call the black varieties Chandal. Thus they have named the superior varieties after the hierarchical
caste system that operates among them. Abu Zayd Arrajani has quoted the authority of some physicians that
the diamond if given to persons as a drink, kills them after a little while. We do know that this stone possesses the characteristic of killing in the manner of the stone that resembles the coral, and it is described among the mortal poisons. This may be because of its form, firmness (hardness), and gravity. We see that mercury is heavier than it, but if it is alive, it does not kill until and unless some extra property is incorporated into it. The person who has indicated its poisonous nature has ascribed |
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78
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