By the ancients the emerald was a gem much in request, and particularly for engraving upon. They denominated it _smaragdus_, and are said to have procured it from Ethiopia and Egypt; but, besides the true emerald, Pliny, under this title, includes green jasper (96), malachite (231), fluor spar (194), and some other green minerals. The pillars of emerald in the temple of Hercules at Tyre, mentioned by Herodotus, and the large emeralds described by Pliny as having been cut into columns and statues, cannot be referred to the true emerald. The deepest coloured and most valuable emeralds that we are acquainted with are brought from Peru. They are found in clefts and veins of granite, and other primitive rocks; sometimes grouped with the crystals of quartz (76), felspar (110), and mica (123); and, not unfrequently, loose in the sand of rivers. The most ancient emerald mine is that of Manta, in Peru, but it has been some time exhausted; and most of the emeralds that are now brought to Europe are obtained from a mine situated in the valley of Tunca, between the mountains of New Grenada and Popayan. The emerald is one of the softest of the precious stones; and is almost exclusively indebted for its value to its charming colour. The brilliant purple of the ruby, the golden yellow of the topaz, the celestial blue of the sapphire, are all pleasing tints; but the green of the emerald is so lovely, that the eye, after glancing over all the others, finds delight in resting upon this. In value it is rated next to the ruby; and, when of good colour, is set without foil and upon a black ground, like a brilliant diamond. Emeralds of inferior lustre are generally set upon a green gold foil. These gems appear to greatest advantage when table cut (Pl. II, Fig. 9), and surrounded by brilliants, the lustre of which forms an agreeable contrast with the quiet hue of the emerald. They are sometimes formed into pear─shaped ear─drops; but the most valuable stones are generally set in rings. A favourite mode of setting emeralds among the opulent inhabitants of South America is to make them up into clusters of artificial flowers on gold stems. The largest emerald that has been mentioned is one said to have been possessed by the inhabitants of the valley of Manta, in Peru, at the time when the Spaniards first arrived there. It is recorded to have been as big as an ostrich’s egg, and to have been worshipped by the Peruvians, under the name of the Goddess, or Mother of Emeralds. They brought smaller ones as offerings to it, which the priests distinguished by the appellation of daughters. Many fine emeralds are stated to have formerly been bequeathed to different monasteries on the Continent; but most of them are said to have been sold by the monks, and to have had their place supplied by coloured glass imitations. These stones are seldom seen of large size, and at the same time entirely free from flaws.