a pink color without any shade of brown. Fine fiery specimens of garnets may be worth as much as 100 or 200 rupees (933 or 866) or more, and cinnamon stones of a pure rich yellow color, and weighing 10 to 15 carats, may fetch as much as 500 or 600 rupees (8166 or 8200). Of course the stones must be of jierfect color and free from flaws to fetch these high prices.
It is interesting to note what is said about rubies. Varieties of corundum include the most important gem stones, ruby and sapphire.
Of these rubies are much the most valuable, it being very rarely that stones of any size without flaws are obtained. It is rarely also that the most perfect " pigeon's blood" color is found. A ruby of about 1 carat and of the best color and flawless fetches about 300 to 800 rupees (8100 to 8266); as much as 15,000 rupees (85,000) has been offered for an absolutely perfect ruby of 4 carats, but the price of 7,500 rupees ($2,500) for a perfect 6-carat stone, actually sold, was considered high.
Ceylon rubies are never the true red of the Burman, although of ten more brilliant, and hence are less valuable.
The varieties of chrysoberyl are very interesting. The cat's-eye is highly valued, and fine specimens have realized large sums, but it is affected by the caprice of fashion, not commanding general admiration as do the sapphire and the ruby; the result is that in some years its price is increased by a demand which in others as suddenly falls. There are inferior kinds of stones resembling eat's-eyes, such as the quartz cat's-eye and crocidolite, which is now stained to resemble the chrysoberyl or true cat's-eye, but in no case do these compare with the real cat's-eye, which is said to be peculiar to Ceylon. Although found in several districts, the finest have been produced from the gem pits of the Morawak corral.
In the same district, and it is said almost exclusively, there is found the beautiful gem called Alexandrite. This mineral was formerly found only in the northern part of the Russian Empire, and took its name from the Imperial family. The characteristic of this gem when really fine is its rich vivid green hue by day (much darker than the emerald and slight]}' bronzed), which by artificial light is completely changed to a deep red. Like the cat's-eye, this gem occasionally commands a high price in the European markets, and is sometimes sought after by Americans and Russians, who are often led to suppose that the stones are of Russian origin. In reality the Russian stones are finer in color and of greater beauty, but rarely over 2 carats in weight and very rare, whereas many Ceylon stones weigh from 10 to 20 carats each.
The stone known as zircon is classified under various names, according to slight variations of color or the imagination of the dealer who introduces it to the market. Its usual colors are various shades of brownish and yellowish red, showing in fine specimens a very tier}- hue, which the ancients were wont to credit with supernatural powers. Many other qualities it was supposed to possess; among others the power of composing the wearer to sleep and protecting him from unseen enemies. Another kind of zircon is almost colorless; it is a whitish crystal with a faint smokiness, and is often spoken of as Matara diamond. It has, of course, no connection with the real diamond, although used to imitate rose diamonds in the eighteenth century.
In regard to berjds and emeralds he says that pale green beryls are found in large flawless crystals and sold under the name of aquamarine; it is only very occasionally that Ceylon beryls possess the true emerald color. This color has never been seen by the writer of this review although he has examined great quantities of gems from Ceylon.
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