(40 have feen in Perfon. Neverthelefs, at the Time of the firftConqueft of thefe Countries, there were found many and very large Eme ralds in the Hands of the Natives, as appears- by the Hiftorics thereof. c H A P. XVL Of other forts of Stones. I T doth very little import the Owners of Mines, for whofe fake principally, by your Lordfhip’s Command, I have written this Treatife, to difcourfe more particularly of other Stones, although the common fort of Stones, becaufe they are fo, are little inquir’d into or underftood ■, and when in Mines they meet with fome Stones of rare Colour and Tranfparency : Their Beauty would invite the Miners Efteem, if the Covetoufnefs after Gold and Silver, which they feek for, did not blind their Eyes and Underftandings, fo that they cannot attend to look after them. But becaufe I have given an Account of all Minerals together ; and that Marbles are of next Eftimation unto precious Stones: It is but Juftice to treat a little of thofe Marbles we find in thefe Provinces, which I believe equal to any that we read of in Story. The Province of Acataina, above all others, beft deferves to- be curioufly enquir’d into, by able and experienced Artifts; for it produces Stones