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274 FITCHSTONS FAMILY. Uses. Although it can be cut and polished, yet its brittleness and frangibility are so great, that it is very apt to fly in pieces during the working: hence it is but seldom used by jewellers. Danish lapidaries cut the obsidian of Ice land into snuff-boxes, ring-stones, and ear-pendents. Ac cording to Pliny, the ancients are said to have formed it into mirrors, and into ornamental articles. In New Spain and Peru, the natives cut it into mirrors; and for merly they used to manufacture it into knives, and other cutting instruments. Hernandez saw more than 100 of these knives made in an hour. Cortez, in his letter to the Emperor Charles V. relates that he saw at Te- nochtitlan, razors made of obsidian ; and Von Hum boldt examined the mines which afforded the obsidian for these purposes on the Serro de las Novngas, or the Mountain of Knives. The natives of Easter and Ascen sion islands use it in place of cutting instruments; also for pointing their lances and spears, and for striking fire with. Observations. 1. It was first introduced into the oryctognostic sys tem by Werner. Its name is of great antiquity, being deiived from a Roman named Obsidius, who first brought it from Ethiopia to Home. Pliny speaks of it in the following lines: “ In genere vitri et obsidiana numeran- tur, ad similitudinem lapidis quern in ./Ethiopia invenit Obsidius, nigerrimi coloris, aliquando et translucidi, cras- siori visu, atque in speculis parietum pro imagine umbras reddente,” &c. 2. It passes into Pitchstone, I’er.rlstone, and Pumice. 3. Werner, Hoffmann, Steffens, and Mohs, arc of opi nion that it is an aquatic production ; whereas Faujas St I'ond, Von Bucli, Cordier, and Iltnty, maintain its vol canic origin. Second