The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and ilandes lately founde in the west ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne. ... Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.

¶ Of Smaragdes or Emeraldes.

SMaragdes growe in the countrey of Babilon, where the Indians caule the sea Dieguan. They grow also in other partes of India. They are stones of fayre greene colour, and are lyght and tender. Of these stones, many are conter∣fecte. But lookyng on them curiously towarde the lyght, the conterfectes shewe certeyne burbuls, as doot•• glasse. But in the trewe, there is no such seene. But rather there appea∣reth to the eye a certeyne verdour shynynge lyke the beames of the soonne. And beinge rubbed vppon the touche stone, they leaue the coloure of copper. And the Smaragde of this sorte is the best and most trewe: And is in value in Calicut, as much as a diamunde and sumwhat more: And this not by weyght, but by greateness, bycause the diamunde quantitie for quantitie, is of greater weyght then the Smaragde. Ther is lykewyse founde an other kynde of Smaragdes, whiche are greene stones, but not so much esteemed. Neuerthelesse, the Indians reserue these to set them foorth with other pre∣cious stones. They leaue not any greene coloure vppon the touche.