Mohave County miner., 1901-02-09
Cleopatra's Emerald Mines,

Journey of exploration to which
,rs known as the emerald mines of
4 CIoopatra is described by ID. A. Mac
ui.tpr in the new numbe of the Geo
,raphical Journal. They lie in the
mountain range that extends for
lang distance parallel to the Red sea,
and few leagues west of its coasts,
in latitude rather south of Eofu, on
4 tbe Nile. This, like some other parts
of the region, such as the porphyry
,uarries of Jebel Dokham, was far bet
4 ter known than it is now, and more
4 thickly peopled, twenty centuries ago;
and only during the past one, so far as
We know, have isolated explorers. at
4 long intervals, found their way into
n the treasure house of ancient Egypt.
n When its rulers first used the emerald
4 for personal adornment is uncertain.
Whether the large, clear green stones
which, according TO ancient authori-
ties, ornamented the Egyptian temples,
we're really emeralds, is a matter of
dispute, but as this gem-owing to its
4 regular shape, which is commonly a
six -ided prism-and its beautiful tint,
stands less in need of the lapidary' s
art than many others, it probably
formed part of the regalia of princes
at very early period. That it was
Known to the Romans is certain, and
the mines now revisited used to send
their treasures to the gem cutters of
the capital. Ever since then the stone
has been highly esteemed. la the
middle ages few jewels commanded a
higher price, for, in addition to its
beauty, fancy endowed it with medical
virtues. II was a porphylatic against
epilepsy and cure for dysentery
Like the sapphire it guarded the chas
thy of the wearer, aud resented eve ~
trespass by breaking into pieces
Though a more p-osaic age has divest
ed it of these virtues, it is still highly
valued, nor do we condemn its brill
iantly colored relative, the aquamarine
or beryl, which is practically the same
mineral, the tint of the emerald beinl
due to the presence of "A small quantity
Of the metal chromium.
These mines of the Northern Etba
seem to have remained untouched
since the decline aud fall of ROM
caused them to be deserted. Accord
ing to Mr.. MacAlister, the working
are only small passages, hardly NOR
than burrows, excavated in the emerald
bearing schist, and sometimes extend
ing a long distance. Many scattered
ruins may also be seen--dwellings
watchtowers aud tombs, besides thos,
of fen settlements. In these, no doubt
the mining population used to live
and the differences in style sugges
they we're occupied for long time
Some are mere novels, very roughl,
built; others show "a more careful in
strucrion. while third group are wei
nulHntu. MI hdOAllHtcl dioO iouu'
three rock-cut temples, for the sof
stone lends itself to that kind of arch
itecture. He thinks that their pillar,
though very primitive in style, indicat
Egyptian designs, with traces of Gree
influence; one, indeed, contains
crumbling inscription in that lar
guage. Broken pottery, sometimes OF
namented il abundant hut there
no evidence that the ueighbOrhood al
tracted visitors for any but busines
purposes.
notwithstanding this, there was i
those times a settled instead of
nomad population, and travellers ono
must have been rather frequent, for /
one place many drawings of persons
animals and tribal marks are scattere
upon the rocks. The subjects ar
various enough; family scenes an
fghts-in which the weapons ar
swords and spears, bows and arrows
camels and dromedaries, horses, dog
goats and oxen, besides ibex an
Ostriches. Some of the figures are ev
IDENTIFY much older than others. Bu
as whole, they recall to memory tb
Sinaltic inscriptions which some fort
years ago were believed to be memol
ials of the wanderings of the lsraelite
To this attractive hypothesis the lat
Professor +. H. Palmer gave the deatf
blow when he demonstrated them
be--as no doubt are these of tn
emerald mines-only the gratfiti c
travellers, none of them probably eai
ller than the Christian era.-Londo