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Agates, Jet

Humithres, Amazonite, Labrador Page of 384 Agates, Jet Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
130                   NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
GAGATES: ÃáãÜôçò: Jet.
This stone (or rather fossil wood) derived its ancient name from the river Gages in Lycia, where it was first discovered; it was also said to be picked up on the coast of Leucolla over an extent of twelve furlongs, where it had been cast up by the waves. The Romans chiefly valued it for its supposed medicinal qualities, some of them very wonderful, for the fumes of it when burning would discover any one subject to epilepsy by immediately inducing a fit : and the water in which it was steeped proved by its undisguisablc effect an infallible ordeal for female chastity. Its fumes also drove away all reptiles, and were good against the strangulation of the womb. Its flames, though, quickened by water, were quenched by the application of oil. Any­thing painted with it upon pottery* could not be obliterated. Mixed with wine it was good for the toothache ; and with beeswax, a sovereign ointment for tumours. But strangest virtue of all was that for which the Magi employed it in the mode of divination called Axinomantia, for it remained incombustible in the fire, if the desire of the consulting party was destined to be accomplished. The same virtues
* A remark proving that indurated Bitumen was then confounded with the true Jet, for the former was the base of the black pigment so extensively employed by the Greek and Etruscan potters in the deco­ration of their painted vases. In our times likewise, the so-called Eussian Jet is the same mineral, and is from its nature much used for making black sealing-wax.
Humithres, Amazonite, Labrador Page of 384 Agates, Jet
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