Portal logo
Login/Register
Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
/gemstones/king-natural-history/page_145 - 2
 

Callais, Turquois

Beryllus, Beryl Page of 453 Callais, Turquois Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
       
     
 
136
CALLAIS AND CALLAINA.
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Owing to a corrupt reading in Pliny, xxxvii. 33, the Callais is now universally understood by modern mineralogists to have represented our Turquois ; but this identification seems hardly borne out by Pliny's description of the Callais or Callaina. "Next to the Topazion (Peridot) in appearance, though not in value, comes the Callaina, of a pale yellow mixed with green.1 It is produced beyond the remoter parts of India, amongst the tribes of Mount Caucasus—of remarkable dimensions, but full of holes, and of dross (fistulosa). A clearer and better kind is that obtained in Carmania. In both countries it is found adhering to the surface of the rocks, and protuberant therefrom, in the figure of an eye. These being inaccessible, they knock down the gem with bullets from slings, with all the moss that surrounds it. The gem is shaped by cutting (with the chisel), being too brittle to be worked in any other nianner. The best have the colour of the Emerald, so it is plain that th'ey please with a borrowed beauty. No gem is more improved by setting in gold, and gold itself is better set off by no gem. The better kind lose their colour by wetting with oil, grease, or wine ; but the inferior retain it more permanently. No other stone is so easily imitated by deceptive paste."2
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
       
Beryllus, Beryl Page of 453 Callais, Turquois
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page