fatiscit." This
precious stone, though it is combustible, cannot be fused. An
application of heat to the various gems produces very different results
; some change their colour ; some swell, and decrepitate ; some burn
away ; in some, globules are produced ; in some, an enamel; in some,
dust; and in some, phosphorescence may be observed.
Benvenuto Cellini in his Memoirs relates
how his life was preserved by the roguery of an Apothecary who, being
employed to pulverise a Diamond with the intention of poisoning him,
by mixing the powdered stone in a Salad, substituted in its place a
piece of Beryl as cheaper.
At
one time a marvellous curative power was supposed to exist in a Diamond
belonging to the Rajah of Matara, in the Island of Borneo ; the Malays
believing that by drinking water in which this Diamond had been put to
lie for a while every disease among them might be cured. So greatly was
this precious stone esteemed that the Governor of Batavia offered the
Rajah an enormous sum of money for it, besides two ships of war, fully
equipped ; but this offer was refused ; not only because of such faith
in the healing powers of the stone, but also because it was believed
that the safety of the dynasty depended upon its continued custody.
"Adamantine,"
or the hard, unbreakable, structural part of the diamond, lies between
the metallic and the resinous lustres. This Gem, as well as the other
more valuable precious stones,is bought, and sold,by "Carat" weight;
the " Carat " being divisible into four grains of the
Diamond-substance. The origin thereof is to be sought in certain small
leguminous seeds which, when'
