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Onyx, Nicolo

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ONYX.                                          227
A magnificent specimen of the stone, formerly belonging to the cathedral of Sens, is now in the possession of Mr. J. Webb. Amongst our Henry III.'s gatherings for his pro­jected shrine of the Confessor, are put down " Phiola oniclea et alia crystallina."
Such alabastra were occasionally diverted from their proper purpose and used by the Romans for wine-flasks, in order to impart their perfumed flavour to the liquor ; Martial notes (xiv. 110), "Ampulla Potoria"—
" Hac licet in gemma quae servat nomina Oosmi * Luxuriöse bibas si foliata sitis."
The Onyx is enumerated amongst the articles of export from India early in the first century by the author of the 'Periplus of the Eed Sea.' Thus he mentions "the city called Ozene (now Ougein), whence all things necessary to the natives are brought down to Barygaza (Broach, Baroach, Baroche, on the Gulf of Cambay), and also articles per­taining to the trade with us, namely, stones, the Onyx and Munrinha, Indian cloths—fine and common quality, &c." Again he has : " from the same places are exported nard, zedoaiy, assafbetida, ivory, Onyx-stones, &o. To Barace (Barcelore) are brought pepper, many fine stones ; also various and numerous kinds of lustrous gems, the diamond, the hyacinthus, &c." Further on he specifies the exact locality producing the Onyx : j " Prom Plythanœ (Pultanah) Onyx-stones in abundance, from Tagarse (Dowlatabad) much
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