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38
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GEMS.
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They
were of a whitish colour, and were much oxidized, whence, at first
sight, it seemed a recent precipitate of silver ; but this was not so,
as, under the action of light, they did not become darker, but always
remained white. Now, might not these two cornucopias have been formed
of the unknown argirite ? Mineralogists can see and examine them in the
Paris Museum.
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XI
ASTERIA.
We read
in Pliny : " After opals, amongst white jewels, the asteria naturally
takes the pre-eminence, because it has enclosed in it a light, like
that of the eyeball, which it sends out, now from one place, now from
another, as if moving about in the jewel, and when placed facing the
sun, it emits rays, whence its name. *
Is
it possible from such a description to understand what stone Pliny
wished to particularise ? The sole distinctive character such a stone
bears is the property of sending out bright rays when it reflects those
of the sun. But this property is common to many gems.
I
saw, some years ago, a large sapphire, very thick, cut smooth, of a
whitish colour, and almost transparent, which in the sunlight
presented a beautiful double star, therefore it deserved the name of asteria.
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