formerly, trat at present it is scarce beyond everything. Some have even expressed a doubt as to whether it really exists.
Western
vermilion is a garnet of a crimson-red colour, inclining somewhat to
yellow, and not to black and violet, like other garnets, from which it
is distinguished by these qualities.
It is very common ; but principally in Germany, as elsewhere, it is only found in small pieces.
It
has been a question among mineralogists if vermilion is distinct from
the garnet, or to be considered simply a variety of it ; nevertheless,
goldsmiths, lapidaries, and jewellers easily recognize it, and know
that Oriental vermilion is a corundum of great value, and the Western
stone differs from garnet, as it is said, in colour, and also in being
clearer.
C.
SAPPHIRE.
In
vain have I sought amongst writers for the etymology of this word,
which was given originally, not to a single gem, but to all stones of a
beautiful blue colour.
I found that this gem, like the emerald, has almost an identical sound in various languages. Thus in Greek it is called Zapphiros ; in Latin, Sapphirus ; in Hebrew, Sapphir ; in Chaldaic, Sapirinon ; in Syriac, Saphüo ; and in Samaritan, Saha.
