The stone, of one piece of which it was wrought, was such as I had never seen before.

At the base it was of a full green, the colour of emerald without, of course, its gleam.

It was not by any means dull, however, either in colour or substance, and was of infinite hardness and fineness of texture.

The surface was almost that of a jewel.

The colour grew lighter as it rose, with gradation so fine as to be imperceptible, changing to a fine yellow almost of the colour of "mandarin" china.