The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-10-18
In q City Of Eastern Turkestan

stern Turkestan.
there seems little reason to DOUBT the
existence of the mineral along the
whole of the Kuenlun range. Much
difficulty is experienced in tracing the
veins, owing to the shifting sands.
A huge dixie of nephrite. one form
Of jade, embedded in the rocky banks
of the Raskemdaria, on the eastern
slope Of the Pamir, was another source
from which the Chinese formerly drew
large supplies. They extracted it by
lighting large fires on the rock and
then throwing water on it when it be.
came thoroughly heated. The rock
was abandoned some years ago in con.
sequence, it is said, of the illness OF
member of the imperial family, who
was taken sick after having slept on
a bed made Of Raskem nephrite. A
large block of the stone which was
then on it's way to Picking was put in
chains and thrown on the roadside at
Kutcha! It was from this ridge on
the Raskemdaria that was taken W lat
is probably the largest piecs Of
wrought Jade in the worId-the n.rao-
lithic tombstone of Tamerlane. This
famous tomb of darkest-green jade
stands in half-ruined mosque at
Samarkand, and is feet 8 inches
long, II inches wide, ii inches high.
and weighs about 1900 pounds. 1t is
broken through the middle, but is well
polished, completely covered with in.
scriptions, and rests on q white marble
base.
The Chinese use the utmost care In
carving jade. The workman, having
determined from the natural form of
the block and it's visible and probable
flaws, into what object he will carve
it. fixes it on lathe and gives 1t the
general outline. The interior is then
followed out by first drilling. with
dlamond-pointed needles. innumerable
little holes all over the surface which
is to be broken away. When this is
completely honeycombed the parti-
tons are broken down by being sharp
ly tapped with II hammer Too hard
tap might de elop some hidden flaw
and shatter the half-finished object.
The piece is finally polished with co
rundum. The tal der the stone and the
more difficult the cutting the more
brilliant the polish it is capuble Of
acquiring. 1t Is claimed the jade is
softer when freshly taken from the
quarries. So great is the difficulty of
carving jade that an elaborate piece
may represent a llfetime's labor. In
Kienlung's ateliers. in the summer
palace at Picking, the workmen sue.
ceeded each other without Interrupt.
ton night and day. Even then many
years were occupied in completing
single piece.
Put to Many Uses.~
The uses to which jade has been put
by the Chinese are almost endless
Discs of the stone, which when strucl
give forth clear. resonant note, are
used as temple gOngs and musical in.
struments. Ritual vessels are made of
it. Tablets inscribed With sacred writ.
ings, bowls and vases of fantastic form
and intricate design, statuettes of
Buddha. perfect alike in conception and
execution. candelabra. boxes, pencil
holders and all the paraphernalia Of
the writing table. us well MS buckles
bracelets. rings, hooks. buttons and
other ornaments are all wrought with
untiring patience and matchless skill
] from the same intractable material
AS material for artistic workman.
ship jade was known in India only
from the time of the Moguls. who Ell
couraged its employment unstintingly
The arts of carving in frost-like open.
work and of inlaying. which found
such perfect expression in the Tai
Mahal. were lavished in miniature Oh
jade cups. beetle-boxcs, sword and
dagger hilts, and turban ornaments
for which there was an unfailing de
mend at court.
Many specimens of jade work as
we'll as of the unwrought stone have
been purchased in China but some q:
the best Western collections owe much
indirectly to the footing of the PelSin
palaces by European soldiers in 1866
and apain in 1900 and 1901.