Crete, Cypros, and Naxos exported hones;[[2128]] Paros figs[[2129]] and the best white marble[[2130]] drawn from quarries, the vast extent of which is still the admiration of travellers.[[2131]] Cypros, sory, a substance resembling verdigris,[[2132]] sulphate of copper, emeralds, and jasper.[[2133]] Linen, white and dyed purple, was brought from Amorgos;[[2134]] thapsia from Thapsos;[[2135]] painters’ earth of the best quality, that is of loose texture, crumbling, dry, and without fatness,[[2136]] obtained from the neighbourhood of Pharis; sulphur,[[2137]] alum,[[2138]] and pumice stone from Nisyros and Melos,[[2139]] where this latter substance was extremely light, and sometimes found imbedded in other stones. The pumices of the island of Nisyros[[2140]] were of an inferior description, and crumbled to pieces in the hand. They were, however, extremely plentiful, occurring in heaps, and generally about the size of the fist.
Carystos in Eubœa exported verde antico,[[2141]] and the amianthos, or stone from which towels and similar fabrics were manufactured, indestructible by fire;[[2142]] Eretria medicinal earth;[[2143]] Chalcis exported copper;[[2144]] Cimolos chalk and fullers’ earth;[[2145]] Samos jars[[2146]] and medicinal earths, ash-coloured and white,[[2147]] in which was found a stone used by jewellers in polishing gold.[[2148]]
From Lemnos three different kinds of earth were obtained,—the first known among the ancients by the name of terra sigillata, was sold in small round cakes mingled, according to Dioscorides,[[2149]] with the blood of a goat and stamped with his image in the sacred seal of Artemis; though Galen, who visited the island on purpose to examine this earth, denies that, in his time, any blood was intermixed with it. The second of the Lemnian earths[[2150]] was reddle, and the third fullers’ earth. The first of these earths, of a slight red colour, was sometimes denominated sacred, apparently because used in sacrifices. In modern times the substance known under this name is usually brown or pink-coloured.
The mine[[2151]] whence the sealed earth is at present excavated lies on the summit of a precipitous mountain, on the eastern shore of the island, about four bowshots from the ancient city of Hephæstia. The road leading thither, after arriving at the chapel of Sotira, is divided, and branches off to the right and left. Both ways pass by a fountain; the one on the right bordered with elder, willow, and carob trees, by one which, though closely shaded from the sun’s rays, fails in summer; while that on the left conducts to a spring which, lying in a marshy spot, producing nothing but rushes, is perennial. Both these fountains are situated among the roots of the hill, now ascended by steps cut in the rock, but anciently by a road practicable all the way to the summit. The digging of the Lemnian earth appears to have been always under the protection of religion; for, during the operation, a priest anciently stood on the mountain near the mine, and, after having made a sort of libation of corn, which was cast as an offering upon the ground, and performed various other ceremonies, caused a waggon to be laden with the earth and conducted to the city, where it was prepared, sealed, and sold to merchants.
In modern times, ever since the period when the Venetians were in possession of the island, a different and more cumbrous set of ceremonies has been practised.[[2152]] The principal inhabitants of the island, both Turks and Christians, assembling on the sixth of August, march out in grand procession to the mountains of sealed earth, halting by the way at the chapel of Sotira, where the priests chant the liturgy of the Greek church, and repeat many prayers, after which they ascend the acclivity. Arrived at the summit, fifty or sixty stout men commence excavating in search of the stratum of precious clay, which being found, the priests fill therewith a number of skin sacks, which they deliver to the custody of the Subashi.
When a sufficient quantity has been procured the mouth of the mine is closed, and never opened again until that day twelvemonths. A certain quantity is then despatched to the Sultan, who distributes it in presents to princes and monarchs. The remainder is sold as of old to the merchants. It is quite possible that this substance might be discovered in other parts of the island; but the Greeks would set no value upon it unless obtained from the spot in question, and excavated with the proper ceremonies. For any private individual to attempt digging it is a capital offence.
Copper dross or tutty[[2153]] was obtained from the muddy bottom of a copper mine in Cypros.[[2154]] Having been exposed to dry in the sun, a quantity of brushwood was cast around it and set on fire, by which means it underwent a second calcination, and thence obtained the name of diphryges, or twice-burned.
In the same island was found the recrement of brass called Cadmia[[2155]] by the ancients. It was generated in the following manner: the furnaces in which they smelted copper were constructed of iron arched above, and of very large dimensions. As the metal underwent the action of the fire, the lighter and mere aërial particles, detaching themselves from the molten mass, ascended like sparks, rolling upwards along the sides of the furnace and settling on the roof.
Here, these particles forming into layers, one above another, coalesced into a hard substance which was called Cadmia.[[2156]] Of this there were several kinds, one of which was produced by the burning of Pyrites, obtained from precipices overhanging the city of Soli. In these extraordinary mountains were found veins of copper ore,[[2157]] sulphate of copper,[[2158]] sory,[[2159]] verdigris,[[2160]] lapis lazuli,[[2161]] chrysocolla,[[2162]] copperas, and tutty.[[2163]]
The recrement of silver was produced in a similar manner during the smelting of the silver ore, but it was in colour paler, and of an inferior quality. In various parts of the island were found in abundance black and white alum,[[2164]] nitre, sulphur, rock and sea salt,[[2165]] the former near Citium, the latter in the neighbourhood of Salamis. It likewise exported burnt copper and copper flakes. Several kinds of precious stones were moreover discovered here, as the diamond,[[2166]] the emerald, the agate,[[2167]] found also at Lesbos, the opal, the jasper, the sapphire, the eagle stone,[[2168]] the amethyst,[[2169]] crystal, and talc,[[2170]] and hones from the environs of Arsinoë.