7. Ὀρείχαλκος—Orichalcum (Sans. tripus, Prak. pîtala)—Brass. Used for ornaments and cut into small pieces by way of coin. Exported from Egypt to Adouli ([6]).
The word means ‘mountain copper.’ Ramusio calls it white copper from which the gold and silver have not been well separated in extracting it from the ore. Gold, it may be remarked, does not occur as an export from any of the African marts, throughout the Periplûs.
8. Σίδηρος, σιδηρύ σκεύη—Iron, iron utensils. Exported from Egypt to Malaô, Moundou, Tabai, Opônê (8, 9, 12, 13). Iron spears, swords and adzes exported to Adouli ([6]). Indian iron and sword-blades (στομωμα) exported to Adouli from Arabia (Ariakê?). Spears (λόγχαι) manufactured at Mouza, hatchets (πελύκια), swords (μάχαιραι), awls (ὀπέτια) exported from Mouza to Azania ([17]).
On the Indian sword see Ktêsias, p. 80, 4. The Arabian poets celebrate swords made of Indian steel. Cf. Plin. xxxiv. 41:—“Ex omnibus autem generibus palma Serico ferro est.” This iron, as has already been stated, was sent to India along with skins and cloth. Cf. also Edrisi, vol. I. p. 65, ed. Joubert. Indian iron is mentioned in the Pandects as an article of commerce.
9. Στίμμι—Stibium (Sans. sauvîrânjana, Prâk. surmâ). Exported from Egypt to Barugaza ([49]), to Mouziris and Nelkunda ([56]).
Stibium is a sulphuret of antimony, a dark pigment, called kohol, much used in the East for dyeing the eyelids.
10. Χαλκὸς—Copper (Sans. tâmra) or Brass. Exported from Egypt to Kanê ([28]), to Barugaza ([49]), Mouziris and Nelkunda ([56]). Vessels made thereof (Χαλκουργήματα) sent to Mouza as presents to the despot ([24]). Drinking-vessels (ποτηρια) exported to the marts of Barbaria (8, 13). Big and round drinking-cups to Adouli ([6]). A few (μελίεφθα ὀλίγα) to Malaô ([8]); μελίεφθα χαλκᾶ for cooking with, and being cut into bracelets and anklets for women to Adouli ([6]).
Regarding μελίεφθα Vincent says: “No usage of the word occurs elsewhere; but metals were prepared with several materials to give them colour, or to make them tractable, or malleable. Thus χολόβαφα in Hesychius was brass prepared with ox’s gall to give it the colour of gold, and used, like our tinsel ornaments or foil, for stage dresses and decorations. Thus common brass was neither ductile nor malleable, but the Cyprian brass was both. And thus perhaps brass, μελίεφθα was formed with some preparation of honey.” Müller cannot accept this view. “It is evident,” he says, “that the reference is to ductile copper from which, as Pliny says, all impurity has been carefully removed by smelting, so that pots, bracelets, and articles of that sort could be fabricated from it. One might therefore think that the reading should be περίεφθα or πυρίεφθα, but in such a case the writer would have said περίεφθον χαλκόν. In vulgar speech μελίεφθα is used as a substantive noun, and I am therefore almost persuaded that, just as molten copper, ὁ χαλκὸς ὁ χυτὸς, cuprum caldarium, was called τρόχιος, from the likeness in shape of its round masses to hoops, so laminæ of ductile copper (plaques de cuivre) might have been called μελίεφθα, because shaped like thin honey-cakes, πεμματα μελίεφθα.”
11. Χρυσὸς—Gold. Exported from the marts of Apologos and Omana to Barugaza ([36]). Gold plate—χρυσώματα—exported from Egypt to Mouza for the despot ([24]), and to Adouli for the king ([6]).
V. Stones:—