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NOTES.                                               425
rather as a prophylactic against all diseases of the kidneys, whence its popular name, contracted from " Pietra di hijada " (kidney-stone), given to it by the Spaniards. They introduced the stone, together with, as it would appear, the belief in its peculiar virtue, from the New World, very soon after its discovery. In its efficacy even the practical De Boot was evi­dently a firm believer ; and the prices quoted by him also testify to the universal faith in its importance, a piece no larger than a half-thaler selling for 100 crowns ; whilst a mass of sufficient dimensions for a good-sized cup, then in the possession of the imperial jeweller, was valued at 1600 dialers.
Strange to say, this most obdurate material has held the same place amongst certain barbarian races, though most remotely situated from each other, that was occupied by the Onyx amongst the most refined nations ol antiquity. The Mexicans, when first discovered, employed the Jade as their chief jewel, after the Emerald ; and had learnt how, by some process now unknown, to cut it with much ingenuity into various fantastic shapes, such as fishes, and parrots' heads or beaks.3 Three centuries later, a far ruder race, the New Zealanders, were found making it the badge of supe­rior rank, worn by their chiefs in the ear, either cut into the shape of a hook, or else of a thick cylinder, perfectly even, and highly polished. Like the Mexicans, they selected for such jewels the pure, translucent green pieces. The coarser kind was formed, with equal ingenuity and astonishing labour, into the blades of their adzes.
With the Chinese, however, it is the material above all others for the glyptic art, such as theirs is. The clear green sort, indeed, they value above every precious stone, and employ in the form of beads. The Empe­ror's own necklace, lately captured in the sack of the Summer Palace, was composed of such spheres placed singly at intervals, marking their value, between several "of the finest coral, each as large as a cherry, the pendant being a monster Spinel, or perhaps a red Tourmaline. The greyer species, obtainable in larger masses, serves for making vases, cups, and for large circular plaques used for clasps to the belt, most elaborately carved into open work of foliage and flowers, in the same style of ornamentation as their works in ivory. How they have obtained such a mastery over so difficult a subject-matter remains a mystery to Europeans. Some pretend, but it would seem merely on conjecture, that the stone is softer when first extracted from the vein, and acquires its hardness by baking after havin<r received its carving and polish.
This stone never found its way to Rome, which it might have done along with the other productions of the remotest East, so largely imported thither. No pieces of Jade ever came to light bearing the unmistakable impress of antique art, although a few intagli in opaque Calcedony might be mistaken for it. Pliny indeed notices the Adadunephros, the " kidney of Adad,"
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