58. Preparation of Sunstone.
First etch smoky stone in alum, and water for 7 days, then heat it gradually and put it in cedar oil with the tongs.
59. Substitute for Castor Oil.
All
crystal becomes dark by boiling in castor oil. On that account do not
use the substance where it states "with castor oil," for the material
is to be substituted. Use olive oil instead of castor oil.
60. Cleaning of a Pearl.
When
perchance a genuine pearl becomes faded and dirty through use the
Indians are accustomed to cleaning it in the following manner. They
give the pearl to a rooster as food in the evening. In the morning they
search for it again in the excretion and ascertain that the pearl has
become clean in the crop of the bird; and, moreover, has acquired a
whiteness which is not inferior to the former.
61. Another {Recipe).
Quicklime,
which if not yet slaked in water after burning in the oven, curiously
carries over the imperceptible {and) transmissible fire. They dissolve
{it) in dog's milk—from a white she-dog, however. They then
knead the lime and rub it around about the pearl and leave it 1 day in
this manner. After they have wiped off the lime, they findxiut that the
pearl has become white.
62. Preparation of Sunstone.
Mix dragon's blood, ordinary sap of balsam tree, resin of Palestine—or if that is not at hand {resin) of Tomi—and
Pontic alkanet; and soak the opened-up crystal therein. Now if the
preparation is unmixed sunstone comes forth. If, however, a little
fluid pitch is mixed with the above mixture then ruby is likely to
result.
63. Preparation of Beryl.
Crystal
has a considerable relationship with beryl on the basis of resemblance
and you will get beryl out of crystal if you open up this stone, cool
down after heating, and put it inside the fore-named resin and the
indigo mixed with it. If it is put inside the preparation {while) still
hot, then colored hyacinth is formed from it.
64. Preparation of Chrysoprase.
If celandine is mixed with indigo a green color results. Take, however, resin besides— it is a suitable substance for dyeing—put crystal in this mixture after the opening up of it, leave it to absorb therefrom and chrysoprase stone comes forth.
65. Preparation of Chrysolite.
Chrysolite results when you heat crystal and put it in fluid pitch and celandine mixed.
66. Corrosion of Stones.
The
corroding of stones should be done in about the following manner. Put
the stones in open clay pans and lay covers upon them. Close them with
clay and place them upon the grate. Then gradually take the covers off
and dip the stones in alum soaked in vinegar. Then heat them again and
put them in the dyes made lukewarm.
67. Another {Recipe).
Finally
in another way. Put the stones in a pan, lay thereupon another pan as a
cover, and heat them gradually. Then gently take the cover off and pour
alum along with vinegar over the stones. Color them with the color that
you desire.
