Owing
to a corrupt reading in the old editions of Pliny (xxxvii. 33) of "
Callais" for " Callaina," the former name is now universally supposed
to have anciently designated our Turquois. This identification,
however, seems to me fer from being borne out by Pliny's description of
the most striking characters of the stone in question. " Next to the
Topazios (Peridot) in appearance, though not in value, eomes the
Callaina, of a pale yellow mixed with green.* Its native country is the
region to the north (post aversa) of India, amongst the tribes of Mount
Caucasus, the Phy-cari, Dahae, and Sacae (Little Bokhara). It is of
extraordinary magnitude for a precious stone, but full of flaws
(fistulosa) and of dross. A clearer and better kind is the one obtained
from Carmania. In both countries it is found adhering to the surfaces
of the rocks, and protuberant therefrom, after the' manner of an eye.
These rocks being inaccessible, the natives knock down the gem, with
all the moss that surrounds it, by means of bullets thrown from