To TH E M E MO R Y OF

T HE L TE A

PROFE SSOR TH OM AS EG LE STON , PH D .

,
. LL D
. .

OFFI IER
C LE ION
DE LA G F N R '
D HONN E UR A ND OU DE
OF S OOL OF INES OL I N I RSI TY
T HE CH M C UM B A U VE AN
L ER OF I ER S EENLY RE I TI E
, ,

A R D E NT OV M N AL K A PP C A V
OF RE IO S STONES FRIEN OF
,

P C U A N D A K IN DLY D TH E
T OR OL ME I S RES E TF LLY E I TE
,

AU H , TH IS V U P C U D D CA D
 19mm
E WEL S , gems, stones , sup er stitions and as tr ol ogical
l or e ar e al l so inter woven in hi stor y that to tr e at of
e ith er o f th em al one w ould me an to br e ak th e ch ain of as

soci ation linking th em one w ith th e o the r .

B e auty of c ol or o r lu str e in a s t one o r s ome qu aint form

attr a ct s th e eye of th e s avage , and his ch o ic e of m ate r i al f or

or namen t d ment is als o c onditione d by th e t ough

or a o r n

ne ss of s ome s t one s as comp ar e d with th e facil ity with

which o the r s can be chipp e d o r p oli she d .

Wh e r e as a gem might be p r iz e d f or its b eauty by a single

indi vidu al owne r a stone of cu r i ou s and sugge s tive form
,

s ome time s claime d th e r e ver enc e of an enti r e tr ib e since it

,

w as th ought to be th e ab o d e or th e ch o s e n ins tr ument o f s ome

S pi r it o r ge niu s .

Ju s t as th e app e al to high er p ower s f or p r esent h el p in

p r ess ing emer gencie s p r e c ed e d th e deve lopment of a formal
r e ligi o u s f ai th s o thi s ne ve r failing ne e d of p r o t e ct o r s or
,
-

h e al er s e v entu ally l e d to th e attr ibuti on of p ower s o f p r oteo

ti on to th e spir it s of men and women w h o h ad l e d h oly live s
and ab out wh os e hi s t or y l e g end h ad w ov en a w eb of pi ou s
imaginations at a time when po e tic fancy r e igne d ins te ad of
hi st or ic r e cor d Th e wr it er s till h old s th at tru e s entiment
.
,

th e antith e si s of sup e r stiti ou s d r e ad is go o d f or all mankind

,

— sentime nt me aning Opti mi sm as t r uly as sup e r s titi on

s t and s f or p ess imism— and th at e ven th e f anci e s ge ne r at e d

by sentiment ar e he lpful to u s and mak e u s h appi er ; and
su r e ly h appine ss oft en means h e alth and h appine s s and
,

health combine d aid to evolve th at othe r memb er of th e

tr iumvir ate wealth D o w e not often wi sh f or th e union
,
.

of these th re e sup r e me bl es s ings ?

viii PRE FA C E

At al l time s and in al l p e r i od s ther e have b e en o ptimi s ts

and p e ss im i s t s th e f o r me r animat e d by th e life b r i ngi ng
,
-

s entim ent of h op e and th e l att e r o pp r e ss e d by th e d e ath

,

d e aling s ens e of fe ar L et u s always ch oos e a happy me dium

.

b e tween a fooli sh exc e s s of h op e and an unr e as o nable ap

p r eh ens i on of futu r e t r o ubl e s Th e wo r ld s his to r y and ou r
.
’

o w n e xp e r i enc e s h o w u s th at it is th e o ptim i s t w h o h a s c au s e d

th e w or ld to p r o gr e s s and w e s h ould t r u s t and b e li e ve th at

,

th e s entim ent of h o p e and faith will al ways anim at e

hum anity .

We kno w th at f o r centu r i e s it h as b e en b e li e ve d th at
am b e r ne ckl ac e s p r o t e ct child r e n f r om c o ld M ay w e not .

al s o now a d d th at to p e ar l s th e s am e qu al iti e s ar e at

t r ibute d ? Th e r e mu s t be a r e ason f or thi s M ay not thi s .

b eli e f be as c r ib e d to th e ci r cum s tanc e th at in th e we ar ing of

e ith e r o f th es e g ems th e i r vi r tu e c ons i s t s in th e f act th at th e

ne ckl ac e s d o not c o v e r th e ne ck ?l In o th er w or d s th e y ar e ,

wo rn on th e b ar e th r o at and th e opinion p r e vail s th at an

exp ose d ne ck m e ans l es s li ability to c old F or wh e r e th e
.
,

ne ck is ne v e r ov e r h e at e d and th en sudd enly chill e d a nor mal ,

t emp er atu r e b eing m aint aine d th e r e sh ould be p r o te cti on

,

fr om c old s and fr om th e many ill s r e sulting fr om th em A s .

to p e ar l s thi s migh t s e r ve to illu s t r at e th e p oe tic fancy th at

,

th e s e s e a gems ar e t e ar s by angel s s he d to b r ing mor t als

-

J oy .

H aving c olle cte d a l ar ge mass of mat er ial e thnol ogic al , ,

hi st or ical and l e gendary in th e cou r s e of p e r s onal ob s erva

,

ti ons and s tudy it w as d e cide d that th e c omp ani on vol um e

, ,

th e tw si st o
in er f “
Th e Cu i ou s L o e of P r e ci ou s S t one s
r r
”
,

nee d not t r e at of gems al one .

F o r c ou r t e si e s i nfor m ati on and illu s t r ati ons I am in

,

d ebt ed to th e foll owing to wh om my sinc e r e th ank s ar e du e

P r of T Wad a of Tokyo J ap an ; Dr G O C l e rc P r e side nt
. .
, , . . .
,

of th e S o ci e t e Ou r ali enne d e s Am i s d e s S ci enc es Natu r e ll es

,
 PRE FA C E ix

Ekate r inebu r g, Ru ss i a ; D r C h ar l es B r add o ck, lat e Medical

.

I ns p e ct or to th e K ing of S i am ; S ir C h ar l es H e r cule s R e e d ,
Cur at or of A r chae o l o gy, B r iti sh M u s eum, L o nd on ; A W . .

F e ave ar ye ar , L ondon ; D r P e te r J ess en L ib r ar ian of th e

.
,

Ku nste gew e r be Mu s e um of B e r lin ; Mi s s B e ll e DaC osta

G r ee n ; D r B e r th old L aufe r Or i ent al A r chae o lo gi s t F i e ld
.
, ,

Mu s eum o f Natu r al H i s t o ry C hic ago ; D r Oliver P F ar r i ng

, . .

to n F i e ld M u s eum o f Natu r al H i s t or y C hicago ; H e r ew ar d

, ,

C ar r ington P sychist Ne w Yor k D r W H aye s W ar d A r chae

, ,
. .
,

o l o gi s t and B abyl oni an nS ch ol ar ; Mr s H enr y D r ap e r Ne w .

,

Y o r k ; W W B lake Mexic o C ity w h o h as done s o much to

. .
, ,
-

e nc ou r ag e M e xic an ar chaeol o gic al i nv es tigati on ; D r E dw ar d .

F o r r e s t e r S utt on New Yo r k ; D r W H H o lme s of th e

, . . .

Unit e d S t ate s Bu r e au of E thnol o gy Washingt on ; Mr ,

.

M cNe il M Judd A r ch w ol ogi s t Unit e d S t at e s Nati onal Mu

.
, ,

s eum ; D r A r thu r F ai r b ank s D i r e ct or of th e B o s t on Mu s e u m

.
,

o f F ine A r t s ; Tan S i en K 0 Go ver nment A r chaeol o gi s t o f ,

B u r m a ; D r C h ar l e s C Abb o tt A r chaeo l ogi s t Tr e nt on N J

. .
, , , .

E dg ar T Will son o f th e J ew e l e r s C i r cul ar Publi shing C c ;

.
,
’
.

D r E d war d H Th om p son A r chae ol o gi s t of P r o gr e s o Yuca

. .
, , ,

tan M e xic o and C amb r idge M as s ; R ev C h ar l e s S adl ei r of

, , , .

A u r car ia C hil e ; M r s Nona L eb ou r of C or b r idge ou Tyne

,
.
- -
,

E ngl an d ; and D r C h ar l e s P F agnani Uni on Th e ol o gic al

. .
,

S eminar y New Y or k C ity

,
.

G F K
. . .

S E PTE M BE R, 1 915
 «Contents
CH A PT E R

I . M A GIC STONE S A ND E LE C TRI C G E MS

II . ON M E TE ORITE S , on C E LE STI AL STONE S

III .

IV . ON TH E VIB I UE S
’ ‘
or FA B U LO S S
U TO NE S , C ONC RE TIO NS A ND FO SS ILS

V . SNA KE STONE S A ND BE ZOARS

VI .

VII . ON TH E RE LI G I O U S US E or VAR IOU S STONE S

VIII . A M ULE TS : ANC IE NT , M E DIE V A L . A ND ORIE NT A L .

IX . AM O LE 'I‘S or PR IMITI V E PE O PLE S A ND or M ODE R N TIMES

X . FA C TS A ND FA N CIE S A B OU T PRE CI O US STO NE S .
 i ll ustrations
C OLOR PLA TE S
P A GE

M O DE L HI ND U LAD Y, ILLU S TR A T IN G T HE M ODE O F WE AR I NG E WE L R Y

OF A J
IN NOR TH INDIA F rontisznece
‘

JAD E BE LL OF T HE K IE N—L U N G PE RI O D ( 1 7 3 1 — 17 9 5 )
’

PE R F OR ATE D A D E D IS J K
C A LLE D Ts’ang Pi, A C H INE SE S YM B OL O F T H E
D E I TY H E A V E N
K
S E LE TO N O F A N A C H E M E N ID NO B LE W O M A N , PE R H A PS A RO YA L PE R S O NA GE ,
AS FO UN D E NT OM B E D W ITH A WE A LT H O F
'
E W E L L E D OR NA ME N T S AT J
S U S A I N PE R S I A
J
TURQ U OI SE IN C RU S TE D OB E CTS , PR OB A B L Y AM U L E TS , FO UN D A T PU E B LO
BONITO , NE W M E X I C O .

1, I V E M E RA L D TH A T B E L O N G E D T o TH E D E P OS E D S U LTA N O F T U R E Y
. K .

2 AL M A ND ITE G AR NE T
. 3 S A RD O N Yx IDO L-E YE O F A B A B YL ON I A N
. .

BU L L 4 A Q U AM A R I N E S E A L
. . .

J
HI LT OF E WE LL E D SW OR D G I VE N B Y T HE RE E S OF T H E UN ITE D STATE S G K
O N E A S TE R D A Y, 19 13 , TO T H E C ROW N PRINCE OF G RE E CE , LA TE R KI N G

C ON STANTI NE XI I
ILL US TRA TI N G PRE C I OU S ST ONE S AND M INE RA L S USE D FO R SE AL S I N
A N CI E NT A S S YR IA AN D BAB YLO NIA .

D OUBLETONE S
IN DI AN M E D I C I NE -M E N
C H A L C E D ON Y A ND A G A TE PE B B LE S FRO M PE S C A DE RO BE A C H , SAN M ATE O
C OUNT Y, C AL I FOR N IA
PE B B L E BE A C H , RE DO ND O , LOS AN GE LE S C O UN TY, C ALIFO RNIA . .

H IND U WE AR IN G A C OLLE CTI ON O F A NCE S T RAL PE BB L E S AS AM U LE TS .

KI LLIN G A D R A GO N T o E XTR A C T ITS PR E CIO US ST ONE

NA TUR ALL Y M A R E D STO NE K .

A S IM PLE A PPARATUS FOR ILL U STRATI NG T HE E L E CT R IC PRO P E RTIE S O F TH E

TOURMAL I NE
NE C K LA CE OFFA CE TE D A M BE R BE AD S .

“
LA PID ARIO DE A LF ONS O X C ODI CE ORIGI NA L
‘

VI GNE I I E ' ' ‘

FR O M T HE ,
”
THE
“
M ADONNA D I FOLI GNO, BY

TH E KAA BA AT
“
A HNIG H ITO ,
”
TH E G R E AT C A PE YO K R M E TE ORITE , WE I GH ING M ORE
TH AN 3 6 % TO NS .

T HE W OM A N ,
”
C A PE Y K OR M E TE OR ITE . .

THE D O G ,
”
C A PE Y KM
OR E TE ORI TE .

Tw o VIE WS OF TH E WILLAM E TTE M E T

EOR ITE Now IN T HE A ME RI C AN
M U S E UM OF NATUR A L HI STORY, NE W Y K OR C ITY .

FLINT AM ULE TS OF T H E PRE DYNA STIC PE RI OD, E GYPT .

xiv ILLUSTR TIONS A
TH E ORTUS S AN ITA TI S OF J OH A NNIS D E C UB A , PUB LI S H E D AT S TRA S S
B URG IN

FA M O US PE AR L NE C L A CE K OF T HE UN FO RT UN A TE E M PRE SS C A R LOTTA
WID OW OF E M PE ROR M A XIM ILIA N OF M E XIC O .

JA DE TON G UE AM ULE T S F OR T H E D E AD C H INE S E

.

FRONTIS P IE CE OFM USE UM WOR M IA NUM . .

PE RS IA N R E LI C KNOW N A s T HE “
ANC IE NT C H OS ROE S C UP OF

BE ZO A RS O F E M PE ROR RUD OL PH I I, NOW IN T HE HO FM US E UM , VIE NNA .

FRO N TIS PIE CE AND TITLE PA GE OF FR AN CE S CO RE DI S E X PE R IM E NTA

’ “
-

NA TUR ALIA A MS TE RDA M 16 75 , A ND T WO S PE CI M E N PA G E S O F T H IS

TRE ATIS E .

FORM S O F TAB A SH E E R
S PE CI ME N S O F TAB A S HE E R .

Z ODIA C M OHURS , C OINE D B Y TH E M O G U L SO VE RE IG N S H A H J E H A N , AB O UT

16 28
THE M E D IE V A L C ON CE PTIO N OF TH E C O S M OS , TH E S U C CE S S IVE S PHE RE S
OF T HE PLAN E TS , INC L UD I N G THE S UN, A ND BE YO ND THE SE TH E C R YSTA L
L I NE HE AVE N AN D T H E E M PY RE A N . .

THE AN G E L R A PH AE L RE FU SI N G G I FTS OFFE RE D B Y T O B IT

T HE

JE WE L L E D M E D ALLIO N SA ID TO HA V E BE E N D O NA TE D B Y PO PE PA UL V

T o T HE C H U RC H I N LI S B O N , B UILT O N T H E S ITE O F TH E H O US E WH E R E

ST ANTH O NY OF PAD UA WA S BOR N, FE B R U A RY 6 , 1 19 5

.

S A NTA BA RBA RA .

BLO OD S TONE M E D A LLI O N , S H O WI NG THE SA NTA C A S A OF LO RE TO C A RR IE D

BY AN GE LS TO D ALM AT IA F RO M

C HI NE S E JA DE A M UL E TS F O R TH E DE AD
LA M ADO NNA D E LL A SAL U TE , BY OTT AV IA N O NE LLI
C ERE M ONY ANN UALL Y OB SE RVE D O F WE I G H IN G
I N T H E M O G U L E M PI RE

THE S OVE RE IG N A G A I NST PR E C I O US M E T A L S , E WE LS A ND OTH E R V AL J

J
U ABLE OB E CTS , WHIC H WE RE D I STRI B UTE D AS G IFTS . .

THE SA CR E D WE LL O F C HICH E N
K
C ARVE D A N D WOR E D STON E S FRO M THE S A CRE D WE LL A T C H IC HE N ITz A
YUC A TA N , M E X IC O .

E YE AG A TE S
TYPE S O F E G YPTIAN SE A LS A ND S CAR AB S IN TH E M URCH C OLLE CTI ON
ME TR O POLI TAN M U S E U M OF ART , NE W Y K OR

COL OSS A L SC AR A B IN BLA C K GRANI TE , BRITIS H M U S E U M

A M E DI E V AL S PE LL
FROM A PORTRAI T OF QUE E N E LI ZA BE TH
COM PLETE VIE W O F T HE A NCIE NT J ADE G IRDL E -PE NDA NT ( FR O M KU YU
T’U P U )
’

TI BE TA N WOMA N W ITH C O M PLE TE J E W ELR Y .

“ ”
THE L IG H T O F T H E E A ST .

INDIAN M E DI CINE -M AN .
 ILLUSTRATI ONS xv

HE I-TI K
AM ULE TS O F NE W
I

JE WE LLE D S W O RD G IVE N B Y TH E G R E E S OF T H E UNITE D S TATE S K , ON

E A STE R D A Y, 19 13 , TO C ROW N PRI NC E C O NS TANTINE , LA TE R KIN G
C O N S TANTI NE XII O F G RE E C E TO P OF S CAB B A RD , S HOW I N G D ID RA C HM
.

O F ALE XAN DE R TH E G RE A T .

S ID E VIE W O F HILT .

TH E LE GE ND OF TH E M OO NS T ONE , A UTO GRA PHE D FO R T HIS WOR B Y K

THE AUTH O R O F TH E POE M D R E DWA RD FO RRE S TE R S UTTO N
.
,

C LE O PA TRA D I S SOLV IN G HE R PRI CE LE SS PE A RL A T THE BANQ U E T To M A R K

LINE C UTS I N TE XT
TITLE -PA GE O F ONE O F TH E E A RLI E S T TR E ATI S E S O N ME TE OR ITE S
TYPE S O F C E RA UN I A OR “ TH U N D E R S TO NE S ” -

INTE R I OR O F FI FT E E NT H C E NTUR Y PH A RM A C Y .

E XTRA CTIN G T OAD-S T ON E

TOAD-S TONE S NA T URAL C ON C RE TIO N S OF C LA YS T ONE AND LIM O NITE
.

TYPE S OF C HE L O NL E (TORTO I S E -S T O NE S ) NA T UR AL C ON CRE T IONS

.

C HE LI D ONI US O R “ S w AL L o w -S TO NE S ”
E T I TE S .

E XTRA CT IN G A N A LE CTO RI U S .

A LE C T O R I U S .

LA PIS M AN ATI
LA PI S M AL A C E NS I S , STO N E OF T HE HE DGE H O G OR PORC U PI NE
LA PI S J UD AI C US PE NTR E MI TE H E A D S
.

G L OSS OPE TR JE FOS SIL SH A R 'S TE E T H

. K
BE L E M NITE S FOS SILI ZE D BONY E ND
. OF E XTI NC T C UT TLE -F IS H .

BR ONTIA FO S S IL S E A -U R C H I NS
. .

TR OC H ITE S FOS SIL

C RI NOID
E NA STR O S l
STE M S
BU C ARDITE S TRIPLE X
TYPE S OF OMB RI A ( FOS SIL SE A-U RC HI N S ) .

C ORNU AMM O NIS (FOS SI L NA UTIL U S )

S PE CIME NS OF A STR OITE S (A STE RI A ) , O R FOSSIL C OR AL
APPLI C A TION OF A BE ZOAR To C U RE A VICTI M OF POIS O NI N G .

K
M O N E Y BE ZOAR
1 HE D GE -H OG STONE FROM M ALA CCA
. 2, 3 S PURI OUS STON E S
. . OF THI S

T YPE M AN UFA CT URE D IN C E YL ON

K
C AL C ULI TA E N FROM BLADDE R OF POPE PI US V
TYPE S OF T HE OV UM ANGUI N U M E C HINITE S (SE A-URC HINS )
.

C OB RA DE
C A N A DI A N INDIA N M E D I CI NE -M AN
EAS T INDI AN BARO Q UE PE AR L
 m
in
e M agic of 3 3111215 Rub 41
21311t

I
magicS ton s anb «Ele m
ectric G a a

W HILE th e p r e ci ou s and semi p r e ci ou s st one s wer e

-

Oft en w o rn as amul e t s o r t ali smans th e b e li e f in th e

,

magic qu ality of mine r al s ub s t anc e s w as not confine d to

them but w as also he ld in r egar d to l ar ge s t one mas ses Of
,

p e culi ar fo r m o r having st r ange m ar kings or inde ntati ons ;

,

mor e ove r many small s t ones p oss e ssing ne ith e r w o r th nor

, ,

b e auty we r e th ought to exe r t a c er t ain magi cal influence

,

up on natu r al phenomena A n o ccult p owe r Of thi s sor t w as

.

al so att r ibut e d by t r aditi on to s ome mythic al s t ones th e ,

o i gin o f
r thi s fancy b eing fr e qu ently explicable by th e
qu ality r e ally inh e r ent in som e known mine r al b e ar ing a
designati on clo se ly similar to that b e st ow e d up on th e
im aginar y s t one .

To ce r t ain s t one s h as b ee n attr ibute d th e p owe r to p r o

duce mu sical tone s th e m os t f am ou s ex am ple b eing th e
,

s o c all e d V o c al Memnon of The b e s Thi s coloss al s t atu e

-
“ ”
.

w as s aid to em it a me l o di ou s s ou nd wh en th e su n r ose and ,

acc o r ding to G r e e k l e g end thi s s ou nd w as a gr ee ti ng given

by Memnon to h is moth e r th e Dawn I t app ear s howeve r

,
.
, ,

that th e s tatu e w as a r esp e cte r of p er sons f o r when th e ,

E mp e r or H ad r i an p r e sent e d hims elf b e for e it h e is s aid to ,

have h e ar d th e s ound th r e e time s whe r eas c ommon mor tal s

,

h e ar d it but once o r at mos t twice whil e o cc asi onally th e

, ,

s t atu e withh e ld its g r e e ting alt o ge th e r A mo d e r n tr ave ll er

.

r e l at e s a p e r sonal exp e r i ence th at may c as t a S id e light up on

-
2 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S AND C HARMS

thi s matte r His vi sit to Theb e s w as made in th e e vening

. ,

but a fe ll ah w h o w as s t anding ne ar th e s tatu e aske d h im

whe the r h e wi sh e d to h e ar th e mu s ical s ound Of cou r s e .

th e r e ply w as in th e aff irm ativ e T h e r eup on th e m an climb e d .

up th e side Of th e col oss al figur e and hid himse lf b ehind

th e e lb o w In a m om e nt s h ar p me t al lic s ound s b e c am e
.

audibl e ; not a singl e s ou nd but s e ve r al in s ucc es s i on Know ,

.

ing fr om th e i r qu al ity th at th e y co uld no t p r o c e e d fr om

th e s t one th e t r av e ll e r ask e d h is d onk ey boy f o r an e xpl ana
,
-

tio n and w as t old th at th e m an w as s t r iking an ir on bar In .

anci ent tim e s th e p r i es t s p r ob ably p e r f o r m e d thi s or a

S imil ar t r ick in a much mo r e s kilful w ay th an did th e p oor

fe llah s o that th e myst e r y of th e s tatu e w as car efully

,

gu ar d e d .
1

Th e r ive r Hyd aspe s w a s s aid to fu rni sh a mu sical

s t one
”
Whe n th e m oo n w as waxing thi s s tone gave for th
.
,

a m e l o diou s s ou nd Thi s S h ould be unde r s t oo d in th e s ense

2
.

th at wh en th e s t one w as s tr uck at th at s e ason th e s ound w as

dif f e r ent fr om W hat it w a s at oth e r tim e s a fanciful id e a —

b ase d o n some supp os e d symp athy b e twe en th e s t one and

th e moon A s moons t one s ar e r ar e ly l ar g e r th an a S ilv er
.

doll ar th ey w ould not emit a sound up on b eing s tr uck and

, ,

it is p r ob ably a r o ck known as ch inkstone ( ph ono lite )

“ ”

th at is r e fe r r e d to an igne ou s r o ck ver y h ar d and r esonant

, , ,

th at h as b e en found in e l ongat e d and flat p ebbl es of l ar ge

S iz e ; th e y r i ng with th e r e s o nanc e o f b e ll s wh en s t r uck A .

s ono r o u s s t one at M e gar a is r e p o r t e d by P au s ani as ; wh en

3

s tr u ck it emitt e d th e s ound o f th e ch o r d o f a lyr e

, Thi s w as .

e xpl ai ne d by th e t al e th at whil e h elpi ng Alc ath o u s to build ,

‘
R os enf e ld , g g
S in in and S peak ing S t on es c
S ie n i t fic A m er ican S uppl .

No 17 2 0,
. p . 3 9 5, D e c 19 , 19 08
. .

2
Jh
o L au r e nt ii Ph il ad e l ph e ni Lyd i qu es e an e er
annis a ; ed H ase , xt t xc pt .

etc. , Lipsiaa e t D ar m st ad ii, 1827 , 104 p . .

t tu v c l
L a S a e o a d e M emnon, by
M L etr onne, in M é m d e l ’Ins titu t d e
. .

Fr an ce,
A cad emic d e s I ns c ipti
r o ns e t Be ll es Le tt r e s, vol . i, 4 2, l .
 MAGIC STONES A ND E LE C TRI C GE MS 3

th e wal ls of his city th e go d Ap oll o h ad r este d his lyr e on

,

th e s t one .

Th e t e rm s ar co phagus is to u s s o cl e a r and p r e ci s e in its

S i gni fic anc e th at w e d o no t s t o p to thi nk th at its e tymol o y
, g
r e v e al s it as lit e r ally me ani ng b o dy d e vou r e r Tr aditi on -
.

taught that a s tone of thi s typ e w as to be found ne ar A ssos

in L yci a A s i a Minor and al s o in some p ar t s of th e Or i ent
, , .

If att ach e d to th e b o dy of a livi ng p er son it w ould e at aw ay

th e fl e s h Ano th e r typ e al r e ady note d by Theoph r as tu s in
.
,

th e thir d c e ntu r y B C h ad th e p ow e r of p e tr ifying any obj ect

. .
,

pl ace d within r e ce ptacl es made fr om it If a d ead p e r son .

w er e bu r i e d in a s ar c oph agu s o f thi s m at er i al th e b o dy

“ ”

would no t be consumed but would on th e cont r ar y be tu rne d , , ,

to s tone e ven th e s h oes of th e c or p s e and any ut ens il s bu r i e d

,

with it woul d under go a lik e wonder ful change Po ssibly

, .

actu al ob ser vati ons of ch ange s in th e b o di e s of tho s e l ong

bu r i e d th eir p ar tial di sint e gr ati on in s ome c ases and th ei r

, ,

har dening in oth e r s may have giv en r i se to th e fancy ,

that th e S tone r e ce pt acl e in which the y h ad r ep os e d w as

dir ectly th e cau se Of this whe ther it implie d destr uction o r ,

p etr ifacti on ‘
.

Of th e sub s tanc e name d gal actit e Pliny gives s ome d e ,

tail s H e s tates th at it came fr om th e Nile w as of th e col or

. ,

and h a d th e o d o r of mi l k and wh en moi s t ene d and s cr ap e d ,

p r oduc e d a juice r e sembling milk Th e liquid d er ive d fr om .

th e gal actit e wh en t aken as a p oti on by nu r ses w as s aid to

incr ease th e flow o f milk I f a gal actite wer e b ound to a .

child s arm th e eff e ct w as to p r omote th e s e cr eti on of s al iva

’
.

To th es e favor abl e e ff e ct s mu s t be add e d an unfavor abl e

one name ly l o s s o f memo r y which w as s aid to b e fall oc
, , ,

casional l y th ose w h o w or e th e s t one A kind of eme r ald

“
.

with white veinings w as some times cal le d gal actite and ’

,

Se e T h eophr ast i ,
D e l apid ibu s ( Pe r i l ith OD ) , ed . by J h n Hill
o , L ond on.
1 7 46 , pp . 15- 1 7 ; cap. 10 .
4 TH E MA GIC OF JE WE LS A ND C H RMS A
ano the r var i ety h ad al t ernate r e d and white str ip es or
vie n s.
“
P er hap s this emer ald w as a var i ety of j ad e or a
“ ”
,

b ande d j as p er .

Thi s s o call e d gal actit e which enj oye d such an ext r a

-
,

or dinar y r eput ati o n in anci ent and me di e v al t ime s is not , ,

pr op er ly s p e ak ing a st one but a ni tr ate of lim e Th e

, ,
.

s t r ange and famo u s r e lic s of th e Vi r gin p r es e r ve d in many

ol d chu r ch es and c all e d th e Vi r gin s milk we r e mer ely

“ ” ’
,

soluti ons of thi s nit r at e P o s sibly pi e ce s of thi s s o call e d

.
—

g al actit e w er e s om e times found by pilgr im s in th e gr o tt o of

B e thl e h em and we r e s upp os e d to be p e tr ifi e d milk
,
AS .
6

e ve r ything in thi s s acr e d s p o t w as r e g ar d e d as co nne ct e d

in s ome w ay with th e mi r acul ou s bi r th of C h r i st it is e asy ,

to u nd er s t and why th e d ev out pilgr ims c am e to b e li e v e th at

th e milky hu e d sub s t ance r e p r es ent e d th e milk of th e Vi r gin
-
,

which h ad b een p r e s er ve d f or futur e age s in this extr a

or dinar y w ay .

A kind of gal actit e evidently a finely dep osite d fo rm of

,

car b onat e of lime and p er hap s ab sor b ent is menti one d by ,

C onr ad G esner Thi s w as fo und on th e Pil atu s M o untain

7
.
,

L ake L uc er ne and is d e s c r ib e d by G e sner as b e ing a

,

fungou s and friable sub s tance white and excee dingly

”
,

light in weight Th e natives call e d it M ond mil oh ( moon

,

milk ) and it w as s o ld in th e pharmaci es o f L uce rne Th e .

p owde r w as u s ed by physici ans in th e tr e atment of ulcers ,

and lik e al l th e o th e r g al actit e s it w as s upp os e d to i ncr e as e

, ,

th e flow of milk and to d ev e l op th e b r e as ts B esides this it .

w as cr e dit e d with s omni fer ou s vi r tu e s .

A n ol d Moh amm e dan tr aditi on cit e d by Ibn Kadh o S h o ,

bah in h is Tar ik al J af thi r el ates th at Noah aft er th e

-
, ,

d eluge on s etti ng o u t with th e memb e r s of hi s f amily to

,

Pl inii, Na r a is tu l h t
is or ia,
”
L ib XXX
V II, cap 5 9. . .

ly
De M e , in La G r an e E n d o e i ; ar tcycl p d c
ier re s r é ie se s
. p p c u .

Co n r a i d
Ge er ,
s n i D e r er m f o ssil ium, u
”
et c , Tigu r i, 15 65 , f ol . . 49 v erso .
6 TH E MA GI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HAR MS

int o ves se l and water p our e d ove r it ; th e pulv e r iz e d r oo t s

a

of c e r t ain h e r b s and s ome bl o o d d r awn f r om th e v e ins o f a

bl ack goat ar e th en mix e d with th e wate r and th e r e sulting ,

liquid mixtu r e is thr own up int o th e air by th e r ain mak e r -

.
10

Th e s o r c er e r s am ong th e D i e ri in C e nt r al Au s t r ali a pl ac e
s uch t r u s t in th e efficacy of th e s e c onju r ati ons as to b e li e v e

that al l r ainf all s ar e p r oduc e d th e r eby gene r al ly thr ough ,

th e int e rm e di at e acti on of anc e s t r al s pi r it s If r ain f all s .

in a l o c ality wh e r e no p r o c e e di ngs o f th e kind h av e tak en

place th en it is supp ose d th at th ey h ave b e en initi ate d in
,

s ome contigu ou s t e r r ito r y a m e r ely sp ont ane ou s and ,

natur al r ai nf all b e ing ou t of th e qu e s ti on Th e cl ouds .

inde e d gene r at e th e r ain but it will not be b r ought to th e ,

e ar th e xc e pt by magic ar t In th e c omplic at e d m agic c er e

.

moni e s Of th e se D i e r i r ain m ak er s tw o lar ge s t one s ar e -

,

e mpl oy e d ; aft e r a c e r em oni al in th e c ou r s e o f which th e ,

bloo d dr awn fr om th e tw o chie f so r ce r er s is smear e d over

th e b o di es of th e o th e r s th e s tone s ar e b o r ne away by th e s e
,

tw o s or c e r e r s f o r a di st anc e o f ab out tw e nty mil e s and th er e ,

put f ar up on th e high e s t tr e e th at can be found th e obj ect ,

e vid e ntly b e ing to b ri ng th em as ne ar to th e cl oud s as

pos sibl e .
11

Ro ck c r ys tal a s a r ai n c om p e ll e r find s h ono r among th e

- -

wiz ar ds of th e Ta ta thi t r ib e in New S outh W al e s A u s

— —
,

tr al ia To b r ing d own r ain fr om th e sky one of th em will

.

br e ak Off a fr agment fr om a cr ys t al and cast it he avenw ar d ,

enwr apping th e r e s t o f th e c r ys t al in fe ath e r s After im .

me r s ing th e s e with the i r encl os u r e in w at er and l e aving ,

th em to so ak f o r a while th e wh ol e is r emove d and bu r i e d

'

mF . S tu h l mann, M it E min Pa s ch a im H e rz vo n A f ri ca ,
l
Be r in, 1 894 ,
p . 5 88 .

n
S G as on,
. y
Th e Die er ie Tr i b e In Nat ive Tr ibe s of uth A u t alia
So s r ,

pp . 27 6 s qq. s ee a so : A W Ho
l . i . w tt , Th e Die r i and O the r K ind r d T ib s f
e r e o

C en tr al A u st alia r .
”
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C GE MS 7

in th e e ar th
hidden away in s ome s afe pl ace
,
or Th e .
12

wide ly s pr e ad fancy that r o ck cr ys tal is simply conge al ed -

w ate r may have some thing to d o with th e choo sing of this

s t one as a r ain mak e r — .

S umatr ans of K o ta G ad anz u s e a s tone wh os e f or m

r o ughl y r e s embl e s th at o f a cat in th e i r inv o c ati ons of r ain
,

a li ve bl ack cat b e ing supp os e d in s ome p ar t s of thi s i s l and

to h av e c e r t ain r ain p r o ducing vi r tu e s P e r h ap s th e -

.
13

e l ectrI C f u r o f th e anim al ma
y ha ve sugge s t e d a conne ction
with thunder s to rms S tones of thi s typ e indee d a gr e at
-
.
,

many of th ose to whi ch magi c p r o p e r ti e s ar e attr ibut ed ,

ar e in m any c a se s sme ar e d wi th th e bl o o d o f fo wl s o r h av e ,

incense o f fer e d to them thi s tr eatment of such s tones b eing ,

obse r ve d by th e p e as an t s in S c andinavi a and o th e r p ar t s

o f E u r o p e as w el l as in th e F ar E as t .

S t one cr o ss es h av e some time s b een utiliz e d as r ain

br inge r s a s in th e c ase of one b e l onging to S t M ar y s
’
.
,

C hu r ch in th e I s l and of Ui s t one of th e o ut er H eb r id e s OR , ,

th e S c o tti s h c o as t Wh en dr ought p r e vaile d her e th e .

p e as ants would s et up thi s cr o ss which u su al ly l ay flat on

th e g r ound in th e c onfid e nt b e li e f th at r ain w ould ens u e
,
.

Of c ou r se so oner or l at e r it w as su r e to come and th en th e

, , ,

cr oss h aving d one its duty w as quietly r e place d in its

, ,

form e r ho ri z ontal p ositi on .

14

A mys te r i ou s s t one menti one d in R abbini cal l e gend is

calle d th e s h amir Thi s wor d o ccu r s thr e e time s in th e Ol d
f
.

Te st am e nt ( J e r xvii 1 ; E z e k iii 9 ; Z e ch vii . and in .

,
.
,

e ach s i gnifi e s a mat er i al no t e d f or its h ar dne ss In th e fir s t .

3
H L P C ame r on,
. . . Not e s on S om e Tr i bes of New S o uth Wal es . Jun
o r .

of An th p ro . I ns t .
, vol . x iv ( 1885 ) p . 3 62 .

1”
J . L . van d er Toor n, He t ani misme bij d en M inangk abane r d e r
Pad angsch e Bo venland ,
”
Bij d r age n tot d e Taa -L an l d -
en V ol k er k und e van Ne de r

I
l and sch n ied,
”
vol m . ix , 189 0, 86 p . .

M ar t in D cr ipt ion We st er n land s of S c tl and k t ’

1‘
, es of th e Is o , in Pin er o n s

Voyage s and Tr ave l s v l ,

o . iii, p . 594 .
8 TH E M AGI C OF JE WE L S A ND CH ARMS
of the se passages th e r e is exp r e s s indicati on th at th e s h amir
w as a p oint e d Obj e ct u se d f or eng r aving and th e w o r d is ,

tr anslat e d diamond in ou r B ible ; in th e tw o o th er cas e s

“ ”

it is r e nd er e d ad am ant ” and ad amantine s t one

“
r e sp ec ,
”

tivel y thu s l e aving th e d e te r minati on o f th e sub s t anc e an

,

Op e n qu e sti on H ow e ve r as it is almo s t ce r tain that th e

.
,

H e b r e w s we r e not famili ar with th e di amond s h amir mos t ,

pr ob ably s ignifie s one of th e vari e ti e s o f cor undum th e next ,

har des t mine r al to th e di amond an d e xtens ively u s e d in

,

clas sic tim es f or engr aving on s oft e r s tones .

In th e luxu r i ant gr owth of l e g end th at s p r ang up in

R abbinic al time s th e s h amir is not for gotten I t is s ai d to
,
.

have b e en th e s ev enth of th e ten mar ve l s cr e at e d at th e end

o f th e s ixth d ay o f c r e ati on In siz e it is d e s cr ib e d as b e ing
.
,

not l ar ger than a b ar l e y corn but it h ad th e p ow e r to S plit

-
,

up th e h ar de s t sub st ance s if b r ought in c ont act with th em

, ,

or e v e n in th e i r ne ighb o r h oo d S om e o f th e l e ge nd s as cr ib e
.

to it e v e n m o r e w ond e r ful m agic p ow e r s s o th at lik e Al ad , ,

din s l amp gr e at buildings c ould be cons tr uct e d by its h elp

’
, ,

S o l omon h aving u s e d it in th e e r e cti on of th e t empl e and

o th e r buildi ng s Th e e tym ol ogy of th e w or d indic at e s a
.

p oint e d Obj e ct simi lar to ou r di am ond p oint but in le gend

,
-
,

it is almo s t invar i ably de s c rib e d as a small w orm p r ob ably ,

b e cau se o f a fancie d conn e cti on b e tw een thi s wor d and

ano th er d e s ignating a s p e ci e s o f w or m M any h ave as s o
.

ciate d th e H eb r e w s h amir with th e G r e e k mb or emery a er

,
.

Th e H eb r e w s h amir and th e Gr ee k d édfl s w er e b o th u se d a

me t aphor ical ly of h ar dne ss of h e ar t and impl acabil ity Th e .

H eb r e w p r oph e t Z e ch ariah ( vii 1 2 ) s ay s o f th e di sob e di ent

,

J ews th at th ey made the i r h e ar t s as an ad am ant s tone

“ ”

( s h amir ) and th e Gr e ek p oe t Th e o cr itu s ( fl 228 R C ) call s

, . .

Plut o th e god of th e infe rnal r egi ons th e ad amas in

, ,
“

H ades . Thi s cl ear ly sh ow s th at invincibl e h ar dne s s w as

th e c omm on ch ar act e r i s tic of th e mate rial d e signat e d by
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C G E MS 9

the se wor ds H oweve r it app e ar s pr ob abl e th at while

.
,

s h amir s ignifi e s a f orm of c o r undum th e w o r d a d amas as , ,

u se d by th e e ar ly Gr e ek wri t er s d eno te d a h ar d metal l ic , ,

s ub s tance . P o ssibly when i r on fir s t b e came known to th e

,

Gr e e k s th e adj e ctive d ’ fl w e i d it bl e w as ap
m ” ‘
'

, n o a ra a vr o
, ,

pli e d to it and l ater th e noun ad amas w as formed fr om this

,

adj e ctive and w as u s e d by th e p oe t s to s i gnify an imaginar y

sub s t anc e e v en h ar d er th an i r on ; h enc e wh en th e di amond ,

b e c ame known in Gr eek land s its extr eme har dness su g ,

gest e d th e application to it of this nam e .

15

An Ar ab l e gend c onc e r ning th e f abl e d s h amir stone is

r e l at e d by C az w ini in hi s c o smo gr aphy Wh en King S ol o .

mon s et ab out building th e t empl e in J er u s al em be com ,

mand e d S at an to d r ess th e s tones that w er e to be u s e d but ,

th e w or k w as p er form e d with s uch d emoni ac e ne r gy th at

th e p eople r ound ab out c ompl aine d bitte r ly of th e d r e a dful
noi s e . T o r em edy thi s tr oubl e S ol omon s ought th e council ,

of th e le ading s c r ib e s and al s o th at of th e e vil s pi r it s k nown

as I f r ite s and J inns None o f th em h ow ever w as abl e to

.
, ,

h elp h im in this d ifiicul ty bu t one of them advi se d h im to ,

qu e sti on an ap o st at e name d S ahr w h o sometimes h ad S p e ci al ,

knowl e dge of s uch things Wh en cal l e d up on f o r hi s opini on

.
,

Sah r d e cl ar e d th at h e knew o f a s t one th at w ould d o th e

wor k r e quir e d but did not know wher e it co uld be found ;
,

nev e r th e l e ss h e b eli ev e d th at by a s t r at ag em h e could se , ,

cur e p osse ssion of it H e the r e up on or de r ed that an eagle s

.
’

nes t with its e ggs sh ould be b r ought to h im and al s o a b o ttl e ,

S hap e d ve sse l mad e of v e r y s tr ong glass Int o thi s h e .

slipp e d th e e gg s put th em b ack i nt o th e nes t and h ad ne st

, ,

and e ggs r e plac e d wh e r e th e y h ad b e en f ound When th e .

1”
S e e Pin der ,
De d
t Bero l ini 1829 pp 70 sqq Wh th e us e of
a aman e, , , . .
,
er e

th e wor d ad amas to d es ignate ir on is said to ha ve been conj ctur e d by e

S chneid er in h is A nal cta ad h is t r ei met pp 5 6 A dama as a man s ’

e . . .
, . s
,

name o ccu r s in th e I l iad x ii 140 and xiii 5 60

”
.
, , ,
10 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

ea gl e r e tu r ne d to th e ne s t it encount e r e d thi s ob s tacle In .

vain it str uck at th e v ess e l with cl aws and b e ak ; afte r r e

pe ate d e f fo rt s it flew aw ay but cam e b ack o n th e se cond ,

d ay h olding a pi e c e of s t one in its b e ak whi ch it l et f al l up on ,

th e v e ss e l b r e aking th e l att e r int o tw o h alves with out pr o

,

d u cing any s ound Up on thi s S o l omon w h o knew th e

.
, ,

langu age of b e ast s and bir d s ask e d th e e agle wh er e it h ad ,

s e cu r e d th e s t one Th e bi r d answ er e d
. 0 P r oph e t of G o d : ,

in a mount ain in th e We s t c all e d th e S amu r Mount ain ”

.

Thi s w as indic ati on enough to th e wi se king w h o summ on ,

ing th e J inns to h is aid s o on h ad in J e r u s al em a pl e ntiful,

s upply of th e se s ami w or s h amir s t one s with which th e w or k

‘

, ,

of s h aping and p o li s hing th e bl o ck s f or th e t empl e w as

noi se l ess ly p e r f or me d .
16

F ull and p r e ci s e di r e cti ons ar e gi v en by th e ol d auth or

iti es as to th e p r op e r w ay to s e cu r e p os s e s si on of th e stone
call e d cor via On th e C al end s or fir s t d ay Of Ap r il e ggs
.
,

ar e to be t ak en ou t o f a c r ow s nes t and b oil e d u ntil th e y

ar e quit e h ar d ; th ey ar e th e n to be all ow e d to c ool o f f and

ar e r epl a c e d in th e ne s t Th e femal e bi r d not e s th at th e

.

e gg s have b e en t amp e r e d with and fli e s away in s e ar ch o f

th e cor via s t one -

Wh en sh e h as found it S h e b e ar s it to
.
,

th e ne s t and as s o on as it t ouch e s th e e gg s th ey b e c ome

,

fr e sh and fe r til e again Thi s is th e au spici ou s m oment f or

.

s e cu r ing th e s t o ne which mu s t be quickly t aken f r om th e

,

ne s t e l s e it w o uld l os e its vi r tu e Th e lucky owne r o f th e .

17

s t one is p r omi se d i ncr e ase o f w e alth and h ono r s and th e ,

p owe r to r e ad th e futu r e .

Th e f abl e d gem b e ar i ng d r agons o f Indi a we r e said to

-

h av e sometim e s fall en victims to th e ench ante r s art C er ’

.

1"
Juliu Ru k
s s a, D as S t inbuch au s d er K mog aph ie d e M uh ammad ibn
e os r s

M ahmud al Kaz w ini, B eil age to th e Jah e sbe ich t f th e Ob r a l schul e H eid e l
r r o e re

berg , 1 89 5—9 6 .

ll
Cami i Leonar i, d S p eculum lapidum Venet ia , , 1502, £01 . x xix .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C G E M S 11

tain mys tic char act e r s we r e w oven in thr e ad o f gold upon

a s c ar l e t cl oth an d thi s cl o th w as S p r e ad by th e hunt e r s
,

b e fo r e th e d r agon s d en Wh en th e cr e atu r e eme r ge d h is

’
.
,

e y es w er e fas cinat e d by th e s t r ange l e tt e r s in which th e

e nch ant e r h ad i nf u s e d a w o nd e r ful s o o r ifi c p o w e r Hyp

p .

no tiz e d by th e s ight th e d r ag on w ould f all i nt o a d e e p

,

s lu mb e r and th e hu nt e r s w ould r u s h up on h im an d s ev e r

his he ad fr om h is b o dy Within th e he ad we r e found .

gems o f b r illiant h u e s ome of th e s e p o ssessing th e p owe r

,

of r e nd e r i ng th e w ea r e r invi s ibl e 18
.

Th e “
G em of S o vr anty or th e G em of th e K ing of ,
” “

K i ng s ” may hav e b een a pu r e ly p oe tic H indu fancy o r

, ,

p o ssibly m ay h ave b e en th e diamond Its su rp as sing qu al ity .

is e mph as iz e d by th e d e cl ar ati on th at though th e e ar th

p r o duce d th e s apphi r e th e cat s eye th e top az th e r uby
,
’
-
, , ,

and th e tw o m y s tic g ems th e f av or it e o f th e su n and th e , ,

favo r ite of th e m o on th e Gem of th e King of Kings w as,

ackno wl e dge d to be th e chi e f o f al l f o r th e sh e en of that “

j ew e l s p r e ad s r ound ab out f or a le agu e on e ve r y sid e .

”

To Ki ng M ilind a th e fo ll ow ing qu es ti on w as put S upp o s e :

“

that on th e di s app e ar ance of a s ovr an ov e r l or d th e mystic ,

G em o f S ov r anty l ay c onc e al e d in a cl e ft on th e mou nta i n

p e ak and th at on an othe r s ovr an ove r l or d ar r iving at th e
,

s up r em e di gnity it s h ould app e ar to h im w ould you s ay , ,

0 K ing th at th e gem w as p r o duc e d by m? C er t ainly

”
,
h i
r e pli e d th e m o nar ch th e gem w ould be in its
“
no t s ir
, , ,

o r i gi na l c ondi ti on B u t it h ad r e c e iv e d as it we r e a new
.
, ,

bi r th th r ough h im ”
.
19

Th e A r abi an auth or Ibn A l B e ith ar ( b ca 11 9 7 ,

-
. .

d es cri b es a s t one calle d in A r abic h aj er al kel b or d og “ -

,

t
s one .
”
Th e s e s t one s h ad such attr acti on f or d o g s of a

1“
Ph l o st ati
i Vit a A pol l onii Lib iii cap 8
r ,
”
.
, . .

Th Q u s t ons of King M il ind a

,

e e i t ans by T W , r . . . R hys Da i v ds ; Sa cr ed
Book s o f th E ast v l xx xv i Ox f or d 189 4 pp 14 3 03
e , o . , , , .
, .
12 TH E M GI C OF A JE W E LS A ND CH RMS A
ce rtain b r eed that when cas t b e fo r e th em they w ould snap
th em up bite them and h old th em in th ei r j aw s Th e
, ,
.

magici ans s aw in thi s a p r oof th at th e stones would p r oduce

enmity and ill will am o ng m en -
H aving s e le cte d s even such .

s tone s th ey mar ke d th e m wi th th e name s of any p ers ons

b e tween whom they wi sh e d to s tir up stri fe Th e seven .

s t one s w er e th en thr o wn one by one b e for e a d o g of th e

r e qui s it e S p e ci e s and aft e r h e h ad bitt en them tw o w er e

, , ,

chos en and wer e place d in water of which th e p er s ons w h o

wer e to be set at var i an ce we r e s ur e to dr ink We ar e .

assu r e d that th e e xp e r im e nt h ad th e d es i r e d e vil r esult

20
.

In anci ent time s th er e w as found in th e r iv er Meand er

a s t one s ati ri c ally nam e d s op h r on temp er at e If it wer e “
.
,

pl ace d up on th e b r e as t of any one h e imm e di ately b ec ame ,

enr age d and kill e d one o f hi s p ar ent s ; h ow ev e r aft er having ,

app e ase d th e M oth e r of th e G o d s h e w as cu r e d of his ,

temp or ar y madness .
21

A most S ingul ar s t one is de s cr ib ed by Th omas d e

Cantimpr é und er th e name o f “
pir oph ol os
”
Thi s sub .

st anc e acc or di ng to K onr ad vo n Me genber g s v e r si on w as

’
, ,

t aken fr om th e hear t of a man w h o h ad b een p oi sone d “ be ,

c au se th e h ear t of such a m an cannot be burne d in fi r e ”

If .

th e h ear t wer e k ept f o r nine ye ars in fi r e thi s w onder ful

s t one w as p r o duc e d It gave p r o t e cti on fr om lightning but
.
,

its p r inci pal vi r tu e w as to gu ar d th e w ear er fr om sudd en

d eath ; indeed w e ar e told that a man could not die so long
,

as h e h e ld thi s s t one in his h and H o we ver it did not pr e .

,

s e r ve him fr om di s e ase but onl y p r o l onge d his life

, Th e .

s t one w as s aid to be of a light and b ri ght r ed c ol or 22

.

t pl es o f Ibn A l B e ith ar in Notices et E xtr ait s d es Manu

Tr ai é d es Sim -
,

c t bl th que Nati nal s vol x iii p 409 ; Par is 1877

s r i e d e l a Bi io e o , .
, .
, .

”
ly
D e Me , “ L e t r aité d es fi euves d e Pl utar ch e in Revu e d es Etudes ,
”

G recqu v
e s, vol . p 332 . .

”
Konr ad von Megenb g B uch d er Natu r
er , ed by Dr Fr anz Pf eifi er , . .
‘

S tuttgar t 186 1 p 45 6
, , . .
14 TH E M GI C OF A JE WE L S A ND CH ARMS
intoth e futu r e H ence P onc e d e L e on s qu es t f or th e Foun
.
’ ‘

t ain of Youth in ou r F lor ida But in addition to thi s

”
.
,

th er e h as ever b e en an intense d e sir e to fi nd s ome thing by

me ans of whi ch go ld co uld be mad e ou t of th e b as er me t al s ,

f or youth and vigor if c oupl ed with p o ve r ty ar e only h alf

, ,

blessings Th e s e ar ch f or th e Phil o s o ph er s S t one ap

.
“ ’

p e ar s to hav e b e en a mo r e o r le s s aiml es s pu r suit of thi s end ;

but th er e can be no doubt th at thi s s ear ch l e d to th e di s c ov er y
o f many new s ub s tance s and r e acti ons and h e lp e d to l ay ,

th e f ound ati on of ou r mo dern ch emi s tr y Wh e th er th e .

cons ciou s aim of th e alchemi s t w as th e di s cov er y of an

actu al s t one or mer e ly th e di s c ove r y o f s om e p r o c e ss f o r
,

tu rning a valu e le ss sub st ance into o ne of gr e at valu e is not ,

cle ar ly as cer t ainable fr om th e pu r p ose ly vague and obscur e

tr e ati se s on al ch emy .

Th e Phil os oph er s S t one

“ ’ ”
th e fond d r e am of so many
,

w h o d e lve d into natu r e s mys t er i e s in th e p as t d oes not

’
,

s eem s o imp r obabl e t o d ay as it did tw enty yea r s ago Th e .

r e ce nt di s cov e r y o f th e e l ement r adium which is p r o duc e d ,

fr om th e e l ement u r anium and th e s tor y of th e s tr ange and

,

p r o tean ch ange s of r adium into h e lium ne on and ar gon , ,

acco r ding to th e e nvir onm ent in which it is pl ac e d h av e ,

given th e de ath blow to th e O l d id e a of th e immutability

-

of th e e l em ents .S till whil e w e h av e b een allowe d thi s p ee p

,

int o th e s tor ehou se of natu r e s se cr e t s and ar e gr owing to

’
,

b e li e ve th at in e ons of time th e v ar i ou s di ff e r ent e l ement s

may h ave b een e volve d succ es s ive ly fr om one ano th e r th e
, , ,

p owe r to pr ov ok e thi s ch ange at will and in a b ri e f sp ac e

of time is as ye t withh e ld f r om u s and may ne v e r be giv en ,

to u s ju s t as little as th e p ow e r to s e nd me ss age s to th e
,

di st ant S ph er e s wh os e bulk density and c omp ositi on w e can

, ,

e s tim at e with a c onsid er abl e d e g r e e of accu r acy .

Numer ou s sp e cimens s till exi st of wh at is all e ge d to

be ar tifici al gold mad e by th e alch emi s t s of a p as t age Of .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C G E MS 15

all th es e th e mos t t
s r ik ing is a l ar ge me dal li on, b e aring in
re lief th e h eads of E mp er or L eop old and h is anc es t o r s of
th e H ou se OfH ap sbu r g I t is r e l ate d th at
. on th e nam e
d ay of th e emp e r o r in 16 77 , thi s m e d alli o n
-
iginally of or
,

S ilver and we ighi ng 7 250 g r ai ns w as t r ansmut e d int o gold

,

by Wenz e l S e il e r a note d alchemi s t of that time Thi s

, .

wonder w as p er forme d in full vi ew of th e emp er or and

his c ou r ti e r s by dip ping th e me d al li on in a soluti on A s
, .

th e r e ar e fou r no tche s on th e e dge it h as b een conj e ctu r e d ,

th at thes e we r e mad e to se cu r e m ate r ia l f or te sting th e

qu ality o f th e tr ans fo rme d me tal H ow eve r th e s impl e t es t .
,

o f s p ecific g r avity s ho w s th at th e me t al c anno t be go ld f or

,

acc o r ding to B au e r s c alcul ati on mad e in 1883 th e me dal li on

’
,

h as a s p e cific gr avity o f b e twe en th at of s ilve r

and tha t o f g o ld Thi s might indicat e th at in s ome
unexplaine d w ay th e alch emi st h ad succe e de d in pr ecipitat
ing a co ating of go ld up on th e fac e of th e obj e ct It s eems .

p r ob abl e th at th e de cepti on w as s oon di s cove r e d f or S eile r , ,

w h o h ad b ee n kni ght e d on S e pt emb e r 16 1 6 76 w as e xil ed , ,

by or d er of E mp er or Le opold not long after th e d at e on ,

which th e suppose d t r an smutation is s ai d to h ave t ak en

pl ace .

A n e xce e dingly r ar e me d al and one of gr e at int er e st to

,

s tud ent s O f alch e my w as s tr uck in 1647 by or d er Of E m

,

p er or F e r dinand III fr om gold pr o duc e d in h is p r e sence

by J oh ann P e t er H o fmann a master of th e alch emical ar t
,
.

A S p e cimen of thi s medal is in th e Impe r i al C abine t of C oins

in Vi enna On th e obv er s e ar ound tw o s hi e ld s one b e ar
.
27
, ,

ing e ight fl eu r s d e l is and th e oth er th e figu r e of a li on ar e

- -
,

tw o h er me ti c ins cri pti ons : LIL IA C U M NI VE O C OPU L AN T U R

F U LVA L E ONE ( ye ll ow lili es l ie down with th e sno w whit e -

lion) and S IC LE O MA NS U E SCET S IC LrL rA FUL VA VIRE SCE N T

,

7'
Nu tz l ich e Ve s uche u nd Bemerkungen au s d
r e m R eich d er Natur , Niir n
ber g , 1 7 6 0; cite d by B o lton .
16 TH E MAGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C HARM S

( thu s will th e lion be tame d and thu s w il l th e yellow lil i es

fl ou r i sh ) Ar ound a cr own su r m ounting th e tw o shie lds
.

app e ar th e ini ti al l e tt e r s I P H V N F indicating L atin . . . . . .

,

wo r ds th e s ens e of which is Joh anne s P e tr u s H ofmann a “

Nu r embe r gian subj e ct mad e it ”

and al so th e l e tt e r s ,

T G V L int end e d to s i gnify tintu r ce gu ttae v l ibr am o r

,
.
,

fi ve dr op s o f th e tinctu r e [ t r ansmut e d ] a p ound

”
Th e .

r e v e r s e h as L atin w o r d s d e no ti ng th at i r on w as th e b as e o f

thi s tinctu r e th e symb ol s u s e d f o r l ead tin copp er mer cu r y

, , , , ,

silv er and go ld b e ing e ach acc omp ani e d by a c r yp tic d e cl ar a

ti on that Mar s ( i r on) h ad contr olle d th e r e sp e ctive me t al .

28

B e s id e s th e Phil o s opher s S tone th e chi ef Obj e ct of

“ ’ ”
,

th e i r qu e s t th e alch emi st s b eli e ve d that s e v e r al other s t one s

,

p os se s sing magi c vir tu es could be p r o duce d Among th e se .

ange lic al s t o e which gav e p owe r to se e th e

“ ”
w as th e n ,

ange l s in d r e am s and vi s i ons and al so th e mine r al s t one

“ ”
, ,

a sub s t anc e by me ans O f which c omm on flints c o uld be t r ans

mut e d int o d i am o nd s r ubi e s s apphi r e s eme r ald s etc

, , , ,
29
.

P os sibly s ome alchemis t s we r e gl assmak er s and fu se d th e ,

qu ar tz with v ar i ou s mine r al salts int o imitati ons of th e

gems h aving th e colo r s but not th e har dness or o ther
, ,

p r op e r ti es .

One of th e s tr ange s t f anci e s as to th e me dicinal eff icacy

o f s t ones is t h at h e ld by th e nativ e Au s t r ali ans w h o b e li e ve ,

that cr ys tal s ar e emb e dde d in th e b o di es of the ir me di

“ ”

cine men Thi s b eli ef is encou r age d by th e me dicine men

-
.
-

themse lve s ; inde e d they ar e supp ose d only to r e tain th e ir

,

p ower s o long as the se atnongam or ul tund a s t one s r emain

in th ei r b odi e s and a s h ar e of th e ir might can be t r ans
,

mitted by t r ans fe r ri ng cer t ain of th e s tone s fr om the i r

”
Bo lton , Co n t ibut i ns
r o of A lchemy u
to N m ism a i t cs , New Yor k , 1890,
pp . 17 , 18 .

h
A s mo l e, h eatr um ch emicum
T Br itt anicu m,
”
Lo n don , 1 6 5 2, pp 4—6
. .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND ELE C TRI C GE MS 17

own b odies to that of ano ther . Th e ce r em ony p r o ce eds as

foll ows 3°

Th e Nu ng—gar a [me dicine men] th en withdr e w f r om their b odies a

-

n umber of small cle ar cry stals c al le d Ul tund a which wer e p l ace d one by one,
as th e y wer e e xt r act e d in th e h ol l ow O f a s p e ar th r ow e r
, Whe n a s uf fic ient -
.

nu mb er h ad b een W ith dr awn th e Nu ng gar a dir e cte d th e man w h o h ad

,
-

come with them to cl as p th e c andidate f r om b ehind and to h old him tightly .

Th en e ach of th em p ic ke d up s ome c ryst als and t aking h old of a l eg gr ipp e d , ,

th e s t ones fir mly and p r esse d th em s lowly and st r ongly al ong th e f r ont of

th e l eg and th en up th e b o dy as h igh as th e b r e as t b one This w as r e p e ate d -
.

thr ee times th e skin be ing sc or e d at inter val s with s cr atches f r om whic h

, ,

blood flowe d By this means th e magic cr ystal s ar e s up p ose d to be f or ce d

.

into th e b o dy o f th e man A f t er whic h e ac h of them p r esse d a cr yst al

.

on th e h ead of th e nov ic e and s tr uc k it h ar d th e id e a b eing to d r ive it int o ,

th e s k ul l th e s c alp b eing mad e to bl ee d dur ing th e p r oc ess

,
.

One of th e Nung gar a th en withdrew f r om h is skul l just be hind his

-

e ar ( th at is h e t old th e no v ic e th at h e ke pt it th er e ) a thin and sh ar p

, .

Ul tund a and t aking up some dus t f r om th e gr ound dr ie d th e man s t ongue

, ,
’

with it and then pulling it out as f ar as p ossibl e h e made with th e st one

, , ,

an inc is ion almos t h al f an inch in l e ngth .

Th e mes tz cas of th e Mal ay s p r esent clas s of stones

'

re a

dif f e r ing in imp or t ant pe cts fr om th e r es var iou s typ e s Of

b e z oar s A p ri ncip al distinction is that th e mes tico s ar e not
.

supp o s e d to ow e th e i r o r i gin to p ath ol o gical conditi ons in

th e o r gani sm wh er e in th e y o ccu r but r ath e r to a s up er ,

abu nd anc e o f th e no r mal and h e althy c ons titu e nt s of th e

ani mal or pl ant I t is p r ob ably d u e to thi s th at th e vi r tu e s

.

of th ese p ar ticul ar co nc r e ti o ns ar e r ath er t ali smanic th an

the r ape utic and that they ar e b e li eve d to endow th e finder

, ,

or one w h o r e c e ive s th em by gift with cou r ag e immunity , ,

fr om inju r y and al so with cunning and shr ewd nes s in th e

,

aff ai r s of life E sp e ci al ly by w ar ri or s ar e th e se s t one s

.

highly valu ed f or th e y ar e supp ose d to p r ot e ct th e we ar e r

,

fr om wound s ; inde e d thi s b eli e f sometim e s went so f ar as ,

Sp ence r and Gi llen , Th e Na i t ve Tr i be s of C en tr al A ustr al ia , d on

Lo n ,

1899 , pp 5 25 529
.
-
.

2
18 THE MA GI C OF JE WE L S A ND CH ARMS

to le ad th e Malays to think th at ab s olute invulner ability

w as confe rr e d on one w h o c ar r i e d s e ve r a l of th em b ound
so cl o s e ly to th e skin th at in s ome c as e s th e y e v en p ene t r at e d

th e fl esh Th e typical m es ttca is d e s c r ib e d as a h ar d s t one

. .
,

b r illi ant but se ldom t r ansp ar ent ; it is found in th e fl es h or

f at in th e h e art or on th e l e gs of animal s and al s o some
, ,

time s in plant s .
31

Ru mph iu s d e cl ar es th at many extr aor dinar y cas e s we r e

r e l at e d o f w ar ri o r s w h o c ould not be inju r e d by any w e ap ons

until th e m es tz ca h ad b e en cut out of the ir fl e sh wh e r e in it

’

h ad b e com e e mb e dd e d Ind e e d h e s t at e s th at D utch offi ce r s

.
,

o f p r ove d ve r acity h ad c onfid ently as s e r t e d th at th e y h ad

en counter e d such men among thei r native antagoni s ts .

W hil e Rumphiu s fe e ls him se lf the r e for e fo r ce d to admit

th e tr uth o f th e invulne r ability Of th es e men h e h as t ens ,

to add th at s uch p o we r s c ould not be i nh e r ent in any pi e c e

of s t one but mu s t ow e th e i r o rigin to di ab o lic al ag enci e s
,
?2

Th e fact th at th e Mo h amm e d ans h ad th ei r mes ticas bl e ss ed

by th e p r i e st s of the i r faith and bu r ne d incense b eneath
,

them on F rid ays th e Mohamme dan e quival ent Of th e

,

C h r i s ti an S und ay did no t p r ob ably sh ak e th e b e li e f Of

,

Ru mphiu s th at th e De vil h ad s ome thing to d o with th e se

s ub s t anc e s .

Th e me dicine men of th e K ainu ga Indians of P ar agu ay

-

mutt e r incant ati ons ove r th e b o di e s of th e S ick and th en , ,

aft er many s t r uggl e s and c ont or ti ons p r o c e e d to e xt r act

,

st ones fr om th e i r mouth s cl aiming th at th e y h ave t ak en th e

,

p ati ent s di s ease int o th ei r ow n b odi e s th e s t one s b e i ng

’
,

r e gar d e d as th e se at of th e ailm e nt In one case th e me di

.
,

cine —man p r oduce d fi ve o f th e s e st one s b e for e th e p atient

admi tt e d th at h is p ai n w as r e li ev e d Aft e r th e cur e w as
.

“
R umph iu s , D A mbo nisch e Ra r it eit sk amer ,
’
t r dam
A ms e , 17 4 1, p 29 1
. .

Ru mph iu s, D A mbonisch e Ra r it e itskamer , Amster d am pp 2 9 1

’
, 174 1, .
,
20 TH E M AGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
ar e gather e d and ar e valu abl e to thos e w h o m ak e a bu sine s s
,

of s e lling t h e m b e c au s e th e whit e o p aqu e p e bbl e s b e c om e

,

tr ans luc e nt aft er cutting o r r ath e r du r ing th e p r o c e ss of , ,

cutting and th ey ar e then p as s e d Off f or m o onst one s which

, ,

ar e w o r th f r om one thi r d to one h alf m o r e th an th e c o s t o f

- -

cutting th e qu ar tz p ebbl e s th e pu r ch as e r b eing l e d to b eli eve ,

th at h e is ge tting a mo onst one alth ough thi s c ould not be ,

p o ssibl e s ince m o onst one s h av e nev e r b e en f ound on e ith e r

,

th e e as t e rn or th e w e s t e r n c o as t of th e Unit e d S t at e s A S f o r
’
.

th e cut m o ons t one s which ar e b r ought b ack by th e t ou ri s t ,

und e r th e imp r e s sron th at h e is ge tting native m ate r i al and

wo r kmanship th e s e al l c om e fr om E u r o p e
,
.

P ebbl e mani a is not co nfine d to m ankind al one B i r d s

-
.

and anim al s p os se ss it Th e magpi e pick s up and hide s .

aw ay b r ight obj e ct s i ncludi ng o d d p e bbl e s or c a ,

r r i e s th em ,

to its ne s t Th e s t one s known as a e tite s w e r e s aid to be

.

f ound in e agl e s ne st s alth ough th ey m ay h ave b e en sw al

’
,

l owe d by th e bi r d s f or dige s tiv e pu r p o s e s ju s t as th e h en s ,

’

cr o p is full of s t one s m any O f th em b eing tr ansp ar ent a , ,

p r o o f that th e fowl h ad b e en attr act e d by th em and h ad sw al ,

l owe d th e s e in p r e fe r ence to o th e r dull e r o ne s Not abl e , .

ins tanc e s o f tr ansp ar ent p ebbl e s ar e th e al e ctor ii or cock “

,

s t one s
”
.

Th e g r e at I t ali an go ld sm ith and s culpt or B env enut o C e l ,

lini ( 1500 r e l at es th at wh e n a y outh h e o ft en s h o t

cr ane s with h is ar qu ebu s e and th at in s eve r al inst ance s h e ,

found in the i r entr ail s not only fi ne tu r qu oi s e s but al s o fr ag ,

me nt s o f th e s o c all e d pl asm a e me r ald and e ve n o cc asi onally

- -

s m all p e ar l s Thi s s e r v e s to i ndic at e th at th e p r e tty ext e r i or

.

o f such O bj e ct s e x e r t e d an i nflu e nc e up on th e se bi r d s in s ome

d e gr ee anal o gou s to th e imp r e ssi ons ar o u s e d in m ankind on

vi ewing th em 35
.

8“
B en v nut
e oC e ini ll
Du e r a , t tt ati u n , o t
in or no a ll e o tt p
o r in cip al i ar ti
d ll
e
’
o r efi ce r ia,
”
et c , Fior e nz e , V a e n
. l te Pani z z i M ar co Pe r i, 1 5 68 iii ]
, . 10 r e ct o .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C G E MS 21

In vent e e nth centur y Denmar k ther e se ems to hav e

se

b een no lack o f magic s tones ” f or it is r e l ate d that one

“
,

d ay as King C h r i sti an II w a s s tr olling al ong th e b e ach h e ,

picke d up a shining p ebbl e by th e ai d of which h e could

r e nd er him s e lf invi s ibl e at will S imil ar p owe r w as s aid to
.

e xi s t in s t o ne s th at c o uld be f ou nd in ant hill s if h ot w at e r -

we r e thr own ont o th em on S t W alpu r gis D ay o r S t Han s .

,
.
’

D ay Th e D an e s o f th e tim e al s o s h ar e d in th e b e li e f th at
.

th e s t one fr om th e l apwing p r e s e r v e d f r om ill ne ss and s or

r ow as did th e s w all o w s s t o e as w e ll
“ ” ’ 36
n -
.

I t h as fr e qu ently b e en mai nt aine d th at th e s ou r ce of p eb

ble s could be b r oadly d e te rmine d by th ei r fo r m and su r face ;
f or e x ampl e w e ll r ou nd e d sp e cim ens of fai r ly unifo r m s iz e
,
-

would be classe d as mar ine p ebbl e s whil e r ive r p ebble s ,

-

would be sub angular and u su ally flat ; p ebble s of gl aci al o r i

gin on th e o th e r h and w ould h av e f ac e t e d r ound e d e dge s
, , , ,

the i r su r face s b e ing p oli she d and st r i at e d H oweve r al .

,

th ough th e se r ul e s might h old good in many cas e s car e ful ,

ob ser vati on h as d e m o ns t r at e d th at p e bbl e s o f al l th e s e su p

p o s e dl y di s tinct typ e s can be found am ong th o se o f m ari ne ,

flu viatil e or l acu s t r ine o r igin Thi s is e xplic abl e by th e f act

,
.

that whil e th e constant unhind e r e d acti on of s e a Or r ive r

,

would p r ob ably p r o duce p ebbl es o f di s tinct typ e th e l oc al ,

conditi ons O ft en int e r fe r e with thi s F or ins tanc e on a l ow .

,

s e a c o as t with w e ak w av e acti on p e bbl e s f r e qu e ntly b e c am e

-
,
-

bu r i e d in th e s and s thu s r e taining th e i r fo r m p r actically

,

unch ange d and e ven wh e r e th e wave s ar e s tr o nge r s o th at

, ,

th e p ebbl es ar e mo r e or l e s s cons t antly e xp ose d to th ei r

f or c e it mu s t be b orne in mind th at som e of th e se c o as t
,

p ebbl e s h ave b e en swept d own by r ive r s o r h ave al r e ady ,

bee n af f e cte d by gl aci al acti o n In th e se c as e s th e for c e of

.

l
G ar boe ,
Ax e Ku l tu r h istor iske S tud v
ie r o er jEd e l ste ne , m e d saer l igi:
Henbl i p
k aa d e t I 7 A a r h u nd
. r ed e
”
, b h v
Ko en a n 0 g Kr ist rania, 19 15 , , 225 cit p
ing a man s r i
. u c pt y l b
in t h e R o a L i r ar at C o e n a e n y p h g .
22 TH E M AGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
th e wave s wi ll indee d m odify th e fo r m but al ong th e lines ,

of that al r e ady p r o duc e d by th e e ar li e r ag e nci e s B r o adl y .

s t ate d tho s e th at w e r e r o und o r o val w o uld ge ne r al ly r e

,

main s o r e ct angular f r a gment s might h av e th ei r angl e s

,

wo r n away and b e come e lliptical whil e flat fr agments would ,

not e xhibit any no t abl e change in sh ap e .

37

When a gr oup of p ebbl e s h ave b e en l ong e xp o s e d to attri

tion by th e wate r s of a p owe r ful s tr e am es p e ci ally wh e r e th e ,

cu r r e nt is inte rmittent and whe r e a l ar ge qu antity of s and

-

h as b e e n w o r k e d or bl own int o th e s t r e am by fr e s h e t o r wi nd
s t o r m th e y m ay b e c om e r o u nd e d by th e e r o s ive acti o n o f th e
,

wat e r o r by th e ab r asive p owe r of th e sand as we ll as by th e ,

a tt r iti on c onse qu ent up on th e i r s h ar p c ont act with one an

o th er Thi s is e x emplifi e d in th e c as e of b oulde r s in a ri v e r

.

be d it h aving b e e n no te d in ce r t ai n s tr e am s on th e Navaj o
,

R e ser v ati on th at whil e th e up s t r e am s id e s of th e b ould e r s

w er e p oli sh e d and r ound e d and e v en s om e tim e s face t e d and ,

e tch e d but littl e chang e w a s ob s e r vabl e o n th e d ow ns t r e am

,

S id e s Thi s h as b een t e s t e d e xp e r iment ally h ol e s an inch

.
,

in d e pth h aving b e en d r ill e d in Opp o s it e s id e s o f s and s t one

b ould er s and on ex aminati on fi ve y e ar s l at e r in fi ve dif f e r e nt
,

l o calitie s wh e r e thi s h ad b e en done th e d eep es t h ol e r emain ,

ing on th e up s t r e am s id e s m e asu r e d but f ou r t enth s of an —

inch whil e in one l o cality th e h ol e s h ad e ntir ely di s app e ar e d

, ,

an d ye t s o t r ifling w as th e e f fe ct o f th e w at e r o n th e d own

s t r e am s id e th at a blu e p encil mar k h ad no t b e en w as h e d

’
-

aw ay Of c ou r se th e e r o s i on Of qu ar tzit e and lime s t o ne

.
,

b ould e r s teste d in thi s w ay p r ov e d to be a much sl ower

p r oce ss amounting to l ess than one hundr e dth o f an inch
,
-

annu ally Anoth er imp or tant consid er ati on in th e sh aping

.

Of p ebbl e s by r ive r w at e r is th e s wiftne s s o f th e cu r r ent

-
,

b t E G egory Not n th Sh ap
S ee H er er . r e o e e of Pe bbl e s, c
in Th e A me r i an
Jou l c ce v l xxx ix pp 3 00—3 04 ; M ar ch
,

r na o f S ien , o .
, .
, 19 1 5 a l ucc d
so f or tw o s ee

ing p a ag aph r r s.
 MA GI C S TONE S A ND E LE C TRI C G E M S 23

it having b e en no te d f or ins tance th at tho se which h ave

, ,

b e en washe d down th e s t e e p S lop e s of th e Navaj o Mountain

and th e e dge of th e B l ack M e sa ar e some wh at b e tt e r r ound e d

th an tho se that hav e b een h om e al ong f or a much gr e at er di s

tance by l e ss swi ft flow ing wat er -
.

Th at s tri ate d fac e t e d or p o li s h e d p e bbl es ar e always of

, ,

glacial ori gin o r that tho s e of gl aci al o r igi n u su ally o f fe r

,

th e s e char act e ri s tics is f ar fr om th e fact ; ind e e d it may ,

r ath er be s ai d th at th e y ar e gene r ally mi s sing Th e fluvio .

glaci al dr ift is much m or e wide spr e ad th an gr ound mor aine ,

and th e p ebbl es f ou nd in th e f orm er r ar e ly p r e s ent th e s e

as p e ct s ; ind e e d it h a s b e e n no t e d th at in an h ou r s s e ar ch
’
,

thr ough th e gl acial dr ift of C onne cticut only a single such ,

s p e cim en m ay be me t with On th e o th e r h and m any p ebbl e s

.
,

o f thi s typ e h av e b e e n f o und und e r c onditi ons pl ainly s h ow

ing th at th e s tr i ati on w as d u e to oth e r c au se s in s ome ,

ins t ance s as with th o se o ccu r ri ng in congl ome r at es to

, ,

p r e ssu r e and di ff er enti al mov em ent .

38

Th e bu r ying o f whit e s t one s or lump s of qu ar tz with

th e de ad w a s not i nfr e qu ent in e ar ly tim e s in I r e l and Th e .

p e as ant s of th e nor th of I r e l and call th e s e Go d stone s A .

ci st found at B ar nasr agh y C ounty S ligo w as ne ar ly filled , ,

with qu ar tz p e bbl e s and not l ong s inc e a whit e s t one w as

,

found in a p ri mitive bu r i al plac e ne ar L arne C ounty Antr im ,

.

Th at thi s w as a u s age c onfine d to th e e ar li e r p e r i o d of I r i sh

hi s t or y is gener ally admitt e d and th e dis cov e r y of such ,

white st one s in a gr ave is acc epte d as an indicati on th at it

b e longs to an e ar ly d ate .
39

I t h as b e en sugge s t e d th at th e se whit e s t one s w e r e u s e d

f or bu rial s b e c au s e of th e sym b o lic me aning of th e col or ,

‘8 b t g y
H er e r E G r e o r , No e on th e S a e of Pe
S ee t h p bbl es , in Th e A mer i can
Ju
.

l
o r na of S ien e , vol c c
x i , . x x x pp
3 03 , 3 04 ; M ar , 19 15 . ch .

d
W G Wo o M ar in, Tr a e s of th e E er Fai s
. .
- t c ld th of Ire l and ,
”
L on don ,

19 02, vo l i, 3 29
. p . .
24 THE MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H RMS A
which to th e minds of many p r imitive p e opl e s w as th at of
pu ri ty as indee d it is still among mos t mo de r n p eopl e s
, ,

alth ough th e s ymb o li sm may not alw ay s be c ons ci ou s ly ao

cepte d . Whi te mar bl e s eems to mo st of u s th e mo st ap

p r op r iate and b e autiful s t one f o r monument s and if to a ,

ve r y conside r abl e de gr e e gr anite is now u s e d as a sub s titute ,

this is p rincip ally b e cau se of its gr e ater r e si s t ance to th e

d e te ri o r ating ef fe ct Of atm osph e r ic change s Al r e ady in .

p r ehi s to r ic times th e cave dwelle r s s how e d a fondne s s f o r

,
—

gathe r ing qu artz cr y st als and fr agments and s p e cimens of ,

tho se tak en fr om th e Auv e r gne Mount ains h ave b een f ound

in th e cave dw e llings Of L e s E yzi es ; th e y may h ave b e en
-

u se d as am ul e ts or talismans 40
.

A l e gend O f th e gr e at I r i s h s aint Co lumb a give s an , ,

ins tance of th e cu r ative u se Of whi te p ebbl e s Afte r thi s .

s aint h ad vai nly e nt r e at e d B r o ich an th e D r uid to f r e e a

C h r isti an b ond maid en as a l as t r e sor t h e me nac e d th e d r uid

-
,

with app r o aching de ath Th e p r e dicti on o r cu r s e w as .

sp e e di ly on th e w ay to fulfilm ent B r o ich an s ick ene d unt o ,

de ath and in hi s t e r r o r consent e d to fr e e th e m ai d en H e r e

, .

up on S t C o lumb a went to th e r ive r Ne s s and picke d up

.

o u t o f its s h all ow s s ev er al whit e p ebbl es anno unci ng th at ,

the y would by th e L or d s p ower wo r k th e cu r e of h eathen

,
’
,

p e opl e One of th e s t ones w as ble ss e d by th e s aint and

.

plac e d in a ves se l fill e d with w ate r on th e su r face of whi ch ,

it flo ate d and as soon as B r oich an h ad t ak en a dr aught of th e

,

liquid h e w as r e st or e d to p e r fe ct h e alth .
41

A famou s S cotch amule t w as a p oli sh ed gl obul ar mass

of whit e qu ar tz an i nch and thr e e qu ar t e r s in di ame t er
,
-
,

o wne d by th e chi e f s O f C l an D onnach aidh and known as th e

I ibd . p 3 30
1 902 , vol . I , o . cit .,
p . .

Wh ite Quart P bbl es and th i A r cha log ical S ignifi

,
“
Nona L eb u r o , z e e r eo

cance r epr int f r om Tr ans actions o f th e Dumf r ies shir e and Gall way Natur al o

Hist o y and A nt iq ua ian S ocie ty Janu a y 3 0 19 1 4 p 1 1

r r , r , , . .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E CTRIC GE MS 25

S tone It h ad b ee n accid ental l y found by

of th e B anner .

a chi e f of thi s clan, w h o , o n his w ay to j oin R ob e r t B r uce

in 1315 , b efor e th e b attl e of B anno ckbu r n, not e d a glitter ing

s to ne emb e dd e d in a cl o d o f e ar th th at h ad b e c ome att ach e d

to hi s flagstafi It w as l ook e d up on as a p ower ful tali sman

.

in b attle , and wat er in which it h ad b een dipp e d w as said to

cu r e dise ases Tr adi ti on ass e r te d that this white st one of
.

C l an Do nnach aidh w as id entic al with th at u s e d long b e for e

by S C olumb
t a 42
. As uch white s tones wer e often d ep osite d
. s

in gr aves some times e v e n b e ing place d in th e mouth of a

,

de ce as ed p e r son it h as be en s ugge s te d that p er hap s th e ,

s p ar k s emitt e d by th e qu ar tz on p er cu ss i on w er e b elie ve d

to S h e d s ome faint gleams al ong th e d ar k p athway of th e

dep ar te d in h is j our ney to th e underwor ld In Chr i stian .

times ther e can be littl e doubt in r e gar d to th e influ e nce

e x e r ci s e d by th e t ext in e v l ati o : To h im th at ove r
“
R e n
come th I will giv e a whit e s t one and in th e s t one a ,

new name w r itten which no m an knowe th s av e h e that ,

r e c e ive th it
” 43
.

C r ys t al b al l s ar e not only v alu e d f or th e vi si ons to be

s ee n or s upp os e d to be s een in th em but ar e some tim es w orn
, ,

as amul e ts agains t illnes s In some p ar t s of Jap an th ey ar e .

thought to w ar d off dr op s y and their we ar is als o r ecom ,

mende d to gu ar d fr om al l w as ting di se as e s “ Th e lik eness .

of r o ck cr y s t al to conge al e d wate r may w ell be c r e di t e d in

-
,

th e d o ct r ine of symp athy with its put ative p ower of p r e ,

venting th e wat er y infil tr ati on fr om which a dr opsical p atient

s u f fe r s A S th e J ap ane se mak e many ch oice cr y st al b all s
. ,

th e s e obj e cts ar e gener ally mor e or l ess famili ar in that land

“
b d pp 13 and 14 c iting Pro ceedings of the S ociety of A ntiquar ies of
I i .
, . ,

S cotl and 1860— 1 vol iv pt i p 2 19

, , . , .
,
. .

‘3
I bid p 12 citing Pro cee di ngs o f th e S ocie ty of A ntiquar ies of S c tl an d
.
, .
,
o ,

186 0—1 vol iv pt i p 2 19

, . , .
, . .

William Thomas and Kate Pav itt Th B ok o f Tal ismans A mul ts and , e o , e

Z diacal Gems London 19 14 p 5 2

o ,
”
, , . .
26 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

and hav e thu s app e al e d as well to tho se w h o w er e s up er

s titiou s as to th o se w h o app r e ci at e d thi ng s b e autiful in th em

s e lve s.

In Yucat an qu ar tz c ry s t al s we r e not only u s e d f o r divin ~

ing but al so to ensu r e th e s ucc es s of th e c r o p s

,
Th e fact .

th at such cr y st al s hav e b een found in th e Indi an mounds

o f A r kans as No r th C ar olina and e l s ewh er e may w ar r ant
, , ,

th e s upp o s iti on th at th e y h ad b e en wo r n a s t ali smans and

then int e r r e d with th e de ce ase d p e r s ons as a mos t intimate
p ar t of their p r op e r ty Th e wr ite r s p e r s onal Ob s e r vati on
.
’

in Gar l and and M ontgome r y c ounti e s A r k ans as d e m on , ,

s tr ate d th at qu ar tz c r y st al s w e r e to be f o u nd in m o u nd s

t oge the r with chipp e d ar r ow p oint s of chalce dony alth ough

-
,

th e cr y s t al s did no t app e ar to h ave b een w or k e d in any w ay .

Th e r e gi on ab out H ot S p r i ngs A r k ansas h as fu r ni she d

, ,

s ome O f th e fine s t r o ck cr y st al f ou nd in th e Unit e d S t at es

-
.

F r om Nor th C ar olina al s o h av e c om e many r emar k abl e

s p e cimens th e l ar ge s t Of which f ou nd in 1 886 w as u nluckily
, ,
,

b r oken up by th e p e r s on w h o di scove r e d it In its cr ys t al .

s t at e it mu s t hav e w eighe d ab out 3 00 p o und s and if ou t ,

would h ave fu rni sh e d a cr ys tal b al l o r 5 inch e s in di am e

te r . Thi s spl endid c ry st al c am e fr om Phoenix M o unt ain ,

C h e s tnut H ill t o wns hip in A s h e C ounty No r th C ar o lina and

, , ,

f r om th e l ar g e s t fr agment r e c ov e r e d w e ighi ng 51 p ound s

, ,

se ver al s l ab s 8 inch e s s qu ar e and f r om half i nch to one inch

in thickne ss w e r e cut Ne ar by a c r ys t al w e ighing 285 p ou nd s

.

w as fo und and ano th e r w e ighi ng 1 88 p ound s

, S ome o f .

th e c r y s tal s fr om thi s l o cal ity h ad on one sid e a g r e en c o at

ing of chl o r it e and wh en thi s w as not r emov e d th e e fi ect
, ,

w as as th ough one s aw a gr een mo ss g r owi ng b e ne ath a p o o l

o f wat er . Th e r o ck c r y st al sl ab s h av e an adv ant age ov er
-

glass when u se d f or mir r or s as th ey mo r e tr uly r efl e ct th e

,

tints of a fi ne c omplexi on B ri lli ant cr yst al s fr om L ak e

.

Ge or ge and its neighb or h o o d h ave b e en call e d L ak e Geo r ge

28 TH E M AGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
To ano the r p o ssible conce ption al ong th e same line s w e h ave
al r eady allude d .

A n ins tance is r e p or t e d wh e r e a ver y cu r iou s qu ar tz p eb

bl e one hal f whit e and th e o th e r bl ack w as f ou nd within th e
,
-
,

hand b one s of th e skele ton of an Indi an ; th e finder car r i e d it

ab out with him f o r many ye ar s a s a lucky st one but it
” “
,

app e ar s that h is p er sonal e xp e r i enc e o f its e f f e ct s if th e s e ,

can be judg e d fr om wh at h app e ne d to th e b e ar er Of s uch a

tali sman h as b e en o f a kind to Sh att er th e mos t r obu s t faith

,

in th e p r ot e ctive p ow er of h is I ndi an ch arm P os sibly th e .

s tr ange r e lic may h ave s ymb o liz e d night and d ay f or th e

Indi ans and thu s h av e b een b e li e v e d to gu ar d th e w e ar e r

,

or th e p e r s on with wh om it w as bu rie d at al l time s and ,

se as o ns That p ebbl es o f thi s s o r t wer e s ome time s bu ri e d

.

in th e gr o und di sp o s e d in ci r cl es and s qu ar es is vouch e d

, ,

f or by s ome w h o cl aim to have u ne ar th e d th em in pl oughing ,

but ou r infor mant w as not abl e to confirm th e s e st atements ,

as th e ar r ang em ent s h ad alw ay s b een e ff e ctu ally di s tu r b e d

b e fo r e h e r e ach e d th e S p ot .
46

In many gr av e s of th e p rimitiv e R e d p aint P eopl e Of -

Maine small p ebbl es have b een found A S th ey w er e not

, .

l ar ge enough to have ser ve d as p aint gr inder s and as but -

,

o ne s uch p e bbl e o ccu r s in any s ingl e gr av e th e p r e s umpti o n ,

is quit e s t r ong th at th e y we r e c onsid er e d as tal i smans f or

th e d e ad Th e fact that th e p r actic al l ab o r e r s Of ou r d ay
.

w h o dug ou t th e se gr av e s ins ti nctive ly nam e d th e p ebbl es

“
lucky s tone s goe s to p r ove th at this supp ositi on is not
”

to o f ar f e tch e d alth ough th e r e is no p os itive e vid enc e to su p

-
,

p or t it Th e p ebbl e s we r e ye llow b r ight r e d or gr ay in

.
, ,

color th e gr aves expl or e d b e ing at Or l and Maine as we ll as

, , ,

at th e o utl e t o f L ak e A l amoos o ok on th e s outh sid e Of thi s ,

l ak e and at P as s adumk e ag ; i nd ee d such gr av e s h ave b een

Co mm ni u cat d by D
e r. C ha les C
r . A bb tt
o .
 MAG I C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C GE M S 29

me t with al l th e w ay fr om th e Ke nneb e c Valley e astw ar d to

B ar H ar b or “ .
7

Th e r e s p e ctive symb o l ic m e ani ngs of whit e and bl ack

ar e ill u s tr at e d in th e d es ignati o ns white magic and
“ ”

“
bl ack magic th e l atter d eno ting conju r ati ons o r sp e ll s in
”
,

whi ch th e aid of th e p owe r s o f dar kne ss of th e D evil and ,

his demons w as sought by th e so r c er e r whil e whi t e magi c

, ,
”

w as to be p e r for me d by h ar m l e s s and innocent me ans s ome ,

time s e ven by r e ligi ou s r it e s In thi s w ay it some times so .

cl ose ly appr oach e d th e d omain o f r eligi ou s mir acl e that it ,

b e come s diff icult to di s tingui sh b e tween the se tw o concepti ons

o f s up er natu r al acti o n in th e mat e r i al w or ld .

Q uar tz of a difi e r ent typ e with ne e dl e lik e inclu s i ons is -

c all e d The ti s s h air st one Thi s is a tr ansp ar ent or t r ans

’
.

lucent qu ar tz but s o compl e t ely fil l e d with acicular cr ys tals

,

of gr e en a cti no lit e or o cc as i o nal ly al t e r e d acti no lit e of a

,

yell ow b r own or b r o wn col or as to app e ar almo st Op aqu e ;

-
,

s e al s and ch ar ms h av e b ee n m ad e to a s mall ext ent o f thi s

vari e ty Of othe r inclu s i ons in qu ar tz w e may not e th os e of

.

a ve ry b r illi ant s tib ni t e p r o j e cting in all di r e cti ons some of ,

th e intr u d e d cr ys tal s b e ing v er y cur i o u s ly b ent E xce ed .

ingl y b e autiful g ems h ave b e e n cut fr om thi s mat e r i al .

48

Wh en thi s qu ar tz is cut en cab o ch on acr o s s th e r aval ette in

elu s i o ns a c at s eye e ff e ct is p r o duc e d Th e ye ll ow qu ar tz
’
- .
,

cat s eye of C eyl on and th e gr een of H af f B av ar i a ar e of

’ -
, ,

thi s typ e 8 0 d ensely se t we r e th e gr e en actinolite incl u

. 1

s i ons in th e c as e o f a s p e cimen fou nd at Gib sonvill e Nor th ,

Car olina th at it w as b e li e ve d by th e find e r to be an eme r ald

,
.

An ext r eme ly b e autiful e fi ect in qu ar tz is p r o du ce d by

e ncl o s e d acicul ar c r ys t al s or h ai r lik e p ar ticl e s o f some -

, ,

W K Mo or e hea d , t ple Maine pp

“
ar r en Th e Red -Pain Peo of , . 4 2, 43 .

J nu y
.

Re pr int f r m o th e A m er ican A nth r op o l ogis t ( N . vo l . xv, No i, . a ar

M ar ch 19 13
, .

S ee th e esent w r iter sp r
’
G ems and c us S tones
Pr e io of Nor th A mer ica,
New Yor k 189 2 p 126
, , . .
30 THE M AGIC OF JE WE L S A ND CH ARMS
o th er miner al such as r util e f or instance and s ometimes
, , ,

e ven of go ld To sp e cimens of thi s latter typ e may be r e

.

fer r e d th e Gr eek name ch r ysothi i x u s e d in th e Or phic

“ ”
,

poem L ithics and signifying li ter ally golden hair of

“ ’ ‘

thi s th e ve rs es t ell u s ther e we r e tw o var ie ti e s that whi ch ,

may be identifi e d with qu ar tz having a r e sembl anc e to ,

“
cr ys tal whil e th e oth er s ai d to have th e appear ance of
”
, ,

chr ys ob er yl may have b e en a ye llower vari ety To th e

,
.

qu ar tz t r ave r sed by fi l ament s of r utile or th e r ed oxide of ,

titani um h as b een given th e t aking name of Venu s s hair

,
“ ’

s tone ; a p r e tty F r ench nam e is Fl éch es d A mou r o r

” ’

“
C upid s A r r ow s
’ ”
.
4°

Th e C al ifornia b e aches h ave fu r ni she d some of th e mo s t

inter e s ting or nam ent al p e bble s th e gr e at er numb er b e ing ,

o f ch alc e d ony o r agat e w e ath er e d fr om an amygd al oidal

r o ck whi l e a f ew ar e of j asp er o r fossil c o r al

,
Th ei r v ar ie .

gate d c olor mar kings made th em v er y attr active or namental

—

o bj e ct s in th emse lves and th e r e is r e ason to b e li eve that cen

,

tu ri es ago th e Indi ans of thi s r e gi on v al u e d th em as t ali s

mans or amul et s At p r es ent th e fi nest sp ecimens ar e g ath
.

er e d f r om P es c ad er o B e ach in S an Mat eo C ou nty ab out ,

twenty fou r mil es wes t of S an J osé Red ondo Be ach fifteen

-
, ,

mil es s outh of LOS Ange le s and al so fr om C r e s cent C ity

,

B e ach in th e nor th ern p ar t of C aliforni a On Moons tone

, .

B e ach S ant a C at alina I sl and many b eautiful qu ar tz and

, ,

chalce dony nodul es have b een p icke d up which have w e ath ,

e r e d ou t of r yol ite r ock o f sanidine f e ld sp ar and qu ar tz It .

h as b een quit e a cu st om f or gu e s t s of th e h ot el s to go dow n to

Re dond o B e ach and gather th ese p ebbl es and some of those ,

c oll ecte d by enter pr ising natives ar e placed in a b ottl e o f

water to b r ing out th e b e auty of the ir colors S ome time s .

they ar e dr ill ed and str ung on flexibl e wir e to form long

ch ains or ne ckl aces S ev er al p ebbl es p r esumably fr om
.

See N F M . . Ant i nt M in
oor e, l gy 2d cd N w Y k 1859 p 19 0
e era o ,
”
.
, e or , , . .
By co urt es y of C al i f o m la gB
S ta te M i ni n u re au.

1 y g p P y
C h al ce d o n and a at e e bbl es f r o m e s cad e r o B e ac h . S an M at e o C o u nt , C al i f o r ni a
P
.

2 g y
e bbl e B e ach , R e d o nd o L o s A n e l e s C o u nt . C al i f o r ni a

g k
.

p
.
,

F r o m G e o r e F r e d e ri c K u nz s S e m i - r e ci ou s S t o ne s o f C al i f or m e , S acr am e nt o , 19 05
'

B u l l e ti n N O 3 7 of t h e S t ate M i ni n B u r e au g
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C G E MS 31

Re d ondo B each wer e found in 19 01 in an Indian gr ave , , ,

wh er e the y we r e p r ob ably place d as amule ts f o r th e dead .

50

Th e o ccu r r enc e of fluid caviti e s in qu ar tz ch alc e dony , ,

s app hi r e and o th er mi ne r al s is d u e at time s to c av er nou s

, ,

s t r uctu r e s fo rme d du r i ng th e g r o wth o f th e se mine r al s wh en ,

th e cr ys t al line s ub s tanc e s f o r some r e ason ins te ad Of fil l , ,

ing th e s e up s o lid will av oid th e cav e r ns and encl os e th e

,

liquid of cr yst alliz ati on In agat e inclu si ons this is found .

with silici ou s cont ent p o ssibly d u e to th e fact that it is to an

,

e xt ent c ar b oni c acid gas o r w at er c ont aining s alt or s ome ,

o th er for e ign s ub s t anc e In agat e ch alce dony wh e the r in

.
,

p ebbl es as minute as a pinhe ad or in am ygdul e s se ve r al fe e t ,

ac r o s s th e liquid is encl ose d b e c au se th e w all s O f th e

, gas
p o r e s in th e r o ck which ar e fr equ ently almond shap e d ar e
,
-
,

gr adually b e coming small e r or r ather th e wall s thick en by ,

th e dep o siti on of th e s ilica for ming agate ch alce d ony or , ,

any i mp ene t r abl e l aye r s or e l s e an im p ene t r abl e for m o f

,

qu ar tz ; then again fr e qu ently t owar d th e centr e or when

,

th e liquid fo rms l e s s r apidly or th r ough s ome ch ange th e , ,

qu ar tz b e come s cryst alline e ither col or l e ss smoky or am e , , ,

th ys tine and thi s is d u e to vari ou s inclu s i ons Thi s g r adu al

, .

thickening of th e wall s me ans that th e ape r tur e into which

th e liqui d p ene tr at e s b e c omes smalle r and small e r until at
l as t it is e nti r e ly s e al e d so th at it b e comes encl ose d in a kind
,

o f natu r e s w at er b o ttl e th es e b eing s ome time s as l ar ge as

’ -
,

in th e ch alce d ony s p e cimens fr om Uru guay ; thi s is al s o th e

case with th e h yd r ol ites and th e enhydr os when they can be ,

s h ak e n and th e w at er r attl es as in a b o ttl e .

A n o cc asi onal small Re d ondo B e ach C al ifor ni a or Me d , ,

for d Or egon p ebbl e cont ains a moving bubbl e of air in

,

liquid .

”
g
Geor e Fr e er i Ku nz , d ck
G ems, e e er s Jwl ’
Mate r ial s and Ornamen t al
t
S o nes o f Ca if or nia,
”
l l
C a if ornia S a e M inin B t t g ureau , B ull etin No . 3 7, S a cr a
mento, 19 05 , 7 1—7 3 pp . .
32 TH E M AGIC OF J E W E L S A ND C H ARMS
Mos t wond er ful sp e cim ens of r util ate d qu ar tz ar e th e
gre at r ich b r own p oss ibly titanium col or e d mas se s in th e
, ,
-

M or gan C oll ecti on at th e Am erican Mu s eum of Natu r al H is

t or y th at in th e Vaux C olle cti on at th e Philade lphi a Acad
,

emy Of Natu r al S ci e nc e s and a small e r mas s in th e B r iti sh ,

Mu s e um ; th es e w e r e al l Obt aine d ne ar Middl e s ex Ve r mont ,

.

Th e r util e is a r ich t r ans p ar e nt o r t r ansluc ent r e d v arying in ,

thi nne s s fr om that o f an or dinar y ne e dl e to th at of a knitting

ne e dle and e v en to th at o f a thin l e ad p e ncil
,
W onde r ful -
.

S p e cim e ns ar e al s o f ou nd in th e Alp s o f S t G o th ar d in M ad a .
,

gase ar and in Ale x ande r C ounty No r th C ar o lina wh e r e

, , ,

the y ar e found in qu antity as minut e cr ystal s Of a ri ch r e d

o r go ld en y e ll o w .

Oth e r cu r i ou s and int er es ting r o ck cr y s t al s with incl u -

s i ons ar e those s h owi ng e ncl ose d d r o p s o f w at er th e kind ,

t e r me d enh yd r os by Pliny and m any Ol d wr ite r s ; in s ome 51

o f th e r ar e r s p e cimens th e encl o se d wat e r is p r e sent in con

s id e r abl e qu antity Q u ar tz with inclu s i ons Of thi s typ e w as

.

highly app r e ci at e d in th e Gr e co Roman wo r ld and one of -

,

th e b e s t p oe t s of th e D e cad enc e C l audi an ( 6 ab out 400 A D ) ,

.
,

comp ose d a se r i e s of p o e tic e pigr am s up on th em s even of ,

th e s e b eing in L atin and tw o in Gr e ek A n ex am ple of th e .

b e st in e ach t ongue th e fir s t in th e for mer and th e s e cond in

,

th e l att e r mu s t be O f int er es t alth ough th e lit er al p r ose

, ,

ve r si on cannot have th e ch arm of th e or i gi nal ve r s e .

52

Th e A lp ine ice, al r e a dy
p r e c iou s in its f rigidity , ac quir es an intense
h ar dness thr ough th e action o f th e sol ar r ay s, but u nabl e to
tr ansf orm
it se l f entir ely int o a gem it b etr ay s its or iginal so ur c e by th e water that
,

still r e mains with in it This add s at onc e to the b eauty of this l iqu id st one
.

and to its v alu e .

I n its ch ange f ul asp e ct th is cr yst al b or n f r om snow and f as hione d by

,

th e h and o f man is an image o f th e wor ld o f th e h eavens encl os ing cr uel ,

oc e an in th e ir wid e e mb r ac e .

“
1
Pl inii, H is t or ia tu alis Lib xx x vu cap 7 3
na r , .
, . .

“
Co ll ction
e de s aute u s L at in d by M Naz aire ; vo l i
r , e . . .
, L u cain, S i i l us
I taliens , C l au d ien, t ext and F ench t ans Par is 1 850 pp 7 3 7
r r , , , .
, 73 8 .
34 TH E M AG I C OF JE WEL S A ND C H ARMS
tw o inch e s in length Wh en not enti r ely t r ansp ar ent the y
.

fr e qu ently cont ain inclu si ons of bl ack asph altum or o the r

hyd r oc ar b ons and al s o c ontain holl ow cavitie s which ar e
fil l e d with fluid sometime s s al t w ate r and some tim e s liquid
,

car b onic acid gas In the se ar e moving bubble s and o ccasi on

.

al l y a heavy hydr o c ar b on ; tha t is a bubbl e will as c end and ,

th e hyd r o c ar b on will si nk ; or e l se th e bubbl e will r i s e and

tak e with it a sm all sp e ck of hyd r o car b on and anothe r will ,

s ink In a w onde r ful sp e cim en now at th e Am e r ican Mu s e um

.

o f Natu r al H i s t o r y th e r e is an obj e ct l ik e a small s pid e r O f

hydr o c ar b on which sink s whil e a minute wate r bubbl e r i ses -

.

Th e y ar e c all e d f ai r we ath er s t ones -

.

T asm ani an r ain m ak e r s u se whit e s t one s in thei r magic al

—

r it e s ; h ow e v e r th e s t one by it s elf is not c ons id e r e d an

,

e f fe ctiv e t ali sm an f o r it mu s t be dipp e d in th e bl oo d o f a

,

young gi r l to give it adde d p ower Aft er a numb e r o f whit e .

p ebbl es h av e b e en st ee p e d f or a tim e in thi s bl oo d th e r ain ,

m ak e r ti es th em up in s t r ip s Of b ar k and S ink s th em in
s ome d e e p w at e r h o l e in which a di ab o lical s pi r it is s upp o se d
—

to dwe ll Th e native s c onfid ently as ser t th at thi s c e r emony

.

is s o on fo ll owe d by th e d e si r e d r ain f all A s th e b e li e f pr e -

.

v ail s her e as el sewhe r e th at th e s e whit e s t one s o r p ebble s

,

to r e t ain th e i r p ow e r mu s t no t be l ooke d u pon by a w oman ,

it s eem s a littl e st r ange th at th e r ain b r inging st one is dipp e d -

in a young gi r l s bl oo d ’ 54
.

H ow e ve r whit e st one s h av e not always and e v er ywh er e

,

b e en r e gar de d as lucky f or it is s tate d th at among th e fi sh er

,

m e n of th e I s l e of Man th e p r e senc e of a whit e s t one in a

fi sh ing smack is c onfid ently b eli e v e d to p o r t end p oor fis hing
-
.

Ind ee d it h a s b een r ep or te d by a S co tchman w h o w ent out in ,

a fi shi ng b oat f o r s e v e r al c ons e cutiv e d ays with a p ar ty of

“4
N L b u
ona Wh it Q u t P bbl
e o r, d th i A ch
e l gic l S ig ifi
ar z e es an e r r e o o a n
c nc
a e p i tf mT
re r n ti
ro f th D umf i
r ansachi d G ll w y N tu l
ons o e r e ss r e an a o a a ra

Hi t y
s or d A nt iqu i
an S c i ty J u y 3 0 19 14 p 10
ar an o e , an ar , , . .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E LE C TRI C GE MS 35

Manx fi sher men that afte r a succ e s si on of days mar ke d by

,

p o or fi shing th e y b e gan to nicknam e h im White S tone “

.
” 55

A n o ath t ak e n on s acr e d s t one s w a s r e gar de d by th e

an ci ent S c andi navi ans a s p e culi ar ly binding up on h im w h o

t ook such an o ath ; in th e ol d No r s e annal s it is st ate d that

Gud r un Gju k e s d atter Of fer e d King Atl e th at h e would t ak e
an o ath o n th e pu r e whit e s tone Th e h e r o Du th mar u no
“
.

is s aid to h av e swo r n by L o da s S t o ne of P o we r ” which “ ’

,

r e p r e sent e d th e alm ighty divinity o f th e No r semen

56
.

A s acr e d w e ll o n th e no r th s ide o f L ough Ne agh I r e l and , ,

lend s p e culiar s anctity to th e y e llow cr y stal s found in gr e at

qu antity ne ar by Th e b e li e f in the ir mir aculou s qu ality
.

finds e xpr e ssi on in th e l e ge nd that they gr ow up ou t of th e

gr ound on Midsumm e r Night and who s o e ver wi sh e s to pos ,

s e ss th em as t ali sm ans m u s t p r onou nc e c e r t ai n m agic r hym e s

in th e act Of co ll e cting th em Th e y th en b e come luck .

b r inge r s of p o tent vir tu e and e nsu r e th e p r osp e r ity of th e

h ou s e hold in which th ey ar e guar de d .
57

Th e s t one or r ath er r o ck name d catlinit e and p opul ar ly

, , ,

known as pip e st one w as r egar d e d by ce r tain tr ib es as

“ -

,
”

one o f th e i r mos t v alu abl e mat er i al s and w as e xt ens iv e ly

58
,

u s e d f o r pip e b owl s In c ol or it r ange s fr om a d e ep r e d to

-
.

an as hy ti nt ; th e chi e f qu ar r y is s itu at e d s ome th r e e hund r e d

m il e s we st of th e F all s o f S t A nth ony on th e dividing .

,

r idge b e tw ee n th e S aint P e t er s and Mi ss ou r i r iv e r s Thi s ’

.

r e gi on w as vi s it e d in 183 6 by Ge or ge C atlin to wh om w e ,

ar e i nd ebt e d f or th e p r e ser v ati on of s o much r e gar di ng

Indi an folkl or e and cu st oms and aft e r wh om th e sub s t anc e ,

“
1
G Woo M ar in,
W . . d t c
Tr a e s of th e E er F ai s O f I r e an , L on on,
-
ld th l d d
19 02 vo L i, p 3 3 I . .

g u
Finn M a n ssen, “ For s og t il For kl aring o er no e S te d er af Osian v gl
D et S k and inavis k e Litt er atu r s e l sk abs S k r if t er , 1813 , Pt I I , 23 7 , 2 5 1 . pp . .

“7
W G Woo M ar in, Tr a e s o f th e E er Fai s O f I r e an , L on on,
. . d -
t c ld th l d d
19 02 , vo l i, 3 30
. p . .

“3
u
K nz , G e ms and Pr e io s S ones of Nor c u t
A mer i a, New o r , 1 89 0, th c Y k
pp 206—2 10
. .
36 TH E MAGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C HAR MS

is name d Whil e it is imp os sible to dete r mine with any

.

d e gr e e of ce r tainty f or h ow l ong a time th e Indians wer e

famil iar with thi s mater i al, the r e ar e tho se w h o b eli eve that
th e qu arr i es w er e w or k e d and th e mat eri al u s e d f or pip e
b owl s by native sculpt or s long b efor e th e e ar li e st notice w e
have to that e fi ect Gr eat skill and p ati ence w e r e displ aye d
.
69

by th e Indi ans in th e making of th e s e pip e b owls which -

,

we r e some time s car ve d with vari ou s symb olic al figur es .

We have an e ar ly r e co r d o f such pipe s fr om th e pen of

Jacques Mar qu e tte a Jesuit mis s i onar y to th e Indi ans w h o
, ,

s aw o ne wh e n vi siti ng th e Il linoi s Indi ans in 1 67 3 He r e .

p or ts it as b e ing of p oli she d r e d s tone like marble s o , ,

pier ce d that o ne or ifice ser ve d to hold th e tob acc o while th e ,

o th er w as fas t ene d on th e s t em which w as a s tick tw o f e et ,

long as thick as a common cane and p ie r ce d in th e middl e

,
.

Th e whol e w as co ver e d with lar ge fe ath er s Of r e d gr e en , ,

and o th e r c ol o r s .

C atlin st at e s that at th e time of h is vi s it th e “

pipe
s tone qu ar r y w as guar d e d with a ce rt ain r e ligiou s r ever
”

e nc e fr om th e vi sit Of th e whit e m an th e Indi ans d e cl ari ng ,

th at thi s r e d s t one w as a p ar t of th e ir fl e sh and that to

“
,
”

t ake it fr om them w ould be to tear ou t their fle sh and spill

their bl ood Thi s highly p oe tic l angu age m ay or may not
.

h ave signifie d a sup e r s titi ou s r eve r enc e f or th e sub st ance ;

indee d it may S imply h ave vo ice d th e fe ar of the se Indians
,

th at they might be desp oil e d of what f or th em w as an

e sp e ci ally valu abl e mat er i al which th ey as se r t e d h ad b e en
,

b est owe d up on th em by th e Gr e at S pir it f or th e making of

pipe s exclu s ive ly In our d ay an ol d Ojibway Indian es
.
,

p ecial l y skill e d in th e w or k h as a name S ignifying

“
, he
w h o m ak es pip es ”
and c ar ve d pip e b o wl s of c atlini t e ar e
,
-

u su ally sold f or fr om $ 1 to $ 10 apie ce ; as much as $20 ,

5"
B as h er C atlinite Its A nt iquity as a M ater ial f or Tobacc o Pip e s ”
A m.
xvii p 7 4 5 July 1883
, , ,

Nat ,. vo l . ,
.
, , .
H I ND U WE A R I N G A C O L L E C T IO N O F A N C E S T R A L P E B B L E S A S A M UL E T S
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E LE C TRI C G E M S 37

however is o ccasi onally p aid f or a p ar ticular ly lar ge and

,

fine ly car ved sp e cimen Thi s sub s tance is al so wor ke d up

.

into char m s and other smal l o r naments w hich ar e s old to '

tou r i s ts th e annu al s ale s of al l des cr ipti ons amounting to

,

s ome annu ally C atlinit e t ak es a fi ne p oli sh and is

.

e a s ily w o r k e d ; a p e culi ar ly a tt r activ e v ar i e ty is r e d with

white and gr ay s p ot s .

Th e p opul ar fancy f or th e F ai r y S t one s fr om a p e ak “ ”

o f th e B lu e R idge M ou nt ains P at r ick C ounty Vi r gi ni a is , , ,

s aid to be di r e ctly t r ac e abl e to th e t al e Tr ail Of th e L o ne ,

s ome Pine ,
by J ohn F ox J r w h o mak e s one Of the s e p r e tty
,
.
,

s t au r o lit e c r ys t al s e x e r ci se an imp o r t ant i nflu e nce o ver th e

d e s tini es of h is he r o and h e r oine Thi s w as cleve r ly utiliz e d .

by th e manage r of a New Y o r k the atr e when h e gave a ,

s ouv eni r p e r f o r m anc e o f a d r amatiz e d v e r s i on o f th e s t o r y ,

by p r es e nting one of th e se F ai r y S tones to e ach lady in

” “

th e audi e nce a gift no t only in p e r fe ct r ap p or t with th e

,

pl ay but one highly app r e ci at e d by th e r ecipi ent s f ew of

, ,

wh om w e r e not uncons ci o u sly influ ence d by th e symb olic

h alf r e li gi ou s h alf mythi cal qu ality as cr ib e d to thi s at
-
,
-

t r active little gem .

C olle cti ons of S t one s and p ebbl es Oft e n O f littl e or no ,

int r insic valu e but supp o s e d to p os se s s occult p ow er s ar e ,

hande d d own fr om fathe r to son in many H indu fam ili es of

th e p oor er cl as s Th e accomp anying illu s t r ati on S h ow s an
.

age d H i ndu as h e app e ar e d to a r e c ent t r av e ll er d e cor at e d

, ,

with such s t one s to th e numb e r of ab out thr e e hundr e d on a

cer emoni al o ccasi on In thi s case th ey we r e al l pi er ce d and
.

thr e ad e d on c or d s so as to be attache d to th e p e r son and

, ,

th e Ol d man p r o udly d e cl ar e d th at th o u s and s of ye ar s ago , ,

one o f h is anc e s t o r s w as a pl aymat e of th e go d K r i shna ,

w h o h ad b e st ow e d th e s t one s up on h im as a s p e ci al mar k
o f divine favo r .

Th e p r es enc e of e r r atic b ould e r s w as a cc ounte d f or by

38 TH E M AGIC OF JE WEL S A ND CH ARMS
p opular l e gend in a var i ety of ways S ome time s it w as .

de clar e d that th e Vir gin or a s aint whil e b e ar ing an ,

eno r mou s s t one th r o ugh th e air to be u s e d in th e c ons t r ucti o n

o f a chu r ch h ad l e ar ne d on th e w ay th at th e chu r ch w as
,

c ompl et e d and th e s t one no longer nee de d and imm e di ate ly ,

l e t it dr op to th e e ar th .
60

A s t one h aving th e r ude form of a chai r o r s eat and ,

kno wn as C anna s S tone enj oye d r e put e in Wal es f or its

’
,

cu r ative p owe r s I t w as in a fie ld in cl os e p r o ximity to th e

.

chu r ch of L langan C ar m ar th enshi r e which o we d its f ou nd a

, ,

tion to S t C anna Ne ar thi s s t one is a w e ll call e d F l ynon

. .

C anna th e w ate r s o f which w e r e b e li e v e d to be a cu r e f or

,

ague To mak e th e cu r e e f fe ctiv e h o we v e r th e p ati ent aft e r

.
, , ,

imbibing th e s acr e d w at e r h ad to S it f or a time in C anna s

’
,

S t one and if h e d o z e d whil e s itti ng th e r e thi s w as c onsid er e d

,

to p r omi s e a s p ee dy r e co v e r y Th e c ombine d t r e atm e nt by .

w e l l and s t one w a s ofte n r e p e at e d f o r se v e r a l s ucc e s s iv e

d ays and w as o ccas i onally p r o l onge d f or tw o or thr ee
w e eks .
61

Th at a child co uld be cu r e d of di se as e by b e ing p ass e d

thr ough an ap er tu r e in one o f th e sacr e d s t one s that h ad
for m e d p ar t o f a dolme n is sh o wn in th e cas e of a st one of
thi s kind pr e se r ve d in th e chu r ch of Ville r s S aint Sépulcr e - -
,

d ept Oi se F r ance The r e is ano the r such s tone in th e s am e

.
,
.

de p ar tme nt at Tr ie u s e d in a lik e w ay f or th e cu r e of fe eble

, ,

childr en or th ose su f fe r ing fr om r achiti s Thi s r eve al s in .

a S t ri king w ay th e p er s i s t enc e o f sup er s titi o u s b e li e f s which

we r e al r e ady cond emne d in 567 A D by th e council of Tou r s .

,

which p r e s cr ib e d th at th e e uch ar i st sh ould be r efu se d to

those w h o vene r ate d th es e s o calle d s acr e d stones and at a -
,

Rene l , Les re ligion s de l a Ga ule avan t le C h ist iani m

r s e, Par is, 19 06,

“
Wir t Si ke s, Br i is t h bl in ; Wel sh
Go s Fo lk Lo re
-
, Fa ir y Myth s, L egends
and dt
Tr a i io ns,
”
L on do n , 1880 p 3 62 , . .
40 TH E MAGI C OF J E WE L S A ND C HARM S

is s aid to be an imme di at e cu r e of th e tr oubl e however ,

s e ri o u s thi s may be one exp er iment b e ing s uffi ci ent

“ .
,

S tones of p e culi ar sh ap e o r mar k e d col or ar e th ose to

which p opular fancy h as most Often attr ibute d a cer t ain
s anctity or p ow er I ns t ance s Of thi s m ay be found in th e
.

S c otti sh i s l e s Thu s on th e i s l an d o f A r r an in th e F i r th Of
.
,

C lyd e a gr e en s t one of app r oxim at e ly sph er ical f o rm h ad

,

acqui r e d g r e at r eput e f or its h e aling vi r tu e e s p e ci ally f o r ,

thos e h aving p ains in th e side Wh en thi s s tone w as l aid .

upon th e se at of th e tr oubl e th e p ain would di s app e ar ,

.

This h owe v e r w as not th e only u se to which it w as put

, , ,

f or oath s we r e t ak e n up on it p r oving th e p r e s enc e of a ,

c e r tain animi stic b elie f in th e i slande r s minds as th ough ’

,

s ome s pi r it dw e lt in or animat e d th e s t one and w ould t ak e

venge ance on a per ju r or A s till b e tt er p r o of Of thi s w as .

th e id ea th at th e gr e e n s t one of A r r an would b ri ng vict or y

to a l ead er if h e b or e it with him and cas t it int o th e enemie s
r ank s at th e d e ci s ive mome nt O f a c onflict as is s aid to h av e ,

b e en d one by th e L or d of th e I s l es Alongside of thi s .

gr een st one may be pl ace d a blu e s t one cr e dite d in th e S cotch

i sland of F l ad d a with th e p oss es s ion Of lik e healing p ow er ,

and o n which al s o o ath s w e r e t ake n

65
.

A l ar ge flat st one in S t And r e w s on th e i s l e of Gu er nse y

,
.
’

is stat e d to h av e b or ne a s om ewh at humor ou s ly mi sl e ading

F r ench inscr ipti on T hi s r an “
C e lui qui me t ou r ner a S on
. :
,

temp s p oint ne p e r d r a whi ch h as b e en fr ee ly r e nder ed

,
”
:

To h im w h o tur ns me up I say
H is l b
a or w on t be thr own away
’
.

Thi s temp ting p r omi se inte r p r e te d as a S ign th at s ome

,

bu r i e d tr e asu r e w as hi dd en in th e gr ound b ene ath th e stone ,

“
P ul S bil l t
a e Th W
o hip f S t ein F c t by J ph D
or s o o ne s r an e , r ans o se

n A nth p l gi t J
, . .

M G i
c u r e,Am eri ca/ . M ro1 9 02 l i N 1 p 9 8 ; c it i g
o o s , an.— ar .
, , vo . v, o. , . n
c t t qu
S o ié é d es A n i air e s, vo l i, 429 . p . .

GE‘
c pt
Mar tin, Des r i ion of t h e We s
“
tern Is l e s, in Pin ke t
r on s
’
V yag
o es

a d Tr
n a e vl
s ,
”
vol iii .
,pp
6 4 6 6 27 . . .
 MAG I C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C G E M S 41

finally induce d s ome one to de vot e much t oil and time to th e

diffi cult task o f turning th e s tone ove r What howe ve r w as .
, ,

h is ch agr in and di s gu s t wh en th e und er s id e p r e sente d th e

wor ds : Tou rner j e voulais C ar las sée j etai s ( I longe d
“
,
’ ”

to tu r n b e cau s e I w as s o ti r e d )
, Wh ether th e p r actical .

j oker w h o or iginated th e ins cri ption w as p r e sent to enj oy

th e s ucc e ss of hi s j ok e is not r ev e al e d .
66

To a mas s of qu ar tz at J e r bou r g Gu e r nsey I sl and lo c al , ,

fancy h as attach e d a wild le gend which find s expr e s sion in ,

th e s t r ange de signati on of th e s t one a s Th e De vil s C l aw ’

.
”

Th e ol d C h r oniqu e d e Nor mandi e which alth ough wr itt en , ,

much e ar lier w as fir s t p r inte d in 15 7 6 at Rou en r e c ounts

, ,

unde r dat e O f 7 9 7 A D that Duke Richar d wh en on h is w ay

. .
,

fr om one of h is s tr ongh olds to a mano r wh e r e dwe lt a damse l

o f su r p ass ing b e auty w as as s ail e d by th e E vil One but like
, ; ,

a second S t M ich ae l Duk e Rich ar d ove r c ame h is d ang e r o u s

.
,

ant agoni s t S e e ing that h e c ould not p r evail by for c e th e

.
,

D e vil h ad r e c ou r se to one o f his m os t p e r il ou s wil e s and ,

ch ange d himse lf into a b eautiful ri chly attir e d maiden In ,

-
.

this dis gui s e h e lu r e d Duk e Richar d to th e se ash or e and

induce d him to enter a b oat and put ou t to s e a H e thu s .

s pi r it e d th e duk e aw ay to th e l one ly i sl e o f Gu e r nse y and ,

at th e l andi ng sp ot wh er e th e D e vil finally se iz e d h is to o

,

confi ding p r e y s t and s t hi s mas s o f qu ar tz

, a d ee p bl ack ,

S pl as h r u nni ng r ight ac r o s s indic ating in p o pul ar fancy th e ,

mar k l e ft by th e d e vil s cl aws ’

.
67

A solit ar y b oulder standing on a heath in Nor th Ge rmany

is th e subj ect of a cu ri ou s le g end illu s t r ating th e sup er
s titiou s r e v e r enc e inspi r e d by th e thund er Onc e up on a .

time a b r id al pr o ce ssion w as tr av er sing th e he ath when a

vi ol ent thunde r s t or m b r ok e ou t — Taking no h ee d of thi s .
,

th e mu s ici ans w h o acc omp ani e d th e p r o ce s si on continu e d to

S I E dga McCu l l o ch
I
‘
r , G uer ns ey Fo lk Lo r e, ” L on d o n, 19 03 , p . 150 .

I bid p 1 5 7 ; fig
.
, . n p . o . 15 6 .
42 TH E M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
pl ayth ei r gay and fe stive mu sic and as a puni shment f or ,

this lack of r esp e ct th e God of Thunde r change d th e whole

p ar ty int o an imm ens e r oc .
63

A n e r r atic b ould e r lying in mi d s tr e am in th e River F e r s e ,

in We s t P r u s si a at a b end it make s b e tween P epl in and

,

E ichwald is k nown in l e gend as th e Teu ff el s stein ( D evil s

,
’

S t one ) It can onl y be r each e d by s wimmi ng to it th e par t

.
,

ab ov e th e su r f ac e o f th e wat er me as u ring 26 14 fe e t in cir

cu mf e r e nce th e h e ight f r om th e be d o f th e s t r e am b e ing

,

814 fe e t A thick gr owth of al d e r s on th e b ank s o f th e F e r s e

'

at thi s p oint c as t s s t r ange and sh ar p s h ad ow s o v er th e

gl e aming su r fac e of th e bl ock which is a bi otitic gnei ss .

L e gend te lls th at th e D evil onc e t r i e d to wr e ck th e t owe r

Of th e chu r ch at P eplin by hu r ling thi s mas s of r o ck at it ,

but ju s t as h e h ad it p oi s e d in th e ai r and w as ab out to c ast

it for th th e chu r ch b e ll s b e gan to r ing th e c al l f or e ar ly
mass and h e w as fo r ce d to l e t th e b ould e r dr o p Ano ther
, .

ve r s ron I s th at h e r e ally thr ew it but th at it f e ll s h o r t Of its

,

mar k .
69

Ne ar H ass el ager in D enmar k th er e is an immense

b ould er ab out 150 fee t in ci r cumf e r ence and 32 fee t in
height Of thi s st one le gend te ll s that a witch b e came so
.

enr age d at th e f act th at th e s t ee pl e of th e chu r ch at

S vinninge w as u se d by s ai l o r s as a l andmar k th at sh e picke d ,

up th e s tone and hu r l e d it at th e chu r ch but mi s se d h er aim , .

A s th e b o uld er is e stimat e d to we igh 1 000 t ons thi s witch ”

,

mu s t h ave b een r egar d e d as a sup e r human p e r sonal ity Th e .

l egend s e ems to indicat e that sh e pr ofite d by th e shipwr eck s

which w e r e only too fr equ ent on thi s r o cky coast and ,

gr udge d th e p oor s ail or s th e good s e r vice r ender e d them

by th e p r ominent s t ee pl e .

“
K uh n Nor dd euts ch e S age n ” L eipz ig, 184 8, p 69
, , . .

H er mann, D ie e r r at is che n B l Ock e im Regie r u ngsbez ir ck Danz ig, Be r l in,

19 1 1, p 4 1 ; in vo i , B eit r age z u r Natur d enkmal pflege, ed by H
“
. l i P t I , . . . .

C onw entz .
 MA GI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C GE MS 43

A ck in A r dmor e B ay Ir el and is lmow n as th e S t

ro
, , .

D e cl an S t one aft e r th e fi r s t bi s h op of A r dmo r e w h o came

, ,

to I r e l and e v en b e fo r e th e ar r iv al of th e gr e at S t P at r ick . .

Thi s r ock is b e li e v e d by th e p e as ant s to be end ow e d with

gr e at and o ccult p ower s and th e le gend te lls th at it w as
,

car ri e d thr ough th e air fr om R ome to its p r e sent r e sting

pl ace in th e bay at th e time S t D e clan w as er e cting his
, .

chu r ch at A r dm or e Th e fact th at th e st one r e s t s up on a

.

numb e r of small er one s r end e r s it p o ssibl e f or p eopl e to

s qu e e z e th e i r w a
y und e r it at l ow tid e and those w h o p ass ,

b eneath it thr e e times ar e b e li eve d to have e ar ne d th e sp e ci al

favor of S t D e clan . .
70

A mas s of calc ar e ou s s tone in a vill age calle d Piada d e

R o l and s itu at e d in th e c omm une of Tou f ail l e s ( d e pt Tarn
, .

e t Gar onne ) F r anc e s h ar e s with some o th e r simil ar s t o ne s

-
, ,

in thi s r e gi on th e cu r i ou s nam e of R ol and s F o ot ( Pi ada d e ’

R ol and ) Th e one p r es e r ve d in Tou f ail l e s m easu r e s

.

70 cm X 47 cm X 50 cm and b e ar s a natu r al imp r int h av

. . .
,

ing th e f or m of a fo ot L e gend account s f or thi s by th e

.

tale th at th e h er o R o land onc e jump e d fr om thi s st one to

ano th e r at S e pt Alb r e s and in t ak i ng thi s t r emend ou s l e ap

thr u st h is foot d own so s tr ongly up on its supp o r t as to

leave an imp r int on th e s olid r o ck F or a tim e th e Pi ada “
.

d e Ro l an d ”
w as k e pt in a cow h ou se— no t a r e m ar kably -

h onor abl e pl ace of d e p osit but af t er th e d e ath of one of —

th e c ow s a s or c er er advi se d th e s t one s h ould be b r o k en and

r emo ve d as a p r e cauti onar y me as u r e ; thi s is s aid to h ave
,

h app ene d but thi r ty year s ago s howing h ow d e eply r oo te d ,

s uch sup e r s titi o u s id e as ar e among th e p e as ant r y in ou t

Of th e w ay p ar t s o f F r anc e
- -
71
.

Another r o ck imp r int thi s time simul ating that made

-
,

Wal s h
, C r i os i iu
e s o f t
P o ar C s om s,
”
pul
P i a e ut
ia , 19 1 1, 3 25 h l d lph p . .

A r man dV
ir é , g v
Pier r es a r a u r es et Pierres a é en e s ans l e L ot e t l e l g d d
Tar n e t G ar o nne
”
; in C o m e Re n pt
o f th e Nin du
S essio n o f th e C on r es th g
h t qu
Pr é is or i e d e Fr an e, Par is, 19 14,c 3 49 p . .
 44 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

by th e hoof of a hor se is to be s ee n towar d th e e dge of th e

,

abys s o f P adi r ac ( d e pt L ot ) H e r e again a l o cal l e gend

. .

h as b e en e v o lve d to e xpl ain th e imp r int We ar e t old th at .

th e att enti on of b oth S at an and S t Mar tin h ad b e en p ow er .

fully att r acte d to th e r e gi on e ach s tr enu ou s ly s eeking to,

gain p o s se ssi on of th e souls o f th ose w h o di e d S atan o f ,

cou r s e wishing to b e ar th em Of f with him to th e de pths Of

th e infer nal r e gi ons whi l e S t M ar tin ch e r i s h e d th e fond
,
.

h op e of b r inging th em to H eaven Unh appily th e sins of .

th e inh abit an t s o f th e r e gi on s o much o utwe igh e d th e i r

me ri t s th at th e De vil w as almo s t i nv ar i ably su cce s s ful .

Onc e up on a time wh en h e w as r iding Of f to h is lu rid r e al m

, ,

h e ar ing with h im a s ackful of l os t soul s h e me t S t M ar tin ,

.
,

w h o w as full of gr i e f at th e f act tha t h e hi mse lf h ad not a

S ingl e s o ul to c ar r y h e av enw ar d Knowi ng h owe ver th at .
, ,

S atan w as p assi onat e ly fond of g aming h e p r o p os e d th at ,

they sh ould play a game th e st ak e Of which sh ould be th e

s ackful o f soul s S at an c onsent e d t r u s ting to his p ow er s
.
,

o f t ri ck e ry but al l his d ecepti ons p r ove d vain and th e

, ,

p r e ciou s s oul s b e came th e pr op e r ty of th e s ai nt E nr age d .

at l o s i ng th e S t ak e s th e D evil s t amp e d on th e gr ound and

, ,

an i mm e ns e aby ss O p ene d up thr e at ening to engulf S t , .

M ar tin ; how e ve r th e l att e r put up a p r ayer to Go d and

, ,

s pu r r e d on his st e e d to a sup r eme and s ucc e s sful e ff or t at

e s cap e but o ne of th e h oo f s s t r uck th e r o ck with s uch f or c e

,

that it made an indentati on th er e in figuri ng th e cle ar ou t

line s of a h or se s h oof ’
.
72

Th e Ki o wa have a s acr e d s t one wh os e for m sugge st s

th e h e ad and bu s t of a man Thi s image call e d taime h as .
, ,

long b een c onsid er e d a kind of p all adium of th e trib e It .

is p r e s e r ve d in a box mad e of s ti f f d r e sse d r awhid e ( p ar

fléch e ) and w as only sh own once a y ear at th e annu al S u n ,

D ance A s thi s s ac r e d d anc e h as not b e en p e r fo r m e d sinc e

.

bd p
I i .
, . 3 50.
 K I L LI N G A D R A G O N T O E X T RA C T I T S P R E C IO US ST O NE

Fr o m J o h anni s d e C u ba
'
s O r t u s S ani t at is ,
”
S t r assbu r g , 1 4 83 S ee p g
a e 16 .

N A T U RA L L Y M A R KE D S T O N E
Fr o m V al e nt rni h i nse u m m u s e o r u m k
F r an f u r t am M a n 1 7 14 y
C o l l e ctio n
g p g p g
,

J
, , .

of am es I . o f E n l a nd , no w I n C o e nh a e n Se e a e 4 5
 46 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

ge ste d by s ome di f f e r ent form th e col or al so b eing in s ome ,

cases a de te rmining factor F or th e pu rp ose of secu ring a .

b e tter yi e ld fr om fr uit t r e es a stone h aving th e app r oximate

-

s h ap e o f th e f r uit o r with mar kings s imil ar to tho s e o n

fr uit or tr e e is th e one indicat e d by natu r e as th e app r o

p r i at e tal i sman as in th e c ase of th e coco a nu t p alm wher e
,
-

a s t one mar k e d with bl ack line s is th e o ne ch osen S ome .

times tw o diffe r ent t ali smanic s t one s ar e u se d in thi s pr ac

tice a small er one figu r ing th e unr ip e fr uit ; wh en th e tr ee
,

b e gins to b e ar th e small s t one is bu r i e d at its foot and as

, ,

s oon as th e f r uit b e gi ns to matu r e th e s mal l s t o ne is r e ,

move d and th e l ar ger one r ep r e s enting th e r ip e fr ui t is , ,

bu r i e d in its pl ace “
.
5

Th e S c o tch of a centu r y o r mor e ago ar e s aid to h ave

conside r e d that an i s o lat e d s tone or b oulde r fir mly fix e d ,

in th e e ar th p o sse s s e d p ow e r s of a p e culi ar sor t and s ome

, ,

s uch s t one s w e r e u s e d to cu r e b r ui s e s and s t r ains and r e

duce swellings A s it w as al s o th ought th at a bl ow fr om

.
76

a st one o f thi s typ e w as es p e ci al ly hu r t ful thi s w ould be ,

ano th er c ase o f h omoeop athic t r e atme nt o f which s o m any

and var i ou s e m i np l e s ar e aff o r d e d by th e s up e r s titi ou s u s e

of s t one s and g ems as w e ll as o f o th er o bj e ct s to which

,

ce r tain advantageou s qu alitie s w er e attr ibute d .

S mall s t one b ould e r s h av e b een mad e u s e o f by e j e ct e d

p e asant s in F e rm anagh I r el and in a magical incantati on , ,

designe d to dr aw down a cu r s e up on a me r cile s s landl or d .

F or thi s pu r p ose th e p e asant w ould c o ll e ct a numb e r of

such s t one s pil e th em up o n his h e ar th as h e w ould h ave
,

pil ed tu r f s ods and th en put up a p e titi on th at al l manner

,

of bad luck and mi s fo r tu ne might b e fall th e l andl or d and

h is d e s c end an t s to r e mo t e ge ne r ati ons He r eup on h e would .

gath e r up th e stone s again and car ryi ng th em o f f would , , ,

Fa th
er L am b rt
e , M oe u r s et S up e rs titi ons d es Néo Cal é doniens,
-

No um ea 19 00 , , pp . 2 1 7 , 2 18 , 2 22 , 2 9 2— 3 04 .

7°
See S cott s’
B or d er M instr els y, vo l . iv, P t II ,. p . 645 .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRIC G E M S 47

c t them ab out in bog hole s p ool s or st r e ams so that

s at er -
, ,

they should nev e r be b r ought t oge the r again Thi s w as .

77

e vid ently d one in th e b e li e f th at th e cu r s e c ould only be

r ai s e d if a c ou nt e r i nv o c ati on w er e p r onounce d ove r th e

-

s am e c o ll e cti on o f s t ones A n a llu s i on to a cu s t om of tu m

.

ing s t one s ab out whil e r e citing a for mula of mal e dicti on is

containe d in th e foll owing l ines by Dr S amu el Fer gu son : .

Th ey
h ur le d their cur s e against th e King ,

Th ey cur se d h im in his fl esh and b ones ,

A nd e v en in th e my stic r ing ,

Th ey tur u d th e male d ict ion st ones

’
.

Of al l “
t magic none seem b etter to d eser ve thi s
s one s
”

designation than tho se myste r iou s and fascinating miner al

sp e cimens v e r it abl e l us us Natu r ae b e ar ing imp r i nt e d up on
, ,

them by natur e s h and s ome likenes s of th e human f ace o r

’

form Th e gr andeu r and th e ove r w h e lming p ow er of th e

.

mate r i al w or ld ar e p r ob ably as much o r e ven mo r e fe lt in

ou r p r o s aic age th an th e y we r e in th e e ar li e s t time s but ,

thi s s entiment is s ome time s couple d with a s ense of dis tr ust

— h appily ne ith er g ener al nor p er manent — as to th e p r e s

enc e in thi s t r em e nd ou s and ins pi r i ng aggr e gat e of for c e s

of any di s tinct and d e fini t e e vid e nc e o f th e w or king o f an

int elligence cl ose ly similar to ou r ow n It se ems not u n .

like ly th at to thi s h al f di st r us t is in gr e at p ar t d u e th e
-

fas cinati on e x e r cis e d by th e s e natu r al ly de signe d s tones .

We know inde e d that when ex amine d cri tically by th e

, ,

mine r al ogi s t th ei r s t r ange mar king s b e c ome explic abl e as

,

th e r e sult s of for tuit ou s s tr atifi cations and juxt ap o siti ons ,

but to ou r instinctive app r eci ati on th ey o f fe r s o cl os e and

s t ar tli ng an anal o gy to th e ar ti s tic r e p r o ducti ons con

s ciou sl y m ad e by th e h and of man guid e d by h is e xp er i e nc e

,

" ll ct
L e an s C o e ane a (
’
in en S by V c t tuckey L e an ), vol . 11 , Pt . I, B r is tol ,

p
19 03 , .4 7 6 ; see W F W ad e xnan in o
. .
'

J u Roy r . . H is t . and Ar ch . A sso c . of

l d J uly
I r e an , ,
187 5 .
48 TH E MAGIC OF J E WE L S A ND C H A RM S

and int e lligence th at w e ar e almos t invar i ably imp r e s se d

,

with a k e ener s ens e o f ou r kins hip with natu r e .

S ome v e r y char act er i s tic and i nte r e s ting s p e cimens of

the se natu r al d e signs w er e at one time in th e p o s se s si on of
Q u e en Victori a m any of the m having b een fo rme r ly am ong
,

th e tr e asu r e s in th e v alu abl e and e xt e ns iv e c o ll e cti on o f

p ear l s and p r e ci ous st one s car e fully gathe r e d toge th e r by
th e fam ou s b ank e r and c onnoi s s e u r H enr y Philip H op e ,
.

Q uit e r e c ently ( Ap r il 20 21 19 14 ) th e se obj e ct s which h ad , , ,

p as s e d into th e J E H odgkin C o lle cti on w er e so ld at C h r i s

. .
,

tie s in L ond on P e r h ap s th e mo s t r emar kable is thu s

’
.

de s cri b e d by B H e r tz in th e H op e C atal o gu e
.
78

No 6 2 A ve r y b e autiful lu su s in whit e and b r own

. .
,

agat e r e p r e s enting a m ini atu r e fa c e and ne ck with light

, ,

b r own h ai r and white chapl e t su r r ounde d by a d ar k b r own ,

gr ound co l ou r .

S o s i ngul ar ly natu r al and ar ti s tic is this s tr ange gem ,

th at it is diffi cult to bani sh th e convicti on that w e ar e not

gazing up on a fi ne ex ampl e o f a miniatu r e d one by an im
p r e ss ioni st Ano th er int e r e s ting th ough s om ewh at l e ss
.
79
,

no t abl e e x ampl e w a s a p o li s h e d fli nt o f a b r owni s h gr ay

, ,
-

h u e b e ar ing a h al f fr ont mini atu r e o f an age d h e ad and

,
-

face m ar k e d in a light b r ow ni sh whit e ; still anoth e r - 30

‘

o f fe r e d th e r e p r e s e nt ati on o f a hum an h e ad th e f ac e h alf ,

tur ne d away ; thi s w as al so a flint th e gr oundwor k of a ,

light h or n col or th e de sign b e ing of a s till light e r sh ade o f

-

th e s am e col o r
8L
.

Whil e ly al l the se natur al d e signs ar e in th e

ne ar flat,
o cc as i o nal e x ampl e s o f r e li e f o r i nt agli o ar e r e c or d e d . As

t l gu
C a a o e of th e o e ion c ll ct o f p ea l and p ciou s stones f
r s re or m e d by H enr y
hlp p
P i i H o e , E sq S s ema i a . y t t c lly a ange d and descr ib d by B
rr e . Her tz , Lond on,
183 9 .

0p cit , .106 . p . .

5°
0 p cit , No 6 6 ,
. . 106 . p . .

Op ci t , No 6 5 ,
. . 106 . p . .
 MA GI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C GE M S 49

an inst an ce may be not e d a r emar kabl e d oubl e gem o r

me d alli on s aid to h ave b een r eve al e d o n s plitting o p en a
clump of copp e r or e fr om th e B ott endo r f copp e r mine s .

On e ach of th e tw o h alv e s w as mar k e d th e image o f a m al e

human h e ad dr e s se d w ith a p e r uke but while on one side
, ,

th e r e p r e sent ati on w a s in r e li e f on th e o pp os it e h alf it w as ,

in int agli o .
82

A r em ar kabl e fi nd of thr e e o f the s e natur ally mar ke d

s t o nes is s tat e d to h av e b e e n m ad e in th e rive r Th e i ss ne ar ,

th e t o wn of V inte r h u t in 1 556 V
o n a M o nd ay aft e r th e , ,
“

fe s tiv al of S t Gall On one of th ese flint p ebbl es w as

l . .
”

de picte d a cr os s a swor d and a r o d ; th e tw o o th e r s b o r e

,

r e sp e ctive ly a c r o s s an d th e B u r gundi an ar ms al l b e ing ,

as cl e ar ly d efi ne d a s though th e w or k o f th e hum an hand ” .

Th e s e sm all e r natu r al pictu r e s we r e h owe ve r gr e atly , ,

s u r p a s se d in e fi e ctive ne ss by s om e m o s t e xt r ao r dinar y

r e p r e s ent ati ons on s l ab s o f s t one fr e quently o n m ar ble ,

s l ab s th e s t r ange arr ang ement o f th e ve ining s c ons tituting

,

ve r itable pictu r e s of c onside r able extent and mar ve llou s ly

de ce ptive qu ality Thu s in th e chu r ch of S an L or enz o in
.

F l or enc e w as to be s e en a natu r al mar bl e o n w hich w er e

d epicte d tw o men b e ar ing a bunch of gr ap es on a r od .
84

Another mar ble sl ab p r e s er ve d in th e D anis h C olle ction ,

in C op enh agen and or iginally o wne d by J ame s I of E ng

l and p r e s ente d in mos t b e autiful col or s an image of a
,

cr ucifix
85
.

To th e natu r al image found in a s p e cimen of co pp e r o r e

may be add e d a much mor e r emar kabl e pictu r e di s cov er e d
in a pi e c e o f i r on o r e Thi s w as fou nd on Oct ob e r 8 1 6 69
-
.
, ,

”
V a en ini, l t u u
M se m M u se or u m, o er d er V ol l stand ige S a d ch u Buhne
-
,

Fr anck f u r t am M a n, 1 7 13 , Pt II , y
41 ; re . p . figu d .

Ul yss is A l d r ovand i, M se m m etal l icu m, Bononiae , 16 48, u u p . 5 27 ;

figur ed n p 5 28 o . .

“
Val nt ini Muse um M u se o um p 4 2 ; citing de scr iption by
e ,
r , . Maj o r in
T act atu s d e c anc is et l apid ibus petr if actis p 64 ”
h is r r , . .

I bid p 4 2 ; Pl IX fi g 3
.
, . .
, . .

4
50 TH E M AG I C or JE WE L S A ND CH ARMS
by a mine r of th e Inne sbe r g mine s Th e clump of o r e
'

weigh e d ab out tw o p ounds and wh en th e mine r s p lit it Op en

with a bl ow of h is h amm er h e w as s t ar tl e d to se e on th e ,

upp e r h alf a str ange and mar v ell ou s d e sign C al ling up .

a co m p a i on h e e xcl aime d L o ok h e r e ! H e r e is th e
“
n ,

B l e ss e d Vi r gi n on thi s s t one ! On e x amining th e oth e r ”

hal f th e s am e d e sign app e ar e d th er e al so Thi s r emar kabl e

, .

find is s aid to h av e b een r e c or d e d in th e b o ok o f th e mine ,

th e s t one it s e lf h avi ng b een d e live r e d to th e G erm an im

p e ri al insp e cto r s .
86

I t is w ell to b e ar in mind th at th e numb e r of th e s e l u su s

natu r es s e eme d ve r y much lar ge r in th e ey e s o f w r ite r s of
a f ew c e ntu ri e s ago th an to u s to d ay f o r th e nu m e r ou s -
,

p e trifactio ns sh owing a gr e at v ar i e ty of animal and ve ge

,

table fo rm s we r e f or a l ong p e r i o d include d in th e s ame

,

cat e gor y with th e st one s b e ar ing cu r i ou sly d e ceptive mar k

ings or ve inings Much ingenuity w as exp ende d by ear ly.

o b s e r ve r s in th e att empt to e xpl ai n th e c au s e of th e se ph e

nom ena Th e l e ar ne d J e s uit Ath anasiu s Ki r ch e r f or e x

.
, ,

a m pl e aft e r h aving p r ov e d exp e riment al ly th at de signs

,

tr e at e d with ce r tain ch emic al agent s could be mad e to im

p r e ss fi gur e s up on s t ones took r efuge in th e s tr ange hyp o ,

the si s that pictu r e s m ade on w oo d o r s ome s oft mate r i al

by p r imitiv e mine r s h ad b een l e ft in th e mine and with th e
l ap se of time h ad slipp e d d own int o cr evice s in th e r ock ,

and b e c oming tightly w e dg e d in h ad i mp r e s se d th e d e s ign

, ,

on th e c ont act r ock ; o r e l s e h e s ugg e s t e d th at th e or i gi nal

-

ma t e ri al on which th e d e sign h ad b e en m ad e m ight in p r o c

e s s o f tim e h av e by som e u nknown me ans b e en c onv e r t e d
, ,

int o mar bl e A s a s t r iking e x ampl e of a pictu r e of thi s

.
87

cl ass Ki r ch er not e s and figur e s an image natur ally d e signe d

,

“
I i , bd p
41; . re .Fr om figu d . re p t or in M is ce l l an A c ad G er m Cu r
X
. . . .
,

D ecu r I , A nn I , Obs C II I ,
. . 232 . p . .

“ A th anasii Kir ch er i
, M n s u du su bte r r aneu s , A ms t e l od ami, 16 6 5 , vo l . ii,
pp . 42 sqq .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C G E MS 51

t
o n a s one s a l b in S t P e ter s in Rome and b e ar ing a r emar k
.
’

able lik ene s s to th e B l e ss e d Vi r gin of L o r e t o

88
.

Th e e l e ct r ic o r magne tic gems t ou r maline am b er and , , ,

l o ad s tone p os se ss not only gr eat s cie ntific int er es t but

, ,

d emons tr ate th e fact that a ce r t ain ene r gy r e ally does pr o

ce e d fr om s ome o f th ese f ai r o r nament al obj e ct s an e ne r gy , ,

th at p r o duce s a p ositive acti on fr om without up on th e human

b o dy Thi s may we ll se r ve to make u s l e s s r e solutely
.

s c e ptic al a s to th e p o s s ibl e p r e s e nc e in ge m s t one s of som e -

o th e r f or m s o f emanati o n not as ye t s u s c eptibl e o f s ci entific

d e te r minati on .

Th e s up e r s ens itiv ene ss of th e i nno c ent child s oul to th e -

mo s t d e lic at e imp r e s si o ns and h e nce to th e r adi ati ons o r ,

e manati ons f r om p r e ci ou s s t one s is we ll b r ought ou t in ,

th e pr e tty t al e by S ax e H o lme ( H e l en H unt J ack son) ,

titl e d M y Tou r maline

“
Th e p ar ticul ar s p e cime n h e r e
.
” 8 83

imm o r t al iz e d w as one o f th e fines t fr om th e fam ou s Mount

Mic a d e p os it s in th e S tat e of M aine One d ay whil e on a .
,

co untr y r amble th e littl e h er oine s eye is caught by th e

,
’

co l or and s par kl e of a b r illi ant cr ys tal lodge d in th e gnar l e d

r o ot s o f an o l d t r e e In s p r inging fo r w ar d to s e cu r e thi s
.

p r e tty t r e asu r e th e gi r l tr ip s on th e out st anding r oot s falls , ,

and s p r ai ns h e r l e g v e r y ser i ou s ly s o th at sh e is l aid up ,

f or s ix w e ek s H ow e v e r th e b e autiful cr ys tal is h er gr e at
.
,

cons o l ati on thr ough th e l ong d r e ar y w e ek s and s t r ange , , ,

to s ay sh e c om e s to f e e l th at it h as a kind of life in it Thi s

,
.

is manife s t e d to h er and al so to s ome o th er s on t ouching ,

th e s to ne by a p r icking o r tingling sens ati on in th e h and ;

,

but to th e child th e sens ati ons excit e d by th e wonde r ful

cr y s t al as p er f e ctly f orm e d a s though cut by a l apid ar y
, ,

r e d at o ne e nd gr een at th e o th er with a s e p ar ati ng b and

, ,

o f whit e ar e m uch mo r e p r onou nc e d

,
Wh en it is place d .

in th e littl e s ilk e n bag th at h as b e en mad e to h old it and ,

3”
Op cit , vo l i,
. . . p . 3 9 ; Pl IV ,
. fig . 6 .

8“
c b
S r i ner Cc .
, 1886 .
52 TH E M AGIC OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
is laid agains t h e r ch ee k h er fe ve rish r e stl e s sne ss gr adu
,

ally di s app e ar s and giv e s pl ac e to t r anquil s l e e p Mor e .

than thi s sh e is awar e of a s p e ci e s o f subcons ci ou s sym p athy

,

with th e t ou r m aline S o inte nse is thi s sym p athy th at

.

alth ough th e child c ons ent e d to p ar t with h er c r y s t a l th at

it might be ofl er e d as a uniqu e sp e cime n to a for e ign

mu s eum and w as h e ar t b r o ken to l e ar n th at th r ough s ome
,
—

car e l e s sne s s it h ad b e e n l os t whil e b eing t ak en thith er sh e ,

r e c o gniz e d its p r es enc e l ong y e ar s aft er when t r ave lling , ,

in E u r op e a s a you ng b r id e sh e e nt e r e d th e c abine t of an
,

e nthu s i as tic c o ll e ct o r to V i e w h is s p e cim e ns and w as in no ,

w i s e s u r p r i s e d wh e n sh e r e ally f ou nd h e r th er e
“ ”
S o ie
t n
am ong h is p r iz e d t o u r m alines .

I n c onne cti on with thi s p r e tty r e cit al it is int er es ting

to no t e th at th e fi r s t ch anc e ob se r vati on o f th e attr activ e
qu aliti e s o f t ou r m alines is s aid to h ave b ee n made in A m
s ter d am by a g r oup o f D utch child r en wh os e att enti on h ad

b een attr act e d by a numb er of t ou r m aline cr yst al s b r ought

fr om th e Or i ent and w h o we r e puzzle d to see bits of ash
,

and s t r aw att r act e d to th e s t ones Thi s c ame to th e knowl

.

e dg e o f s ome D utch l apid ar i e s w h o f o r a time c all e d th e

,

s t o ne A s ch e ntr ekk e r Ou r name

“
or ,
A sh
tou r maline is d e r ive d fr om ta r mal i th e nam e giv en th e ,

s t one by th e nativ e s of C eyl on .

Th e r e se em s s ome littl e lik e lih oo d th at c er t ain e x am pl e s

o f th e gem c all e d l ych nis and no t e d by Pliny m ay h ave b e e n

var i eti e s o f th e t ou r m aline A s th e fi r s t tou r m aline s b r ought

‘
.

to mo d ern E u r op e came to H oll and fr om C e yl on w e might ,

conj e ctu r e th at th o se kind s of l ych m s s aid by Pliny to h ave

’

b e en b r ough t f r om Indi a h ad a like o r igin Of th e s e Indi an .

s p e ci mens th e fine s t e x ampl e s o f thi s gem o ne ki nd r e s em

,
~

bl e d th e c ar buncl e or r uby whil e ano th e r b or e th e d e sig

,

nati on I oni a b e c au s e its c ol o r w a s lik e th at o f th e vi ol e t

9°
Th e G e r mans calle d it A sch enz ieh er .
54 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

by Gesner as of cylindr ical form str i at ed and of a vitr eou s , ,

lu str e ; their color w as like th at of th e p r ase and the y wer e

t r ans p ar ent Although De L ae t adds th e ass er ti on th at th e
.

Or i ent al e mer ald ( gr een co r undum ) w as as h ar d as th e sap

phir e th e B r azili an emer ald s app r oach e d mor e cl o sely to
,

th e Or i ent al in p oint of h ar dne ss th an did e mer ald s f r om any

o th e r s ou r c e of supply ; and g r een s apphi r es h av e never
94

b een found in Br az il whil e gr e en tou rmal ine s h ave b een

,
.

Th e e ar li e st p ubli sh e d w or k in which th e el e ct r ic p r op er
ties of t ou rmaline ar e not ed app ear s to be an anonymou s
or qu asi anonymo u s t r e ati se publi s h e d in 1 7 07 c e rt ai n initi al ,

le tter s of th e qu aint title b e ing italiciz e d to indicate th e

initial s of th e author s name Th e fi r s t s ci enti s t to derive
’
.
95

th e acti on of th e s o c all e d A s ch entr ekker or “ A sh A ttr ac

- -

tor ”
fr om ele ctr ic ene r gy is s aid to h ave b ee n th e gr eat
L innaeu s w h o b e stow e d up on th e t ou r maline th e name of th e
,

E l e ctr ical S t one ”

.
96

Th e attr active p r op er ti e s of th e t ou r maline ar e said to

have b e en fir st b r ought to s ci entifi c no tice by M Loui s .

Lemer y in a r ep or t mad e du r ing 1717 to th e F r ench Acad

,

emy of S ci enc e s ; h o w ev e r Lemer y w as incline d to attr ibut e ,

th em to magnetic influ ence Th at th e se ph enomena of at .

tr acti on and r epul s ion we r e r e ally d u e to th e e l e ctr ic p r op

e rtie s o f th e s t o ne was fi r s t cl e ar ly b r ought ou t by th e
Ge rman phy sici s t F r anz Ul r ich Th eo d or A epinu s and h is
, ,

conclusi ons wer e communicat e d to th e B er lin Academy of

S ci ence s in A epinu s made his exp er iment s up on
tw o sp e cim ens of t ou rmal ine fr om C e yl on whi ch h ad b een ,

“
J h i d L t A ntw p D g mmi t l pid ib lib i d
o ann s e ae , er u,
“
e e s e a u s, r uo,
Lugd uni Batavor um 36 , 4 0 pp . .

Cu r ios e S p ecu l a tione s bey sch l a flos en Na en von e inem L ie cht b

h b
a er d e r I mmer Ger n S pecu l ir t,
”
h
C emnitz und Le i z ig, bey Co r Stossel n, p u .

1707 , 85 7, pp
80 . .

Jh
o ann G s a ut v
Donn orf , d
Na r u nd K ns , ” Lei z i , 1 7 9 0, tu u t p g p .

t y l
His oir e d e l ’A cad émie Ro a e d es S ien es et Be es Le r e s, vol mm ,
c c ll tt .

l
1 75 6 ; Ber in, 1758, pp
105- 121 . .
A SIM P L E A PP A R A T US F O R I LL US TR A T I NG T H E E L E C TR I C
P R O PE R T IE S O F T H E T O U R M A L I NE
Th p d d f m h ll
e s t o ne i s s u s en d d 11 b ow r o an W1 e a t tr act e d by t h e
fi g gh W h
e ro a o

n f h l
er, I t b b a tt e r h d f ht it in a s or t i s t a nce o t e t o u r m al i ne
l gh l y h
e e ro u
Wh h
en t h b
e s t o ne d p
een s i l t e ate ts ti v e e ct r rcrt y w rl l d r a w
h p d p pp
as . i o si e

d
t o w ar h h
it t f p p
e ar t- s a mb i e ce o a Jus t as a e r a t tr act s a er, or

m g fil g
e e er,

a d
ne ti c l i ‘
l OD o es r on in s
 MAG I C S TONE S A ND E LE C TRIC G E M S 55

fu r nis he d h im by L e hmann a fe llow memb er of th e B er lin

,
-

Acad emy w h o as A epinu s fr ankly admi ts fir s t dr ew h is

, , ,

att enti on to th e e l e ct r ic a cti on o f th e s t one Th at not only .

fricti on but h e at al s o s h ould d e vel op th e e l e ctr ic ener gy b oth ,

po sitive and ne gative of th e tour maline s e r v e s to d ifi e r en

, ,

tiate it fr om m any o th e r p o t enti ally e l e ct r ic s ub s t ances in ,

th e ca s e o f which f r icti on al one is e f fe ctive .

Th e sp e cim en sh o wn by M Leme r y to th e F r e nch Acad .

emy o f S ci e nc e s in 1 7 17 is s t at e d to h ave c ome fr om a r ive r

in th e I s l and of C e yl on and is d e s c r ib e d as b eing of small

,
”

s iz e flat o r bicul ar quit e thin o f a b r own c o l o r and s m o o th

, , , , ,

br illi ant su r fac e I ts p e culi ar p r op e r ty of att r acting and

.
98

th en r e p e lling as h e s o r i r on filings as well as bit s of p ap er ,

w as duly no t e d Thi s s p e cim e n h ad c os t M Leme r y 1 5 liv r e s

. . .

Afte r r e citing th e c ons t ant r e pul si on and attr action ex er

cis e d by a m agne t up o n th e ne e dl e th e att r acti on by th e ,

o pp o s it e p o l e and r e pul s i on by th e s am e p o l e h e p r o c ee d s
, ,

to r emar k th at thi s C ingh al e se s tone a ct e d quit e di f fer ently ,

s i nc e it fi r s t att r act e d and th en r e pul s e d th e s am e obj e ct

pr e s ent e d in th e s am e w ay Thi s int e rm itt ent or i r r e gul ar

.

acti on w as in his opi ni on to be e xpl aine d by th e th eo r y th at

a v or t e x w as in t e r mitt e ntly d e ve l op e d in th e s ub s t anc e As .

it b e gins th e small b o di e s ar e attr act e d when it c e ase s th ey ,

r em ain s t ati onar y but wh e n it is r enew e d and th e r e ema

“
,

nat e s fr om th e s t one a mat e rial anal o gou s to th e magne tic

emanati on th en th e b o di es ar e r epul s e d Anothe r p eonl
”
.

iar ity w as th at th e b o dy which h ad b e en r e pul se d could not

ag ain be att r act e d wh enc e th e c onclu s i on w as ar r iv e d at th at
,

th e s t one s r ep e ll e nt for c e w as sup e rior to its att r activ e

’

p ow e r Th e s e ne c e s sar ily somewh at inex act ob ser vati ons

.

ar e i nt er e s ti ng as mar ki ng one o f th e e ar li e s t att empt s to

S ee H is tor ic d e l A cad émie R oyal s d es S ie n

’
c c es A nnée mdcccxvu Par is ,
1 7 1 9 ) pp 7’ 8
‘ '
56 TH E M AG I C OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
e xplain the s e ph enome na even al though th e explanati on is ,

faulty .

Th e gr e at F r ench c r ys t all o gr aphe r Abb é H auy r e l at e s , ,

his exp e r iment s on a to u rm al ine cr ys t al “ H e s e t thi s cr ys ?

tal in s t ee l cl amp s with a l ong s t em which w as i nse r t e d in a

,

wooden handl e and then subj e ct e d th e tou rm aline to th e h eat

,

o f a b r as i e r A s th e h e at augme nt e d and p ene t r at e d th e

.

s t one its natu r al e l e ctr ic f or c e b e c am e d e c omp os e d th e tw o

, ,

comp onent fluids b eing fo r ce d to se p ar ate fr om e ach o th er .

I t w as now ne c e ss ar y to c ool th e t ou rmaline o f f a littl e ; wh en

too much h e ate d th e e l e ct r ical ph enomena w e r e int e r r upt e d ;
th ey w er e al so dimini sh e d in int ensity wh en th e s t one h e
came cool again Th e p e r fe ct cr ys t al cho s en f o r exp e riment
.

cl e ar ly showe d th e ne gative and p o sitiv e e l e ctrical p ole s ;

e v e n th e s m all e s t pi e c e s s h ow e d thi s and i nd e e d if a v e r y , , ,

small pi e c e w e r e b r oken o f f th e p o s itiv e ly e l e ct ri c sid e o f a

cr yst al it w ould p r es e r v e thi s p o s itive e l e ctr icity and s oon

,

d eve lop a ne gative el e ctr icity al s o .

W e may be s omewh at l o ath to doubt th e t al e th at littl e

Dutch child r en w e r e th e fi r s t to no t e what to th em w as th e
qu ee r acti on of s ome bit s of t ou r m aline but p r efer ence ,

s h ould p r ob ably be give n to th e s t at em ent th a t th e di s c ov e r y

o f th e e l e ct r ic ph enomena induc e d by h e ating in th e s e s t one s

w as d u e to th e f act th at som e D utch j e w e ll e r s put s p e cimens

o f t ou r m ali ne in th e fi r e to t e s t th e i r h ar d ness and th en ,

found that th e s t one s attr acte d or r ep elle d th e ash e s o f th e

fire .
99

T owar d th e middl e ight e enth centu r y Dr H ab e r

of th e e .

d en o f L ondo n c onfi r me d th e d e ducti ons of L em e r y and th e

, ,

s om e what l ate r exp e r im ents of th e Ge r man physici st

A epinu s and th e gay w or ld of L ondon t o ok up th e id e a
, ,

Abbé Hatiy T att at o d i ca att i fi

,
r e r er s ici d ll p ie t
e e repeir I ta l
z ose , .

t r ans . by L u igi Confi gl iach i M ilan 1819 pp , o, , . 13 5—1 3 8 ; s ee Pla t II fig 4 9

e , . .

”
A pinu s l c
e , . .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRIC G E M S 57

cau sing th e new s tone to b e come a gr e at favor ite with th e

fashionable One of H ogar th s inim it able d esigns depicts
.
’

a s p e ndth r ift f o p w h o h as ju s t b e en ar r e s t e d whil e h is att en

ti on w as r ive te d on th e st r ange phenomena shown by th e

t ou r m aline .

I n vi e w of th e imp or t ant e xp e r iment s mad e by B enj am in

F r ankl in in th e th en al m os t une xpl or e d fi e ld of e l e ct ricity ,

it is e asy to unde r st and that th e account s o f th e newly

di s cove r e d e le ctr ic p r op e r ti e s of th e t ou rmaline should have
p os ses se d consid e r able inter es t f or h im Thi s is t e stifi e d .

to by a l e tte r h e addr e s se d to D r W illi am H abe r d e n June 7 .

, ,

H e r e in h e e xp r e ss es h is thank s f or tw o t ou r malines
his c or r e s p ond ent h ad s ent h im and s t at es th at h e is r e ,

tu r ni ng th e smal l e r one Of th e e l e ctr ic phenom ena h e wr ite s

.

that e d h a d s o
h h a e r m e
“
i g ou s g tle
n e ni e n m e n ab o ad
r
”
h ad
d eni e d th e ne gative e le ctr icity di sp laye d by one side of a
t ou rm aline but h e b e li eve s th e fai lu r e to ob s er v e could be
,

e xpl aine d by d e fe ctive cutti ng o f th e s p e cim e ns u s e d th e ,

p os itiv e and ne gative pl anes h aving p e r hap s b e en obliqu ely

plac e d ; to obvi at e thi s h e sugge st s th at th e p o sitive and
ne gative s id e s s h o uld be a ccu r ate ly d e t e r mine d b e fo r e th e
o p e r ati on o f cutting b e gi ns Th e l ar ge r o f th e sp e cim ens
.

s ent by D r Habe r d en w as r e t ai ne d by F r ank lin w h o h ad

.
,

it m ount e d on a pivo t in a r ing s o that e ith e r s id e could be ,

tur ne d outwar d at will He not e s as a cu r i ou s ci r cum s tance

.

that when h e wor e thi s r ing th e natu r al h e at of th e finge r ,

s u flice d to char ge th e s t one c au sing it to att r act light b o di e s

,
.

S e ve r al of h is e xp e r iment s we r e mad e w ith a co r k b all su s

p ende d by a th r e ad and h e cl aims th at th e attr active for c e
,

of th e p o s itiv e f ac e w as inc r e as e d by c o ating it with gold

l eaf attache d to th e s tone by whit e of e gg Thi s gr e at e r .

e fi ect h e supp os e d to be o ccasi one d by th e unit e d for ce o f

“

Th C mpl t W k
e o e ef B j mi F
or s kli d by J hn B ig l w N w
o en a n r an n, e . o e o , e

Y k nd L nd n 1888 l x pp 282 285

or a o o , , vo .
, .
— .
58 TH E MAGI C OF J E WE L S A ND C HARMS

th e diff er ent par ts of th e face co lle ct e d and acting toge th er

th r ough th e m etal .
”

Whi le th e var i ou s cor undum gems r uby s apphi r e , , ,

Or i ent al t op az Or i e nt al am e thys t e tc o f fer a r emar kabl e

, ,
.
,

ins tance of th e m an y var i e ti e s of b e autiful c olor ation ob

s er vabl e in a p r actic ally id e ntic al s ub st anc e no s ingl e gem ,

mine r al can be s ai d to e qu al t o u rmal ine in thi s r e s p ect mor e ,

e s p e ci all y
,
how ever in th e combination of s eve r al c ol or s
,

som e tim e s di s p os e d in b and s at o th e r ti me s in c onc e nt r ic

,

ci r cle s in th e s ame c r ys t al Wh en to thi s w e ad d its p e culi ar

.

e l e ct r ic qu aliti e s w e may t r uly s ay that a fi ne t o u rm ali ne

,

an sw er s ou r id e a o f what a t ali s manic gem or a gem amul e t -

s h ould be b e tt e r th an any o th e r o f th e b e autiful cr ys t al s

with which b ountiful natu r e h as p r ovide d u s Th ese mos t .

att r activ e s t one s ar e to be f ound in wid ely s e p ar at e d r e gi ons

o n th e e ar th s s u rf ac e as fin e e x ampl e s h av e b e e n d iscov
’
,

e r e d in th e S t at e o f Minas G e r aes B r azil and in ou r own , ,

land in Maine and C al ifor ni a e sp e ci ally Wh e r e th e c olor

,
.

is h omo ge ne ou s w e may h av e th e S pl endid r e d or r os e col -

or e d v ar i e ty c all ed r u b e llit e fr om its r e s embl ance to th e

,

r uby or th e blu e t ou r m al i ne gem name d indic o lit e

,
.

In times of ol d th er e w as a b e li e f th at s t ones of v ariou s

kinds would guar d against th e ass ault s o f evil in th e for m
of witchcr aft di s e ase and o th er di s agr e e abl e vi sitati ons
, ,
It .

w as a w ar lik e p e r i o d in which p e ace w as an u nh e ar d of d oc -

t r ine and now th at th e id e a of p eace h as b e c ome one of th e

,

ideal s of p r e s ent d ay conditions it is inter e s ting to know

-
,

th at natu r e h as fu rni she d u s with a st one at once b eautiful ,

inter e sting and illu s tr ating th e gr eat fund am ental p r in

,

cipl e o f u ni ty and p e ac e .

Th e P e a ce S t one is f orme d by th e uni on in one cr ys t al

o f th e g r een and th e r e d t ou r maline wi th an i nt er vening ,

band o r z one of whit e th e l atter st r ikingly b e autiful e ff e ct

,

b eing d u e to th e combination at thi s p oint of th e r ed col ori ng

60 TH E M AG I C OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
of uni on Th e ch ar acte r is tic t al ent s of e ach o ne will su p
.

plement and comple te th ose of th e o th e r s o that w or king ,

togeth er in har mony th ey may accompli sh f ar mo r e f or e ach

o th er and f or humanity in g ener al th an e ith e r c ould d o

s ingly .

At an e ar ly dat e amb e r w as b r ought fr om th e B al tic

co as t to Rome and Tacitu s s t at es that thos e w h o colle cte d
,

it calle d it gl azs um a nam e l ate r appli e d to th e glas s in

,

tr od u ced into th at r e gi on by R om an t r ade r s Th e nativ e s .

knew nothing of th e natur e or gr owth of amb er and h ad ,

no u s e f o r th e mat e r i al only c oll e cting it f or exp or t to R ome

, ,

wher e it commande d s uch a hi gh p r ice as to e xcit e thei r

as t oni shm ent Tacitu s giv e s in th e following w or d s h is
.

th eor y of th e or igin and ch ar acter of amb er — h is chi ef er r or

be ing d u e to his b eli ef th at th e sub st ance w as of v e r y r e c ent
formation .
1 02

Now you mu st know th at amb er is a juic e of tr ees, sinc e v arious

cr eatur es , some of them winge d, ar e of ten f oun d in it They have be c ome
. .

ent angl e d in th e l iquid and th en m cl ose d wh e n th e matte r h ar d ene d Ther e .

f or e I b e lieve th at, as inc e ns e an d b al sam ar e e xud e d in th e r emot e E ast, so

in th e luxur iant gr oves and isl ands of the West ar e juic es which ar e f or c e d
o ut by th e s un cl ose to th em Th ese flow int o th e neighb or ing se a and ar e
.

was he d up by th e temp es tuous wav es on th e o p p os ite s hor e I f you test th e .

quality o f amb er with fir e it may be lighte d l ike a tor ch and bur ns with a
,

s mall , w ell nour ishe d flame ; then it is r esolve d into a glutinous mass
-

r es embling p itch or r esin .

B o th J u venal l t that ef feminat e

l °3
and Mar ti al ”4
re a e

Roman s u se d to h old b all s of amb er in th e ir h and s to c ool

th em duri ng th e summer h e at If any such agr e eable s ens a .

ti on w as r e ally exp er i ence d it mu s t have b e en d u e to th e ,

w ell known e l e ctr ic pr op er ti e s of thi s sub s t ance It is state d

-
.

that th e Chine se often pl ace pi e ce s of amb e r on o r in th ei r

1 02
C o r ne l n Ta i i, “ L i ct b ri qu i su per sunt , vol . 1 1, L ipsiaa, 1885 , p . 243 .

S at vi, 5 7 2 ; ix , 50
. .

Lib . v , 3 7, 9 ; x i, 8, 6 .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C G E M S 61

pill ows a u se th at m ay h ave b een sugge st e d by th e s am e

,
1 05

cons ide r ati ons .

A s a p r o o f of th e e xtr av agant v alu e se t up on amb e r by

th e Rom ans o f th e fi r s t c entu r y Pliny no t e s th at a v er y ,

diminutive figu r e of a m an ou t ou t of thi s s ub st ance s old , ,

f or a high e r figu r e th an did a h e althy vigo r o u s s l av e Th e , .

p opul ar ity of thi s mat e r ial w as al s o att e s te d by th e fact

.

that in th e gay wor ld o f Rome th e t e r m am b er hair w as “ ”

u s e d to d e signate a r ar e and p e culi ar shad e th at b e came

fashi onable in thi s p e r i o d I t s e em s p r ob abl e th at thi s
.
1 06

mo di s h sh ad e w as s om e wh at light e r th an th e Titi an hai r “ ”

onc e s o much f avo r e d alth ough th e diff e r enc e m ay no t h av e

,

b e e n v e r y gr e at .

A change o f h u e in amb e r w as th ought to p or tend a w an

ing o f l ov e on th e p ar t of th e give r as is sh o wn by th e
’

fo ll owi g
n n o t e s p ci lly l di u s line s fr om Th e F r uit s
e a m e o o
“

of J e al o u s y publi sh e d by Richar d Toft e in 1615 :

” 1 07

Th y t o kens which to me tho u sent

I n t ime may make th ee to r e p e nt ;
Th y gif ts d o gr o an ( bes tow d o n me ) ’

For gr ief th at th ey thee guilty see .

Th e amb e r b r ac e l e t th o u me gave
( F or f e ar tho u s h oul d st s h ortly w ave
Fr om y e ll o w tur ne d is to p al e ,

A sign th ou s h or tly will be st ale .

Not only f o r cu r ative pu r p o se s and f or gener al u se as an

am ul e t w as amb e r p r iz e d , but an amb er ne ckl ac e w as s om e

time s r e gar d e d as an e sp e cially au spiciou s de cor ation f or a

bri de at h er we dding as is s ho wn by an excepti onal ly fine
,

ne ckl ace of fac e tt e d amb er b e ad s fr om B r unswick G e r many , ,

mad e in th e e ight e enth c e ntu r y .

t ung be icht d ph i1 hi t Kl Wi n 1866 vol xl iii p

Pfi z meier , S i z s r . .
-
s . .
, e , , .
, . 19 5 .

Pl inii, Na tu alis histo ia Lib xxx vi i cap 12

r r ,
”
.
, . .

L ean s Co lle ctane a vo l ii Pt II B i t l 19 03 p 6 4 0

’
, .
, .
, r s o , , . .

Waver E s p ec ia lly inte r es ting as al l amber changes in time

. .
62 TH E MAGIC OF J E WE L S A ND C HARMS

Our li es t auth ority on th e cu r ative u se of amb er th e

e ar ,

gr e at encycl opae dist Pliny s t at e s that in h is d ay th e female ,

p e as ant s of th e valley of th e P0 in nor the r n Italy might be , ,

s ee n w e ar i ng amb e r ne ckl ac e s p r i ncip ally as or nament s , ,

but al s o be cau se of the ir r em e dial p ow e r s ; f or ev en at this

e ar ly p e r i o d it w as gene r al ly b e li e v e d th at amb e r h a d mo s t

e xc e ll ent e ff e ct s in di s e as e s o f th e th r o at an d t ons il s Th e .

p e as ant s of thi s r e gion we r e e sp e ci ally subj e ct to such di s

o r d e r s and Pliny c onj e ctu r e s th at th e y w er e cau se d by th e
,

diff e r ent s or ts o f wate r in th e neighb or hoo d of th e Alp s .

1 09

H e p r ob ably r e fe r s not only to di se ase s o f th e th r o at p r op ,

e r ly so c all e d but al so to a s w e lling o f th e gl and s o f th e

,

ne ck th e g oitr e with which s o m any o f th e p e a s ant s living

,

o n th e s l op e s o f th e Alp s and in o th e r mou nt aino u s r e gi ons

,

of c e nt r al E u r op e a r e afflict e d ,
.

Th e g o ld e n hu e d amb e r w as c all e d ch r ys e l ectr u m by C al

-

l is tr atu s a s cit e d by Pliny

,
Thi s w as s ai d to a tt r a ct th e
.

flam e and to ignit e if it cam e in cont act with th e fi r e I f .

wor n on th e ne ck it w as a cu r e f or fev er s ; if p owder e d and

mix e d with hone y and oil of r ose s it w as b e ne fici al f or d im
ne s s of vi s i on and its p owd e r wh e th e r t ak en by it self or
, ,

in wa t e r with gum mas tic r em e di e d di s e ase s of th e ,

s t om ach I n anci e nt and me di e v al tim e s th e f e ar of p oi s on

1 10
.

b e ing adm ini s t e r e d in foo d or dr ink w as ve ry gr e at and ,

any s ub s t anc e th at w as cr e dit e d w ith th e p o w e r to s h o w th e

p r e s ence of p oi s on by some change in cl e arness or col or

, ,

w as hi ghly valu e d A n amb er cup w a s s aid to r ev e al th e

.

admixtu r e o f any o f th e v ar i o u s kind s o f p oi son wi th th e

liquid it containe d .
11 1

Th e u s e of amb e r as a p r e v entive of e r y sip e l as find s a

d e fend e r in Rev C W King w h o w ri t e s as fo llows
. . .
, :

Pl inii, Natu r al is h istor ia, ” L ib xx xv ii, cap 1 1

. . .

11 °
Pl inii, Natur al is hist or ia, ” L ib xxxv ii cap 12 .
, . .

m Se
v er u s S ammo nicu s , Pr ecept es mé d ic aux , t ext and ch t
Fr en r ans . by
L . Baud t Pae , r is, 1845 , pp . 84 , 85 .
N E C K L A C E O F FA C E T E D A M B E R B E A D S
G erman g
E i h te e nt h ce nt u r y
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRIC G E M S 63

wearing an amb er ne c kl ac e w ill kee p ofi the attacks of

Th at th e
e r y sip e l as in a p er son s ubj e ct to th em h as b een p r o ve d b r e p e at e d ex eri
y p
ment s beyond th e p oss ib ility of d o ubt I ts action h er e c annot be e xpl aine d ;
.

bu t its effi c acy in d ef ence of th e thr o at agains t chills is evide ntly d ud to its
e xt r eme w ar mth wh e n in c ont act w ith th e s kin and th e c ir cl e of e le ctr icity so

maint aine d .
112

l ctr ical p r op e rt y of am b er w as r emar ke d as e ar ly

Th e e e

as 6 00 by th e I onic phil o s opher Th al e s and fr om this ob ,

se r vati o n may be d at ed th e b e gi nning s o f th e s tudy of e l ec

t r ic phenomena .

Th at faith in th e magic p ow e r s of am b e r b ead s s till

e xi s t s is illu s t r at e d in th e c ase o f an ol d R u s si an J ew e ss

w h o r e c e ntly di e d in one of ou r ch ar itabl e ins tituti ons Thi s .

woman is s ai d to h ave r e ache d th e age of one hundr e d and

s ix y e ar s and sh e a s c r ib e d h e r e xt r ao r dinar y l ong evity to
,

th e p os se s s i on of a ne ckl ace of v e r y l ar g e amb e r b e ad s ,

whi ch h ad b e e n given h e r by h e r mo the r w h o al so live d ,

mor e than a hu ndr e d ye ar s Th e daught e r a f ew d ay s

.
,

b e fo r e h er de ath b e s t owe d thi s t r e asu r e d hei r l oom up on

,

h e r daught e r f or it is gene r ally b e li ev e d th at th e vi r tu e s

,

of g em s l ar g e ly d e p end up on th e i r b e ing r e c e ive d as gi ft s .

In nor th e r n Ger many al so f or mor e th an a c entu r y a

, ,

s t r i ng o f amb e r b e ad s w as l ook e d up on as a fav o r it e and

ne c e s s ar y gift Th e w r it e r h as s e e n hu nd r e d s o f th e se
.

s t r i ng s many o f which h ave b een w or n f o r o ne tw o and

, , ,

s ome tim e s mor e g ene r ati ons Th e b e ad s ar e r ound and

.

usu ally face tte d ; h oweve r th ey have b e en ab r ade d agains t

,

e ach o th er f o r so l ong th at th e y ar e oft e n flat di sk s and a ,

s t r i ng o r i gi nally fift e en o r s ixt e en i nch e s l ong will be tw e lve ,

and o ft en only ni ne i nch e s in l e ngth s o much o f th e o r igi nal ,

s ph e r e s h aving w or n aw ay .

A we ll known physician of th e sixt eenth centu r y Johann

-
,

Me ckenb ach claime d in 1548 to h ave di s c ove r e d th e p r o c e ss

, , ,

m Kin Natur al Hist ory of Pr e io c us S t o nes, etc. , L ondon 186 5 , p 3 34,

g, , .

no te .
64 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE LS A ND C HARM S

of p r oducing oil of amb er Although Meck enb ach w as not .

entitl e d to th e c r e dit h e cl aime d as th e exp er iment h ad ,

al r e ady b e en succ ess fully mad e h e gaine d gr e at r eput e by ,

thi s m e ans and when h e communi cate d to Duk e Al b r e cht

,

o f P r u ss i a th e s e c r e t of h is p r o c e s s th e r ul e r s o f o the r l and s ,

o ve r w h e lme d th e duk e with r e qu e s t s f or a supply o f th e

p r e ci ou s r eme dy F e r dinand A r chduke of Au s tr i a s ent a

.
, ,

s p e ci al me s seng e r th e l ong j ou r ne y to B e r li n twic e in a ,

ye ar f or a f ew fl ask s of th e oil which w as r e gar de d as a

, ,

cu r e f or many di s e as e s “
Th e o il of amb e r ol eu m s u cciml 3 —

of th e Phar m ac o p oei a h as mai nt aine d its r e put e as a cu r e

—

f or v ar i ou s aff e cti ons up to th e p r e sent d ay In s ome fo rms .

of g out and r h eumati sm it r e li e v e s th e i nflamm ati on and

p ain in th e j oint s ; and its anti sp asm odic acti on mak e s it a

valu abl e r eme dy in c ases of as thm a who oping cough ,
-
,

hyste ri a b r onchiti s and inf antil e c onvul si ons

, ,
.
1 14

A n e ar ly v e r s i on of th e s t r ang e t al e th at s hip s w e r e
att r act e d by mas s e s o f r o ck s o r e ve n m ou nt ai ns of l o ad ,

s t one is giv en by P al l ad iu s ( 0 3 6 7 0 43 1
, H e r e lat es .
— .

th at th e lo adst one w as p r o duc e d on a gr oup o f i s lands call e d

th e M ani ol ae which we r e on th e r out e to Tap r ob ane ( C e y
,

l on) and continu e s if any ship constr uct e d with i r on“

, ,

nail s app r o ach e d th e se i sl and s th ey w e r e d r awn by th e

p ow e r of th e lo adst one and the i r cou r se w as ar r e s te d F or .

thi s r e ason th ose voyaging to Tap r ob ane u se ship s e s

p ecial l y put t og e th e r with w o o den p e g s P r ob ably th e ”
.

l e gend ar o s e fr om th e fact th at woo d w as o ften u s e d in

th e c ase of ve sse l s tr ading in thi s r e gi on b e c au s e i r on w as ,

s c ar c e and exp ens iv e Thi s is th e vi e w of P r o copiu s w h o

.
,

found th e s ame st or y s till cu r r ent in th e sixth centu r y .

1 15

Ba ume r, H is t o r is ch es Tas chenbuch ,

”
I S en, vol . vi, L ei pz ig , 1835 , p .

1“
P e, yl
Th e T h e ape usis of
r Pre io c us S t one s , in h is Me d icine , De tr oit ,

1 89 7 , vo l iii,. 1 15 p . .

Pal l adii, De gentibus d

In ie
s , ed . B is saeu s, Lon don , 1 66 5 , p . 4 .
66 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

t ouch e d wi th h is sc eptr e th e lowe r side of th e b oar d b eneath ,

th e s p o t on which any one of th e l ett e r s w as mar k e d th e ,

att r acti on e x er ci s e d by th e l o ad s t one o n th e i r on m a d e th e

figu r e r evolv e o n its pivo t so th at th e little wand p ointe d

t ow ar d th e le tt er indicated In thi s w ay any wor d c ould be .

s p e ll e d ou t and app r o p r i at e answ er s giv en to any qu e s ti on .

Th e d e vic e w ould be too obvi ou s at p r e s ent but in D e B o o t s

’
,

time it would have s e r ve d we ll enough to mys tify th e

s p e ct at or s .

Th at th e lo ad s t one w as highly e s te eme d in th e s ixt eenth

centur y w as we ll ve r sifi ed by Rob e r t Nor man in Th e Ne we “

Attr active .

TH E MA GNE S OR L OA DS TONE S CHA LLE NGE

Give pl ac e ye glitteri ng spar kes ye glimmeri ng Diamond s br ight , ,

Ye Rub ies r e d and S ap h ir e s b r ave wh er ein ye most d e l ight

, , .

I n br eef e yee stones enr ich t and bur nisht al l with go ld, ,

S et f orth in L ap id ar ies s h op s f or J e we ls to be sold , .

Giv e pl ace giv e pl ac e I s ay yo ur be autie gl e ame and gl ee

, , , , ,

Is al l th e v er tue f or th e wh ich acc e pt e d so you bee , .

M agnes th e L o ad st one I yo ur p ainte d sh eaths d efi e

, , ,

With out my h elp e in I ndian Se as th e b est o f yo u might l ye

, .

I guide th e Pilot s c our se his he lp ing h and I am ,

Th e M ar iner d el ight s in me s o d oth th e M ar ch ant m an

, .

My ve r tu e lies u nk now ne my s e cr ets h idd e n ar e

, ,

By me th e Co ur t and Co mm on w eal e ar e pl eas ur e d ver y f ar r e

-
, .

No s h ip c ould s ayl e on se as h er cour se to r unne ar ight

, ,

Nor c omp ass e sh ew th e r eady w ay w er e Magnes not of might , .

B lush the n and bl emish al l be qu eathe to mee th at s d ue

, , ,

Your scates in gold e your p r ic e in pl ate which J ewe ller s d oo r e we

, , .

I ts I its I al one wh om you u sur p e up on

, , ,

Magnes my name th e L oad stone c ald th e pr inc e of s tones al one

, , .

I f this you can denie th en see me to make r e ply

, ,

A nd l et th e Painef ul l se a man ju dge th e wh ich o f u s d oth l ye

-
, .

’
TH E M ARIN ER S J UDGM E N T

Th e L oads t one is th e t
s one , ly stone al one
th e on ,

D eser v ing p r aise ab o ve th e r est wh ose v er t ues ar e u nknow ne

, .
 MAGI C S TONE S A ND E LE C TRIC GE M S 67
’
TH E M ARCH ANT S VERDIGI‘

The diamond br ight th e S aphir e br ave ar e stones th at bear e th e name

, , ,

B u t fl atter not and t ell th e tr oath M agnes d es er ves th e same ”

, , .

It w as p or t ed in th e sevente enth c entu r y that r uptur e s

re

w e r e cu r e d in B elgium by th e help of th e loads tone Th e .

p atient w as fi r st gi ven a dose of i r on filings r e duce d to a ,

ve r y fi ne p owde r ; th e r eup on a pl as ter made of cr u she d load

s t one w as appli e d e xt er nally to th e af fe ct e d p ar t Thi s w as .

s aid to p r o duce a cu r e in th e sp ac e of e ight d ay s P r ob ably 1 19

.

th e pl ast e r w as b e li e v e d to d r aw th e i r on filings o r s ome

e manati on fr om th em th r ough th e aff e ct e d p ar t s t ow ar d

th e su r f ac e .

I n me di e val E u r o p e thi s m ine r al w as gr e atly v alu e d f or

its th e r ap e utic vi r tu e s Tr o tu l a th e fi r s t o f th e femal e
.
,

phys icians c onne ct e d with th e c el eb r ate d S ch o o l of S al e r no ,

th e centr e of me dical cultu r e in E u r op e in th e M iddl e Age s ,

and w h o w r o t e a t r e ati se on f em al e di s e ase s r e c omm e nd e d ,

th e u s e o f th e l o ad s t one in childbi r th Th e st one w as to be .

h e ld in th e r ight h and and th e l e arne d l ady ass er te d th at

,

th e w e ar ing o f a c o r a l ne ckl ace w ould aid its benefi cent

e fi ect . B o th th e se sub s t anc e s ar e p r e s cr ib e d f o r thi s u se by
th e Oxfo r d t e a ch er J o hn G ad e s d en , in h is “
R os a
Anglica ”
. F r anci s c o Pi emont ese w h o t aught in Naple s ,

ab out 13 40 al s o r e c ommend s th e l o ad s t one but h e di r e cts

, ,

that it be s tr ewn with th e ash e s obtaine d by bu rning th e

hoof of an ass o r a h or se ; accor ding to thi s last auth or ity ,

th e s t one s h ould be h e ld in th e l eft hand .

That wound s c au s e d by bu r ning c ould be h e al e d if p ow

de r e d l oad st one w e r e spr inkl e d ov e r th em w as c onfid ently
t aught even in th e s e vent eenth centu r y However s ome ill .
,

ef f e ct s w er e o cc asi onally r emar k e d wh en th e sub s t ance w as

u se d me dici nally f or it s ome tim e s p r o duc e d me l ancho li a

, .

1”
F rom R o b er t No r man s Th e Newe A ttr activ e L ondon
’
, , 1 581 .

”9
A l d r ovand i M u se um me tal l icu m ” B ononiaa 16 4 8, p 5 6 6
, , , . .

1”
F loss , Das Weib ,
”
L ei p ig z , 189 5, vol . ii, p . 3 50 .
68 THE M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
In thi s case an antidot e w as found in th e eme r al d and w e ar e ,

assu r e d th at if a s oluti on ma d e fr om thi s s t one w e r e t aken

thr ice a d ay f or nine consecutive d ays th e melanchol i a ,

would p as s away .
1 21

In th e six t eenth c entu r y in Indi a it w as b e li e ve d th at ,

a small qu antity o f l o ad s t one t ak e n int er nally p r e se r v e d th e

vigor of youth and Gar cias ab Or t a r e late s th at a king of

,

C e yl on wh en an ol d man o r d er e d that c o oking ut ensil s of

, ,

thi s mate r i al should be made f or h im and h ad al l h is food ,

cooke d in the se G ar cias claims to h ave thi s infor mati on

.

dir e ct fr om a J ew Isaac of C ai r o w h o w as or der e d to make

, ,

th e ve s sel s l 22
.

A lo ad st one amule t f or th e cur e of gout is state d to have

b een wor n by a native of th e E ngli sh c ounty of E ss ex Th e .

s t one w as s ew e d up in a fl anne l c o ve r ing to which w as

att ach e d a bl ack r ibb on f or s u s p ens i on f r om th e ne ck Of .

cou r s e it w as w or n b ene ath th e clothing alth ough th e en ,

casing flanne l mu s t have pr e vent ed dir e ct c ont act with th e

s kin .Thi s pi e c e of magne tic i r on or e m easu r e d ab out an
inch and a h al f in width and w as tw o t enths of an inch ,
-

thick Th e p atient a Mr P e lly w as an e ld er ly man w h o

.
,
.
, ,

h ad su ff er e d f or s ome time fr om annu ally r e cu r ri ng att ack s

o f gout whi ch p r o s t r at e d h im f or f r om th r e e to f ou r month s .

L e ar ning of th e r e put e d vi r tu es of l oad st one s mor e e s ,

p ecial l y of th os e of Golcond a h e s ent to India f or one and ,

h e is s aid to h ave b een th er eby r eli eve d of h is di s e ase .

1 23

In P er s i a a certain s tone r e ce iv e d th e name of S h ah k ev

h e r en o r King of J e we l s f or it w as r e put e d to att r act al l
“ ’
,

o th e r p r e ci ou s s t ones as th e l o ad st one did i r on

, Th e gr e at .

m A l d r ovand i
,
u u
M se m metal l icu m, Bononiae, 16 4 8,
”
5 64, 5 6 6 pp . .

I"
G arcias a b O r a ,
“
A r otm atu m is o r ia
”
h t
( L a in er s ion t
Cl u sius ) , v by
A ntver piae, 1 5 7 9 , p . . l l t ll
17 8 S ee a so V a en ine Ba in Pr o Roy Ir Soc , 3 d S er , c . . . . .

vol .i,p 6 62 ; C o o
. ll quy xl
iii, of th e or o f Gar ias, w k
r ans a e c
f r om th e t l td
Po r tugu g
e se or i ina l .

m Wil l iam ones J , C re dul t

i ies Past and Pr esen , L on on, 1880, t 16 0, d pp .

6
1 ;1 ict
in g P an o r am a,
”
vol vii . .
 MAG I C S TONE S A ND E L E C TRI C GE M S 69

e s t of th e S as s an i an monar chs Khu sr au II ( 59 0 h ad ,

o c cas i on t o t e s t th e p ow e r of thi s w ond e r ful s to ne H e h ad .

l o s t a r ing o f gr e at pr ice in th e r ive r Tigr is ne ar th e sp ot ,

whe r e s ome time l at er th e Moh amme d ans founde d th e city

o f B agd ad Taking a s h ah kevh er cn th e monar ch attach e d
.

it to a line and lit er al ly fished f or his r ing u sing th e magic ,

s t one as a b ait We ar e t old that th e r ing w as r e cover ed

.
,

and thi s mu s t h ave gr e atly add e d to th e r e put ati on of th e

“
K in g o f J e w l
e s
” “ .
1

In th e ninth centu r y A r abi c t r e ati se t r ansl ate d fr om an ,

e ar l i e r S yr i ac t e xt and f al s e ly attr ibut e d to A r i st otl e a ,

numb e r of fabul ou s stone s ar e no t e d All of thes e wer e .

s ai d to h av e attr activ e p r op er ti e s and as th e l oad st one ,

att r act e d i r on; the y attr act e d var i ou s sub s t anc e s e ach h av ,

ing its s p e ci al affi nity F i r st w e ar e t old of th e st one that

.
,

a ttr acte d go ld then in tu rn of s t one s th at attr act e d s ilv er

, , , ,

copp er and oth er met al s

,
P r ob ably th e l e gend o f th e
.
12 5

finding of th es e s t one s is b ase d up on th e empl oym ent o f

ce r t ain mine r al s ub s tances in th e pu r ifyi ng of gold s ilver , ,

e tc . Am ong o th e r fabul ou s o r almo s t fabul ou s s t one s w as

o ne c al l e d as h ab which alth o ugh o f mean app e ar ance w as
, , ,

abl e t o b r e ak th e di am o nd ju s t as th e di amond b r oke al l

o the r s t one s H ave w e he r e an al lu si on to th e p o li shing

1 26
.

of th e diamond by its ow n du s t ? It is not imp r ob abl e that

this ar t in an incomple te fo rm w as known to th e H indu s
, ,

long b e for e it w as p r acti se d and p e r fect e d in E ur op e .

Th e s tone that attr act e d h ai r w as th e light e s t of al l

t
s ones an d v e r y fr a gil e ; a pi e c e as l ar g e as a man s fi st
’

w eigh e d but a dr achm It l ook e d lik e a piece of f u r but . ,

wh en t ouch e d w a s f o un d to b e a s tone Th e s tr ange p o wer s .

of thi s e xt r a o r di n a r y s u bs t anc e c ould e as ily be d emon

no D H
’
er b l o t e B ibl io th
,
equ e Or iental e ,
”
y
L a Ha e, 177 8, p
229 . .

a: Ro s e A ,
i st
“
otl e rd e l apid ibus und A r no l d u s S a o,x”
in Z eitsch . f ur D .

New S er ies , vol vi, 187 5 .

Al t
.

w b
I id , .358 p . .
70 TH E M AG IC OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
s tr ate d , if pl ace d on a h ai r y sp o t o f man o r b e as t th e
f or
hai r w as extr act e d while if it we r e r ubb e d ove r a b ald Sp ot
,

th e h ai r w as m ade to g r ow P r ob ably th e app e ar ance of

.
1 27

ce r t ain miner al s c over e d with fine h ai r lik e s pines su g ,

-
,

ge st e d th e ide a that th e b o dy of th e s t one h ad att r acte d hair

to it se lf and thu s gav e ri se to thi s s t r ang e b e li e f in th e
,

depilatory p ow er of th e s tone or it may have b e en a for m of ,

am b e r that o wi ng to its o p acity w as no t r e c o gniz e d as b e ing

, ,

th e s am e as th e t r ans p ar ent v ar i e ty .

Th e A r abic Ar i s t otl e r e l at e s many wond e r ful t al e s of

s t ones f ou nd by Al e x and e r th e G r e at du ri ng h is A s i atic

c amp aigns ( 3 27 323 While the se ar e al l ap o cr yphal

—
,

the r e can be no d oubt that it w as sub se qu ent to th e se cam

p aigns th at w e s t er n E u r op e w as fir s t mad e fami li ar with
many o f th e p r e ci ou s s t ones of P e r s i a and Indi a One of .

th e s t one s r e p o r t e d by A ri s t otl e b or e th e nam e cl

“ ”

beh actc o r bad d ar e r end er e d in a He b r ew ver s i on d am

,

( p e ar l t ) Thi s w as th e s t one th at attr acte d men as th e

.
,

l o ad st one att r act e d i r on A qu antity of the s e st ones we r e

.

found on th e s e ashor e by th e s oldi e r s o f Al exand er s army ’

,

but th e men w e r e so fas cinate d by th ei r asp e ct as to be

unabl e to gathe r th em up Th e r e for e Al ex ander or der e d .

that th e s o ldi e r s sh ould veil th eir face s or cl o se th ei r eyes , ,

and aft e r c ove r ing th e m ar ve ll ou s s t one s with a cl o th s h ould

, ,

t ak e th em aw ay with out once l ooking at th em H e r eup on .

Ale xande r gav e comm ands that a wall should be built

a r o u nd a c e r t ai n city P os sibly w e h ave her e a di stant
“ ” 128
.

e ch o of th e p e ar l gat e s o f th e New J e r u s al em .

Tw o oth er s t r ange s t one s ar e de s crib e d one of the se ,

app e ari ng on th e s u r f ac e o f th e wat er only du ri ng th e night ,

whil e th e o th e r show s it self du r ing th e d aytim e and sink s

b ene ath th e su r face as so on as th e su n se ts Th e d ay “
.

m I i
bd p . . 370 .
,

bd p
m I i .
, . 3 79 .
 II
flDn meteorites , t el z attal
or a atoms
“ T IS mewh at
diffi cult to obtain tr ustw or thy accounts
1 r egar ding th e o ccur r ence of mete or ites in medi eval
so

and anci ent times as the r e w as a s tr ong tend ency to conf u se

,

th e r eal me t eor ite s wi th flint ar r o w h ea ds and h atchets -

der ived fr om th e st one age A numb er of inte r e sting facts

.

b ear ing on th e hist or y of ce r t ain r e al or s upp ose d aer olites

wer e given in a r ecent le ctur e d eliver e d by P r of Hub er t A . .

Ne wt on in New H av en C onn S ome o f th e mor e s tr iki ng

,
.
1

i nst ances ar e h er e p r esent e d .

A s an illu s tr ati on o f th e w ay in which met eor it e s may

have c ome to be r e ve r ence d in for mer times w e h ave th e ,

mod er n inst anc e of a s t one th at fe ll in th e r egi on nor th of

Z anzib ar on th e E as t Af r ic an co as t and w as seen and
, ,

pick e d up by some she ph e r d b oys At fi r s t al l th e e fi or ts .

of th e Ger man mi ss i onar i e s to buy thi s s t one w er e fr uitl e ss ,

b e cau se th e neighb or ing Wanikas l o ok e d up on it as a god ,

and af t e r se cu r ing p os se s s i on of it p r o ce e de d to ano int it

, ,

with oil cl oth e it with app ar e l and de co r at e it with p ear ls

, .

Th ey al so built a templ e wh er e in th e s tone r e ce iv e d divine

honor s Thi s wor ship endur e d f or s ome time but when
.
, ,

thr ee year s later th e nomad tr ib e s o f th e Masai s woop ed

,

down on th e Wanikas and bu r ne d th eir vill age s and mas

s acr e d many of th e inh abit an t s th e W anikas l o s t al l r es p e ct
,

f or th e s t one and w er e gl ad to p ar t w ith it Thi s c onduct .

w as aft er al l not entir e ly u nr e asonabl e s inc e th e fe ti sh

, , ,

h ad fail e d to p r ov e its di vi ne p ow e r .

Thi s o ccu r r enc e in th e nine t e enth c entu r y may we ll be

3
A m ic n J u n l f S ci nc 4th S
er a o r a o l iii pp 1 13 N w H v n 1 89 7
e e, er . , vo .
, .
-
, e a e , ,

72
By co u r t e s y S o ul c Ph o t o C o

T HE “
M A D O N N A D I F O L IG N O . B Y RA PHA E L
I n t h e V a ti can C o l l ec ti o n, R o m e T h e w h i te cu r v e i n th e mid d l e of kg
th e bac r o u nd s h ow s the
p g
ass a e o f t h e m e t e or t o t h e e ar t h
74 TH E M AGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
for e th e time of Moh ammed w as b e li eve d to have dropp e d ,

fr om h e av en t oge the r with Adam and in many Gr e ek ,

l egend s image s wer e s aid to h ave fallen fr om h e aven Of .

c ou r se in th e case of r e al st atu e s thi s is simply a vague

sup er s titi on but th e s t one v ener at e d in Ph r ygi a as an
,

image of Cyb el e may p os sibly have b een a genuine me t eor ite .

Th e fo ll owi ng fact s in r e l ati on to thi s s tone ar e pr e

s ent e d by P r of e s s o r Ne wt on

It w as c o nic al mass b e ar ing a r ude r esemblanc e to a human h ead and

a ,

w as said to h av e f allen near Pessinu s I t w as pl ac e d in th e Temple of Cyb el e

.

and w ors h ip p e d as h er imag e D ur ing th e se c ond Pu nic w ar in 205 B C

.
,
. .
,

be c aus e of H annib al s p r o l onge d inv asion of It al y th e d ownf all of th e

’
,

Roman st at e w as f e ar e d and th e Romans w er e ter ri fie d by a sho wer of

,

s t ones f r om th e sky On c o ns ulting th e S ibyll ine b ooks some v ers es w er e

.
,

f ound to th e e ff e ct that a f or e ign e nemy c o uld be dri ven f r om It al y if th e

I d aean moth er ( Cyb e l e ) w as b r ought f r om Pessinus in Ph r ygia to Rome .

An emb as s y w as sent to King A tt alu s o f Per gam os to r e qu es t his c onsent

to th e t r ans f er of th e st one an d alth o ugh h e eve n r ef us e d o b edienc e to th e
,

c ommand s of th e De lphic or acle which r e quir e d him to sur r ender th e stone

,

as an ac t of h os p ital ity h e at l as t y ie ld e d wh e n a vio l e nt e ar thqu ake sh ook

,

th e c o untr y and th e v oic e o f th e g o dd ess w as h e ar d enunciating these wor d s :

, ,

I t is my will Rome is a w or thy pl ac e f or any god ; del ay not ”

. .

H e r o di an, w h o l t
thi s st o r y p r oce ed s to nar r ate
r e a es ,

th e ar r ival o f th e s tone at R om e wh e r e S cipi o Afr ic anu s ,

w as ch osen to b ear it to th e Templ e of Vict or y A silve r .

im age of th e godd es s w as mad e th e conical st one ser ving as ,

th e h e ad F or fi ve hund r e d ye ar s thi s image l at e r t r ans

.
,

fer r e d to th e Templ e of th e Gr e at Moth e r of th e Go d s w as ,

an obj e ct o f R oman w o r s hip It h as b een d es crib e d ve r y .

fully by A r nobiu s ( fl 300A D ) H e state s th at it w as a small

. . . .
4

s t one which c o uld be e as ily and lightly c ar r i e d in th e hand ;

it w as of a black h u e and of r ough sur face and h ad many ,

ir r e gul ar p r o j e cting angl e s A s it w as natu r ally mar ke d .

Tit i v
L i i, u be c ndita
Ab r o , l ib . xxix , cap. 11 .

A dver su s G ent e s
”
l ib vii , . .
 ON M E TE ORI TE S , OR C E L E S TI
'

AL S TONE S 75

with th e fo r m of a m onth it w as inse r t e d in th e face of an ,

im age of th e go dd e ss to figur e that fe atu r e .

A s th e s t one w as v al u e l e s s m od e r n e xpl or er s l ong h o p e d

,

that it might not have b een car ri e d o f f fr om Rome by th e

s p o il e r s but th e s e ar ch f or it h as b een in v ain
,
In a r ar e .

volume d es cr ibing e xcavati ons made in th e P al atine hill in

1 7 30 P r ofe ssor L anciani is s t at e d to h ave found a s t one th at
,

h ad b een une ar th e d at th at time in a ch ap e l l acking any ,

ins cr ipti on to indicate th e divini ty to whom it w as de dicate d .

Thi s s t one w as s ai d to be
:
“
of a d e e p b r own c o l o r l ooking ,

ve r y much lik e a pi e ce of l ava and ending in a sh ar p p o int ,

”
.

Th e s imil ar ity of thi s d es c r ip ti on to th at of A rnobiu s indi

cate s th at th e C yb el e s t one m ay r e ally have b e en found in
1 7 3 0 but it h as since di s app e ar e d
,
It wo uld h ave b een .

e xt r em e ly i nt e r e s ti ng f o r mi ne r al o gi s t s if th ey c ould h ave

b e en enabl e d to ex amine thi s supp ose d met eor ite p e r h ap s ,

th e ve r y e ar li es t r e gar ding which w e h ave s uch definite

inf or mati on .

To th r ow it int o gr e at e r r e lie f it w as s u r r ou nd e d by a
s ilve r r im Wh en fir s t br ought to land fr om th e ship on
.

which it h ad b ee n t r ansp or te d to Rome th e s acr e d st one w as ,

confid e d to th e car e o f a comp any of Roman matr ons w h o

p as se d it on fr om one to anoth er as it w as s ol emnl y b o rne
to th e Templ e o f Vict or y .
5

Wh e the r thi s s t one w as r eally a me t eor ite as tr aditi on ,

t aught or whe the r it w as a fossil of th e typ e l at er known

,

as h ys te r iol ith us as w as c onj e ctu r e d by M F al connet in

,
.
,

17 r emains d oubtful Its light w e ight up on which qu al

.
,

ityA r nobiu s l ays s t r e ss and its p e culi ar form s e em to favor

,

somewh at th e l att er supp o s iti on A similar s t one to whi ch .

divine honor s we r e p aid w as in a t empl e on Mount I d a .

5
P ud nt iu
r Hym u X
e s1 1 15 6 15 7
n s Th i w it
, w b n in 34 8
, , . s r er as or A .D.

and di d about 4 10
e .

Dis s t ation su r l a p ier r d e l a M e ux in M ém

’
er e re d e s Die , . d e l A cad .

d es Inscr ip e t Be ll e Le ttr es vol xx xviii p

. s , .
, . 3 7 0; Par is, 1 77 0 .
76 TH E M AGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
In p r ehi stor ic tim e s me te or ite s w e r e quite natu r al ly
supp o s e d to p o s s ess a s p e ci al s anctity and w er e ind e e d r e ,

gar d e d as animate d by th e ve r y e s sence of s om e divinity .

Th e name b aetylu s given to th e s e s t one s by G r e ek s and

,

R omans is d er iv e d fr om th e H e b r ew
, ( b ethe l ) or
h ou se of God a term indicating cl e ar ly enough th e be
”
,

li e f h e ld by th e anci ent H eb r ew s ia r e gar d to me te or ites ,

o r supp os e d me t eo r it e s H ow e v e r l ong b e for e thi s d e sig

.
,

na ti on h ad r e ach e d th e Gr e e k s c e r t ain m e t e o r it e s h ad b een ,

a cc or d e d a p e culi ar r e ve r enc e an d e v en w o r s hip One of ,

.

th es e w as a black s t one call e d th e Omphal o s of Delphi ,

.

Thi s w as said to be th e s t one gi v en by Rh e a to Kr onos wh en

sh e s ub s titut e d a s t one f or h e r o f f sp ri ng Z e u s to s ave him ,

fr om b e ing d evou r e d by h is fath er Kr ono s Zeu s hims e lf , .

( or Kr onos ) thr e w it down to th e E ar th and th e sp o t wh e r e it

s t r uck w a s s upp ose d to be th e c ent r e o f th e E ar th h enc e ,

th e name Omph al os or nave l s t one

”
Me teor ite s p r oba
,
-
.

bly playe d an imp ort ant p ar t in th e de ve lopment of civiliza

tion f or it is b e li eve d th at th e e ar lie st i r on tool s and
,

we ap ons we r e m ad e fr om met e or ic i r on app ar ently th e only ,

supply av ail abl e b e f o r e th e ar t o f t r eating i r on o r e s h ad

b e en e vo lve d .
7

Wh ile th er e is admitt e dly but scant evidence o f th e

e xi s t ence o f a S t one A ge in C hi na and s till l e ss to i ndicat e ,

th at Chine se civiliz ati on p as se d thr ough such a p er i od a ,

cer tain numb er of st one ar te fact s al l p oli sh e d h av e b een , ,

found w ithin th e limit s o f China H ow eve r cu r i ou sly .

,

enough in vi e w o f thi s s t at e o f thing s w e fi nd th at h e r e as , ,

almo s t e v e r ywh e r e e l s e the s e obj e ct s w e r e p opular ly r e

,

gar de d as thund e r b olts

“
Thu s C hi en Tsang Ki th e .
” -
,

auth or of a M at e r i a M e dica c omp ose d in th e fi r s t h alf of ,

th e e ighth centu r y o f ou r e r a s t at e s that obj e ct s of thi s ,

M ie r s, Fa ll of M eteor it es in A ncient and M od er n Time s, c

S ien ce Pro g
re ss , vol . vii, No 8
.
, J uly ,
189 8 , p . 351 .
78 TH E MAG IC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

wo r ld th e r e can be littl e or no doubt that such a r ace exi s te d

,

in C hina alth ough a s yet w e h av e no di s ti nct e vid ence s of it

,
.

Th e B abyl oni an r oyal a s t r o l o ge r s t aught th at th e me r e

fact of th e p as s age of a me te o r ac r o ss th e h e ave ns wh e the r ,

its c o u r s e w e r e fr om e as t to w e s t o r f r om no rt h to s outh , ,

w as a go o d ome n p or t e ndi ng vict or y and th e succ e s s ful

,

i ssu e of th e r oyal p r o j e cts E s p e ci ally favo r abl e w as th e .

augu r y wh en th e me t e o r w as v e r y b r illi ant and l e ft b e hind

it a t r ail th at might be likene d to th e t ail of a sc or pion .

Thi s no t only for e t o ld joy f o r th e r u l er and h is h o u se but ,

f or th e e nti r e c ount r y ; e vil w o uld be o ve r com e r ight e ou s ,

ne ss w ould r e ign sup r em e and p r o s p e r ity w ould p r e vail ,

A .

me t e or o f thi s typ e is r e cor d e d as having app e ar e d at th e

time Ne buch adne zz ar l ai d wast e E lam ab out 1150 Thi s
r e fe r s to th e e ld e r Nebuch adne zz ar
9
.

A curi ou s s er i es o f cune ifor m te xt s tr e at s of th e p r ogno s

tics to be d r aw n fr om th e tr ansfo r mati ons of s tar s int o
var i ou s animal s me tal s s tones e tc Thi s is expl aine d as
, , ,
.

r e fe r r ing to th e app ar e nt f o r m o r h u e o f th e me t e or it s e lf ,

o r o f th e t r ail it l e ft b ehi nd Th e tr ans form ati ons into .

s t one s c onc e r n th e du s hu s t one p o r phyr y ( o r s om e o th er -

d ar k r e d o r pu r ple s t one ) and l api s l az uli Thi s omen is .

inv ari ably a favo r abl e one .

10

Th e Ol d Te s t am ent o f f e r s abund ant t e stimony of th e

anci ent b eli e f th at c e r t ain s t ones w e r e animat e d by a divine

s pi r it In r e gar d to thi s B e nzinge r w r it e s “

. I t w a s not
,
11

Yahweh w h o found Jacob at B e th e l but r ath e r J acob w h o

found Yahweh th e r e H e ano int s th e st one ; that is h e .
,

s ac ri fic e s to it f o r th e divi nity r es iding in th e s t one h as

,

c au s e d h is dr e am Acco r ding to B enz inge r s opini on th e

.
” ’

A r k of th e C ov enant ori gi nally s e r v e d as r e ce ptacl e f or a

M
°
i J t w J
or r s Di R l ig i n B byl ni n
as r o , r ., d A y ie l e o a o e s un ss r ens, vo . 1 1,

Pt I I , G ie sse n, 19 12,
. pp . 6 89 , 6 9 0 .

b d pp
I i , 69 2 —6 9 4
. . .

u
Be nz inger , H ebr aisch e Ar ch i ol ogie, Fr ei bur g i B
. .
, 1 89 4 , p . 3 70.
 ON ME TE ORI TE S, OR C E LE S TI
'

AL S TONE S 79

t
s one of thi s typ e and w as hence r e gar d ed as s helt e r ing a
,

divinity .

One o f th e v e r y e ar li e s t r e fe r e nce s to m e t e o r it es app e ar s

in th e B o o k o f J os hu a ( ch ap x v e r s e whe r e w e r e ad in
.
, ,

th e acco unt of th e b a ttl e f ought by th e I s r ae lit es agains t

th e A m o r it e s and th e i r alli e s th at th e L or d c as t d o wn
,
“

gr e at s t one s fr om h e ave n up on th e Am or ite s so th at m or e

’
,

o f th e l att e r w e r e kill e d by th e se s t o ne s th an by th e w e ap ons

o f th e I s r ae lit e s Admitting th e hi st or ical ch ar acte r o f th e

.

acc o unt thi s f all o f me t e o r it e s p r ob ably t ook pl ac e in th e

,

twe lfth ce ntu r y In an A s syr i an cune ifo rm ins c r ipti on ,

the r e is m enti on o f th e s e v en bl ack s t one s of th e city of

Ur k a in C hald e a Th e s e we r e bcetyl i and we r e r e gar d e d
.

as r e p r e s ent ati ons o f th e s eve n pl an e t s .

12

Th e f all of me t e o r s is no te d fr e qu ently in Chine se r ec

o r d s th e fi r s t ins t anc e d ating fr om 644
, Of a me t eor th at
fell in 213 w e ar e t o ld th at it d e s ce nd e d as a s t ar which

tu rne d to a s t o ne as it fell A me te o r ite th at fe ll in

.
” 13

C hina in 21 1 is s aid to h ave b e e n th e i ndi r e ct c au se of

many d e ath s Th e e ve nt t oo k pl ace du r ing th e r e i gn of th e
.

tyr annical emp e r o r C h i H o ang ti w h o h ad incu r r e d th e —

,

r e s e ntm e nt o f al l th e C hi ne s e l itte r ati by h is wh o l e s al e bu r n

ing of b oo k s S ome b e li e ve r in th e p ow er of sor c e ry c au s e d

.

an ins c r ipti on to be cut on thi s s t one p r e dicting th e d e ath

o f th e h at e d em p e r o r within a y e ar and wh en ne w s of th e ,

fact c ame to th e m onar ch s e ar s h e gave o r d e r s to h ave th e

’

s t o ne s plit up and to put to d e ath al l th e i nh abit ant s o f th e

,

place whe r e it w as found thi s b e ing no d oubt l ooke d up on as

,

a mos t ef f e ctive c onju r ati on of th e s p e ll

14
.

In 405 L ys and e r w on his gr e at vict or y ov e r th e

‘3
tt
Leno rmant , Le r es A ssyr iol ogiqu es , Par is , 1872, vo l ii, 1 18
”
. p . .

M e s,
i r F a o f M i
e eor e s in ll
A n ie ntand M ot er n Tim es,
”
c t
S ien e Pr o d c c g
r css, vol vii, No 8,
.
, 189 8,. 3 49 July p . .

. . . l d
E F F Ch a ni, “ V erz eich niss d er era h
ef a enen S ein u nd E ise n bg ll t .

lb t
massen, ” p 5 ; G i e r ’s A nna en d er P si , vol 1
. l hy k . .
80 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE LS A ND C HARM S

Athenian fl e e t at E gospotami in Thr ace and Plutar ch ,

wr ite s in hi s life of Lysander th at a stone which fel l fr om

, ,
15

th e h e avens a s h or t time b e for e th e b attl e w as r e gar d e d

by many as a p or t ent pr e dicting th e d r e adful s l aught e r that
w as to ensu e At th e time Plut ar ch wr ote ( cir ca 150 A D )
,
. .

thi s st one could s till be seen at n osp otami wh er e it w as ,

r e g ar d e d with gr eat vene r ati on by th e C h e r so nite s Th e .

Gr eek phil o so ph e r Anax agoru s is said to h av e p r e dict e d th e

fall of thi s me te or it e as h e h ad ob s er ve d cer tain per tur
,

bations in th e mov em e nt s o f th e h e av enly b o di e s A s A nax a .

go r u s di e d in 428 h is p r e dicti on mu s t h ave l ong ante

dat e d th e fal l of th e met e or ite .

A d e t ail given in one of th e e ar ly r e cital s might p ossibly

h ave c onstitut e d th e b asis o f a p r e diction by some con
t emp or ar y physici s t In th e l att er p ar t of his account of
.

th e ph enome non Pluta r ch qu ot e s fr om a Tr e ati s e on R e lig

ion by a c e r tain D aimach u s to th e e ff e ct th at f or se venty
, , ,

fi ve d ays b efo r e th e fall of th e me t eo r it e a v ast fi e r y b ody ,

w as s e en in th e h e av ens in app e ar anc e like a flaming

“
,

cloud . Thi s w ell de s cr ib e s th e app e ar ance of a gr eat

”

come t and might be r e gar d e d as signific ant when w e con

,

s id er th e l at e s t mo d e r n th e o ry o f th e o r igin of me t e or s ,

acco r ding to which th es e b o di e s ar e d e t ach e d p ar ticl es of a

come tar y aggr e gation Of thi s me teor ic mass said to h ave

.

fal l en at n osp otami Pliny s t ate s th at it w as as lar ge as

,

a wagon and of a du sky h u e adding th at a b r illi an t c ome t

,

w as vi sibl e at th e tim e o f its f al l R e gar di ng th e as s er .

tion th at A nax agor u s pr e di cte d th e occu r r ence Pliny d e ,

cl ar e s th at this p r e di ction if tru e w as a gr e at er mi r acl e

, ,

th an th e fal l o f th e me teor A p or ti on of th e st one w as

.

p r e s e r ve d as a vener ate d r e lic in th e town of P otidae a .

16

“
V itae , ” Lipsize , 1879 ,
Pl u t ar ch i, p
3 94 ; L san er , 12
. y d .

“
. l
C Pl inii S ecundi, “ H isto r ic natur a is, V enetiis, 15 07, f ol . 8, re cto ;
l ib ii , cap 60
. . .
82 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

re p r esent e d on th e s ilv er coins of Mari um in Cyp r u s H er e .

th e r adi anc e and s pl end or of th e obj e ct sugge s t e d a s t e ll ar

o r c e l es ti al o r i gi n and w e s e e th e s am e t e nd ency at w o r k in
,

th e applicati on of th e name ocm a nice ( thunde r s tone s ) to -

ce r t ain b r illiant gems by Pliny .

20

Vi r gil s eems to c onfound with thunde r th e d e tonati on

21

o f a b o lid e f o ll o w e d by a t r ai n of light and h e s eem s al so

, ,

to c onfound th e b olid e it s e lf with a lightning fl as h f or h e ,

say s th at its fall di f fu s e d a s ulphu r ou s v ap o r f ar and wid e .

S ene ca w a s m o r e c r itical f o r h e r e gar d e d th e fact of thun ,

d e r some time s acc omp anying th e fall o f a me t e or it e as

me r e ly a c oincid enc e .

Although in th e ab sence of e x act and t r u s twor thy con

,

temp or aneou s acc ount s of th e fall of the se s acr e d st one s w e ,

canno t be ab s olut ely c e r t ain th at th ey wer e me te or it e s th e ,

te s timony in s ever al c ase s is suffi cient to r end e r thi s almost

ce r tain whil e in many oth er case s the r e is no r e as on to
,

d oubt th e sub stanti al accu r acy of th e t r adition Th e choice .

o f s ome o f th e be tyl i h o we ve r w as d e t e rmi ne d by th e i r

, ,

form alone to which w as as cr ib e d a r eli gi ou s significance

, ,

not e x actly c omp atibl e with ou r r e li gi ou s id e as of to d ay -

,

but quite e asily und er st ood wh en w e r ememb er th at th e

divine cr e ative ene r gy w as concr e t ely r ep r e s ent e d in anci ent
time s by many sym b ol s of f ensive to ou r s ens e of p r op r i e ty .

In th e t r e ati se “
On Riv er s ”
att ri but e d to Plut ar ch a , ,

s t one is s aid to h av e b ee n fo u nd o n M ou nt C r oniu s which ,

b or e th e name of cylinder “ ”
When Jupite r thunder e d .
,

thi s s tone t er ri fi e d by th e noi se r oll e d d own fr om th e top

, ,

o f th e m ou nt ai n Thi s p ass age is int e r e s ting as sugge st

22
.

ing one o f th e r e as ons which c au s e d th e name thund e r b olt ‘

”
L enor mant, in D ar ember g
F . and S agl io s Di et
’
. des an tiq g ecques
. r et

romaine s, vo l i .
, p
6 45, Par is , 187 3
. . S ee Fig 7 39 . .

”
A en ii, 6 9 2—6 9 8
. .

De Me ly ,
“
Le t r ai té d e s fleu ve s d e Pl u tar ch e in R e vu e d es Et ude s

Gr e c que s , vol .v p . 3 34 .
 ON ME TE ORI TE S , OR C E L E STIA L S TONE S 83

to be gi ven to cer t ain s tone s f o r s tone s adapt e d to or na ,

ment al u se might e asily be exp os e d by th e w e ath e r i ng of th e

r o ck s and th en d e t ach e d by th e c oncu ssi on p r o duc e d by
,

heavy thunde r Of cou r se th e cylinde r st one h er e men .

,
-

tioned mu s t h ave mor e e sp e ci ally s ignifi e d one o f th e p r e

hi s tor ic ce lts but it is not unlik e ly th at th e name w as also
,

given to o the r unwo r k e d st one s h aving a simil ar fo r m

, , .

B ef or e G alb a w as ch os en e mp er or and when h e w as ,

acting a s g over nor of th e B as qu e p r o vi nc es in S p ai n a thun ,

d er bol t d e s cend e d up on th e s h or e of a l ak e in th at r e gi on .

S e ar ch w as mad e f or th e s tone s which w e r e supp o s e d to

h ave fal l en and S u e t oniu s te lls u s th at twe lve ax e s we r e
,

found Thi s w as r e gar de d a s a su r e augur y of Galb a s

.
’

e l e v ati on to th e imp e r i al dignity but f or th e ar chaeologi st 23

,

th e p r e s ence of th e ax e s me r e ly s i gni fie s th at thi s w as th e

s it e of a l ak e dwe ll e r s vill age
’
.

I n s ome c ase s th e s t one which w as h eld to be a dwe lling

,

pl ace of th e divinity w as al so r e gar ded as a r ep r es entati on ,

or e pit ome o f s ome s acr e d mou nt ai n

, In th e e ar li e s t s tage .

of thi s b e li e f th e god w as s upp o s e d to h ave h is ab o d e in

,

th e mou nt ain and l at er h e w as th ought to animat e th e s t one

,

which h ad a fancie d lik eness in sh ap e to th e mount ain A .

c oin of th e Roman emp e r or E lagab alu s ( 204— 222

b e ar s on its r e ve r se a r e p r e sentati on of one of th e s acr e d
st one s o f A s t ar t e name ly th at w or shipp e d at S id on ,
Thi s ,
.

is sh own r es ting up on a car and it se ems p r ob abl e th at it ,

w as tr ans p or t e d fr om pl ace to pl ac e s o that l ar ge numb e r s ,

p er a L ipsia 1 886 p 203 ; Galba 8

Su e to nii,
“
O ,
”
e, , .
, .

Th i name signifies M untain G od and it s assum pt ion by th em

“ -
”
s o e

p ma k d h is d evotion t o t h wo sh ip of th e d ivinity animat ing th stone

e r ot r e e r e

of E mesa E l G ab al wh ich E l agabu l u s h ad c onv eye d to R ome wh e e it t e

, , , r

maine d u ntil 222 A D Th is st on w as rega de d as a miniatu e re p sent at ion

. . e r r re

of th e s ac e d mountain near E m sa Th e st one is fi gu d n th au u of th e

r e . re o e re s

emp o U aniu s A nto niu s

er r r S ee C h L eno mant Rev Numismatiqu e 1843 . . r , .
, ,

p 273
. . sq ., Pl . IX, No . 1 .
84 TH E M AGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
of p eopl e could h ave th e p r ivil e ge o f p aying r ever ence to it .

Th e r e s e e ms to be fai r ly s tr ong r e asons f o r th e b e li e f

that th e B l ack S t one of th e K aab a at M e cca is an ae r o lit e .
25

If th e c onj e ctu r e be c o r r e ct thi s s to ne o ccupi e s a u niqu e ,

pl ace among m e t e or ic mas s e s f or it w as an obj e ct o f w o r ,

s hip f o r many c entu r i e s b e fo r e th e a dv e nt o f M o h amm e d ,

and is to d ay r e gar d e d with th e high es t r e ve r e nc e by one

-

hundr e d and twenty milli ons of Mo h amm e dans One of .

th e mo s t sol emn act s p e r fo r me d by th e pilg r ims at M e cca

is th e ki s sing of th e B l ack S t one and sh ould any one d oubt ,

that t r u e r e ligi ou s enthu siasm is ar ou s e d by thi s act h e ,

sh ould r e ad th e fo ll o wing wor d s o f Ibn B atou tah

26

Th e yes p er ceive in it a wond er f ul b eauty similar to th at of a young

e ,

br ide ; in kis sing it one f eels a pl e as ur e that de lights th e mouth and wh o ,

e v er kisses it w is h es h e might ne v er c e as e to d o so ; f or th is is an inh er ent

quality in it and a d ivine gr ace in its f avo r L et u s only c ite th e wor ds of .

th e Pr o phe t in th is c onne ction : Cer t ainly it is th e r ight h and o f God on

e arth
”
.

F or centu r i e s b e for e Moh amm e d s time th e Kaab a at ’

Me cca h ad b e en a fam ou s s anctu ar y and a r e ligi ou s c entr e

f o r th e nomadic A r ab s I t is stat e d th at th er e we r e 360
.

id ol s in th e t empl e a numb e r which sugge st s a conne cti on

,

with th e y e ar o f 360 days in u s e am ong th e Ar ab s Th e .

mo s t c e l e b r at e d of th e s e ido l s b o r e th e nam e o f H ob al and ,

w as th e figu r e of a m an ou t ou t o f r e d ag at e Th e r e w as a .

t r adition to th e eff e ct th at thi s idol h ad b e en b r ought fr om

B e lk a in S yr i a A s one of th e h and s w as b r ok en o ff th e
.
,

Ko r e i sh th e A r ab t r ib e h avi ng ch ar ge of th e Kaab a r e
, ,

pai r e d thi s d e fe ct by att aching a g old en h and in which ,

we r e h e ld s even ar r ows pl ain sh aft s with out h e ad s or ,

fe ath e r s simil ar to th e ar r ows u se d f or d ivinati on by th e

,

L enor mant, Le tt A s syr io l ogiqu es , ” Par is , 187 2 , vol i i ,

r es . p 123
. .

Vo yages ’
d Ibn B at ou t ah
”
Tr ans a io n
. l t
C D e f r e me r y by . and B . R .

S angu inett e, vo l . i, 3 d E d .
,
Par is , 189 3 , p . 3 14 .
 AL S TONE S
O N M E T E O R I T E S , OR C E L E S TI 85
'

A ab
r s F o s o m e o ccult r e as o n th e a gat e w a s s upp o s e d to
. r

ex er ci s e a ce r t ain c ontr ol o ve r m e t e o r ol o gical phe nomena ,

f o r in P e r s i a it w as b e li e v e d to war d of f t emp e s t s whil e
,

p r aye r s f o r r ai n in time o f d r ought w e r e made to thi s agate

image o f th e K aab a .
27

Much h as b e en w r itte n r e gar ding th e B l ack S t one but ,

p e r h ap s th e m o s t s ati sfact o r y d e s cr iption is th at given by

B u r ckh ar dt w h o wr it e s ,
28

A t th e Nor th -
e as t c or ner of th e Kaabah , near th e d oor , is th e f amo us
B l ac k S t one it f or ms p ar t
l th e bu ild ing at f r om
of th e s harp ang e o f

f o u r to fi ve f ee t abo v e th e gr o und I t is an irr egul ar o v al ab o ut se ve n inches .

,

in d iame ter w ith an u nd ulat e d s ur f ac e c omp ose d o f ab o ut a d oz en smal l er

, ,

st ones of d iff er ent siz es and sh ap es w ell j oine d t ogether w ith a small ,

q u antity o f c e me nt and p e r f e ctly smoo th ; it l o oks as if th e wh ol e h ad been

,

br o ken int o many p ie c es by a v iol ent bl ow and th en unit e d again I t is ,

.

ve r y d iffi cult to deter mine accur ately th e qual ity of th is stone which h as ,

b e en wor n to its p r ese nt s ur f ac e by th e millions o f t o uch es and kiss es it

h as r e c e iv e d I t a p p e ars to me l ike l ava c o nt aining se v er al small e xt r aneo us
.
,

p articl es of a wh it ish and of a y ello wish sub stance Its c o lo r is now a d eep .

r e dd is h b r o wn a p p r o ach ing to bl ac k
-
,
.

Thi s d e s cr ipti o n s e em s to su pp or t th e co nj e ctu r e that th e

s t o ne is a m e t e o r it e Th e inju r i e s it h as su s t ai ne d ar e
.

att r ibut e d to v ar i o u s accid ent al o r i nt e nti onal c au s es In .

th e e ar ly p ar t of th e M oh amm e d an e r a th e K aab a w a s
d am age d by fi r e and th e int ense h e at cau s e d th e st one to
,

b r eak into th r e e pi e ce s Thi s inju r y w as r e p ai r e d but som e . ,

ye ar s l at e r ( 9 26 A D ) th e h e r e tic s e ct o f th e C ar m ate s cap

. .

tu r e d a n d s a ck e d M e cc a H o pi n g t o div e r t to ano th e r pl ac e
.

th e tid e o f pilg r i m s a n d t h e r ich e

,
s th e y b r ought with th e m ,

th e l e a d e r o f t h e s e ct c a u s e d t h e s t o ne to be w r e nch e d f r o m

its pl a c e a n d b o r n e a w a y to H e d j ez D u r i ng th e s ack o f .

M e cc a o r
,
p o s s ibly i n its vi o l e nt r em o val th e s t one w as ,

b r ok e n i n t o tw o pi e c e s p e r h ap s al o ng th e li ne o f one o f
,
—

2"
Sa l Th e K e, or a n ( P r e l imina ry D isc our se ) , Ph il a , 185 3 , . p . 14 .

B u r ckh a dt ve l b d p
23 r Tr a s in A r a ia, Lo n o n, 1 829 , . 13 7 .
,
86 TH E M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
th e ol d fr actu r e s At fir s t an o f f e r of . dinar s
000) w as made f or th e r e tu r n of th e s t one but b e for e many ,

ye ar s h ad p as se d th e C armate s r e st or e d it voluntari ly h av ,

ing b e en di s app oint e d in th e ir h o p e of att r acting th e pil f

gr ims Th e B lack S t one w as de s tine d to su ff e r s till gr e at e r

.

inju r y In 1022 A D H ak em th e r ule r of E gypt w h o su f

. . .
, , ,

f er e d fr om me gal omania and w as di s p o s e d to cl aim divine

honor s f or him self di sp atche d an emi s sar y to Me cca to ,

de s tr oy th e s t o ne Mixing with th e c r o wd o f pilgri ms this

.
,

man app r o ach e d th e r e ve r e d r e lic and c r ying ou t H ow “

,

l ong sh al l thi s s tone be ad o r e d and ki sse d ? s tr uck it a ”

tr em endou s bl ow wi th a club Th e s t or y r uns that onl y .

thr e e smal l pi e ces w er e b r oken fr om th e s tone but as it is ,

al s o s t at e d th at th e s e pi e c e s w e r e pulv e r iz e d and th e p owd er

mad e i nt o a c e me nt to fill up th e cr acks th e inju r y w as ,

p r ob ably much gr e ate r th an th e pi ou s Moh amm e dans we r e

willing to admit .
29

Mohamm e d an t r aditi on t e ach es th at th e B l ack S t one

w as s e nt fr om h e av en and w as onc e pu r e and b r illi ant ; it
only gr e w bl ack b e c au s e o f th e s ins o f m e n L e g end r e l ate s .

that Ab r ah am s t o o d on thi s st one du r ing th e c onstr uction

o f th e K aab a Thi s e dific e w a s e r e ct e d in a mi r acul ou s
.

w ay f or th e s t one s c am e o f th ems e lve s al l cut and p oli sh e d

, , ,

fr om th e Mountain of A r afat H owev e r no plac e w as found .

,

f o r th e B l ack S t one and it w as affl ict e d and s aid to Ab r a

,

h am “
Wh y have not I al so b e en u s e d f o r th e H ou se of
:

B e c omfor t e d r e pli e d th e P r oph e t ;

“
f o r I will
” ”
G od ? ,

s e e th at you ar e m o r e h ono r e d th an any o th e r s t one o f th e

e dific e I will c omm and al l me n in th e name of Go d th at

.
,

the y sh all ki s s you wh en th ey p as s in th e p r o ce s si on .

A fr agm ent of th e B l ack S t one of Me cca w as b r ought to

B agd ad in 9 5 1 A D by or d er of th e K h alif Mo ti L ill ah and
. .
,

”
B u ckh a dt Tr ave l s in A abia London 1829 p 16 7
r r ,
“
r , , , . .

C h a din V oyag A m ste dam 17 3 5 vol iv p

”
r n P se
,
e e er ,
r , , .
, . 17 1 .
88 TH E M AGIC OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
hi gh pl ace in th e esteem of th e A r ab s Of th e B lack S tone .
,

a native of M e cca w h o s aw th e s tone wh en it h ad b een t aken

ou t of th e wall o f th e building in th e c ou r se o f th e l at e s t ,

r e st or ati on o f th e s t r uctu r e s t at es th at its i nner su r fac e,

is of a gr ayi s h h u e .
32

Th e Kaab a al s o cont aine d th e Maqu am Ib r ah im a sacr e d ,

s t one p r e ser ve d fr om pr e I s l amit e times and b r ought int o

-
,

conne ction with th e hi stor y of A br aham by th e Moh amme

d an l e gends Thi s s t one encl os e d in a r e c e pt acl e of lik e
.
,

mat er i al w as at one time buri e d in th e gr ou nd u nderne ath

,

th e buil ding but r e c ept acl e and encl ose d s t one ar e now s et
,

within th e i r on gr atings which p artiti on o f f a par t of th e

s p ac e ins ide th e cup ol a o ve r th e pulpit of th e Mosqu e of

Me cc a .
33

An Ori ent al p oem by A ssmai d et ailing th e w ond er ful

e xpl o it s o f th e h e r o Ant ar d e s cr ib e s th e w ay in which h e
,

b ec ame p os se s se d of a matchl es s s wor d One day h e came .

up on tw o knight s in desp er at e encount er ; on seeing h im

th ey p au se d in th ei r strife and to h is qu es tion as to its cau se
one o f th e c omb at ant s t o ld him that th e y w er e b r o th er s ,

s ons of a gr e at A r ab emi r r e ce ntly d e c e as e d Th ei r father

, .

h ad onc e found a bl ack s t one in app ear anc e lik e a common ,

p ebbl e but p osse sse d of such p enetr ative p ower th at when

,

a h er d sman th r e w it at a c am e l it tr ave r se d th e animal s

’

b ody inflicting a gaping wound Th e emir immedi at ely

, .

r e co gni z e d th at th e s t one mu s t be a thunder s tone as —

,

me t eor i tes we r e call e d ; h e ther e for e se cu r e d p os sessi on of

it and c ommande d h is most skilful smith s to f or ge a swor d
fr om it Wh en thi s t ask h ad b een succe s s fully p er formed
.

th e emi r cl o th e d th e smith in a r ob e of h ono r and then , ,

dr awing th e new swor d fr om its she ath cut ofi h is he ad ,

with a s ingl e s tr oke Thi s s e r ve d at once as a t e s t of

.

“ Dr C S nou ck Hur gronje,

. .
-
M e kka, ” Haa g, 1888, vol . i, pp . 2, 4, 5 .

“
Op cit , 11
. . p . .
 ON M E TE ORI TE S , OR C E L E S TI L STONE S A 89

th e we ap on s qu ality and as an as su r ance that it would

’

no t so on be duplicat e d On h is de ath be d th e e mi r c all e d

.
-

to h im his y ou nge s t s on and said to h im : My son t ak e th e “

,

sw o r d and hid e it f r om you r b r o th e r and wh en

you shall ,

s e e th at h e h as s e iz e d m
y goo d s and is s qu and e r ing th em
in ri o t o u s living and send s you away without r e ve r enc e
, ,

f or th e L o r d of H e av e n and E ar th t ak e th e sw o r d aw ay ,

with you If you b r ing it to th e c ou r t of th e P e r si an King

.
,

Khu s r au Nu shir w an h e will h e ap gifts and honor s up on,

you or if you e l e ct to go ins t e ad to th e c ou r t of th e B yz an

,

tine Owsar m onar ch of th e S er vants of th e C r o s s h e will

, ,

give you as much gold and s ilver as you may ask f o r .

Thi s w as th e t al e t o ld by th e y ou nge r knight w h o add e d ,

th at whe n after th e fathe r s de ath th e b r oth e r h ad sought

,
’
,

in v ain f o r th e fam ou s swo r d h e h ad r esor t e d to t or tu r e ,

to e xt r act fr om th e fav or e d s on th e s e cr e t o f its hiding

place and h ad b r ought th e l atter to thi s s p ot c ommanding
,

him to fi nd it and giv e it up and wh e n h e r e fu se d s o to d o , ,

h ad att ack e d h im Th e h e r o A nt ar lik e a v e r it abl e knight

.
,

e r r ant t o ok up th e qu ar r e l o f th e o pp r e s s e d b r o th e r and
,

s l e w h is o pp onent s e cu r i ng as a fr e e will of f e r ing of g r ati

,
-

tud e th e magic swo r d .

34

Th e for ging of sw o r d s fr om me t eor ic i r on w as in th e ,

o pini on o f th e Or i e nt ali s t H amm e r Pu r gs t all th e or igin -

,

o f th e ch ar act e r i s tic s u r fac e given to th e f amou s Dam as cu s

blade s A mos t inter e s ting m od er n ex am ple of a mete or ic

.

i r on weap on is a dagge r mad e by V on Widmanstad t f or

E mp e r or F r anci s I o f Au s t r i a ou t of th e famou s B oh emi an ,

s id e r it e l ong p r e s er ve d in th e Rath au s at E lb o gen and

known as th e V e rw iinsch te Bu r ggr af

“ ”
On th e su r fac e .

o f thi s bl ad e h ow e ve r th e line s w er e angul ar whil e on th e

, , ,

Fr om H amm er -Pur gstal l

’
s F un dgr ube t
d es Or ien s, vo l iv, He f . t 3;
cite d by E F F C a ni,
. . Ne . hl d ues V r e ich nisse zh b
d e r er a gef a enen S ein ll t u nd

Eisenm as sen,
”
p . 55 ; Gilber t s A nnal en d er Phy k
’
si , vol 1 . .
90 TH E M AGI C OF JE WE L S A ND CH ARMS
t r u e D am as cu s blade th e line s ar e w avy A n unsucc e s sful .
35

att empt to for g e a s w o r d f r om a pi e c e o f me t e o r ic i r on is

r e p o r t e d by A vic enna in th e c as e of a sid e r it e th at f e ll at

Ju r g an in 1009 A D fr om which sw or d s that w e r e or d e r e d

. .
,

to be m ad e by th e S ultan o f Kh o r ass an c ould no t be

ex e cut e d
36
.

ii an A r abic w o r k b e ar i ng th e name of Avic e nna and

entitl e d Th e C u r e th e wr ite r m enti ons a me t e or it e which

“ ’
,

fe ll in th e Jo r dan and of which S ult an Mohamm e d Ghazni ,

wi s h e d to h av e a swor d m ad e f or h im thu s p r oving that th e ,

S ult an b e li e v e d th at me t eor it e s p os se sse d m ar v e ll ou s

p r op e r ti e s .
37

A numb er of Gr e ek and R om an c oins b e ar ing r ep r es en

tations of th e s e sa cr e d m e t e o r it es h av e c om e d o wn to u s ,

and mo r e than tw o hu nd r e d S p e cim ens may be s e e n in th e

s e cti on of m e t e or it e s in th e Natu r al H i s to r y Mu s eum

( Kanigl ich kai se r lich e s natu r h istor ich e s H ofmu s eum ) in
-

Vi enna The s e co ins ar e of gr e at v alu e in d e t e r mining th e

.

hi st or y of th ose ae r o lit es which we r e p r e s e r ve d in th e

t empl e s o f ce r t ain diviniti e s .

Th e Vi e nne se c oll e cti on o f me t eo r it e s is th e fine s t in th e

wo r ld and thi s is l ar gely d u e to th e z e al and inte lligence of
,

th e l at e D r A ri stid e s B r e zina whil e sup e r inte nd e nt o f

.
,

th e d ep ar tment of mine r al o gy and me t eo r ite s in th e

Mu s eum In r e gar d to th e imp r e s si on mad e up on th e mi nd
.

o f m an in anci ent time s by th e f al l of m eteo r ite s D r B r e zi na ,

.

w r it es :
38

85
E . F . F . C hl adni , Ne ue s V er z eich niss d er he abgef all
r enen S tein u nd

Eisenma s se n, p . 5 8 ; Gi lbe t s A nnal

r
’
en d er P hy ik
s , vol . 1
.

8“
bd p 5
I i .
,
. .

3"
B th l t
er e o , H is toir e c
d es S ien c es : L a C imie h au M oyen age, -
Par is, 1 893 ,
vol . iii p 225
, . .

”
B r ez ina, Th e A r r an gem nt of C lle cti n
e o o s of M et eor it es Pr o c eedin gs
of th e A me r i can Philos o phical S ciety v l xl iii
o , o .
, J ah —D e c.
.
,
pp . 2 12 , 2 13 .
92 TH E MAG IC OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

cl oud came fr om th e nor th and sh ot for th s p ar k s lik e ,

r o ck e t s smok e r i si ng fr om it lik e a fu r nac e ; at th e s ame

,

time a s e r i es of expl o si ons w as h e ar d not so much r e s em ,

bling th e sound of thund e r as that p r oduce d by th e fi r ing of

c annon o r th e di s ch ar ge of m any mu ske t s Th e cl oud r e .

mai ne d su sp end e d in th e air f o r s ome tim e du r ing which ,

many s t ones f e ll to th e e ar th som e of which w er e f ound ,

.

One o f th em is d e s c r ib e d as b e ing of i r r e gul ar fo r m with a ,

p o int lik e a di amond ; it we igh e d ab out fi ve p ound s and gave

ou t a
“
vit r i olic sm ell Anothe r weigh e d thr e e and a h alf
.
”

p o unds w as v e r y h ar d of th e col or of i r on and sme lle d

,
“
, ,

like br ims t one .

” 39

Th e foll owing p ass age wr itt en in th e fou r t e enth o r p e r ,

hap s in th e thi r t e enth centu r y show s c ons id e r abl e accu r acy ,

of o b s e r v ati on
4°

Th er e f ancy
th at the thunder is a stone f or th e r eas on
ar e some w h o ,

th at a st one o f t en f all s wh en it thund er s in s t o r my weath er This is not .

tr ue f or if th e thunder wer e a stone it wo uld wo und th e p eo pl e and animal s

, ,

it str ik es j ust as any oth er f alling st one d oes

,
H owe ver th is is not the .
,

c as e f or w e s ee th at th e p eopl e w h o h ave b een str uc k by thunder ( sic) sh ow

,

no wo und s but th e y ar e bl ac k f r om th e s tr oke and th is is b e c au se th e h ot

, ,

vap or bur ns th e bl oo d in their h ear t s There f or e the y p erish without .

,

wound s .

Th e fall of a side r it e twenty mil es e as t of L ah or e in

Indi a o n Ap r il 1 7 1 6 21 is r e p or te d in cont emp or ar y r ec
, , ,

or d s Fr om thi s i r on which w e igh e d ab out 3 14 p o und s

.
, ,

th e M o gul E mp e r or J e h angi r or d er e d tw o s ab r e s to be
mad e a s w e ll as a knife and a d agge r and c omm and e d th at
, ,

th e f act s h ould be p r op er ly r e gi s te r e d H e r e as in o th e r .
,

s imil ar c a se s th e w e ap ons w e r e b e li e v e d to p o s s es s a qu a si
,

King , R em ar k s C on ce r nin g St o ne s s ai d to h av e Fa ll en f r om th e C l o u ds ,

Lon d on, 17 9 6 , p . 4 .

4°
M egenber g, B uch d er Natur ed Pf e iff er , S
. tuttga t 186 1 p 9 2 ( Th i
r , , . . s
is base d on Thomas d e Cantimpr é s
“
b
Li er d e na tur a er um w itt n ab ut
r , r e o
 ON ME TE ORI TE S , OR C E L E STI L S TONE S
'

A 93

magi c p ow er b ecau s e o f th e c e l e s ti al or igin of th e mater i al

empl oye d :
u

Mich el e M er cat o 4 2 ( d 15 9 3 ) gi ve s a vivid des cri p ti on

.

of th e fall of a me t e o r
which w as ob s e rv e d ne ar Castr ovi
l ar ii in C al ab r i a J anu ar y 1 0 1 583 S ome men in a me adow
, , , .

ob s er ve d a bl ack whi r ling cl oud r u shing thr ough th e air

, ,

and saw it d es c end to th e e ar th not f ar fr om wh er e the y

wer e s tanding Th e noi se accomp anying th e des cent of th e

.

met eor it e w as s o d e afening that it w as he ar d f ar and wide ,

and th e p oo r men fe ll to th e gr o und almos t uncons ci ou s

fr om te r r or P e ople fr om th e ne ighb or hood hastene d to

.

th e sp o t and aft er r est o r ing th e t er r ifi e d witne sses of th e

,

ph enomena discov e r e d a m as s of i r on w eighing thi r ty thr e e

,
-

p ounds at th e sp o t wh er e th e bl ack cl oud h ad touche d th e

e ar th .

Th e s t ar tling ph e nomenon of a r ain of st one s fr om th e

sky which t ook pl ac e u nd e r r ath e r qu e er ci r cumst ance s is

r e p or t e d by th e J e s uit p r i e s t Al var u s as h avi ng o ccu r r e d

in C hina in 1622 Th e Taoi s t p r i e s t s o f that l and enj oye d

.

th e r e put e of b eing abl e to b r ing d own r ai n fr om th e sky

by th e i r magic or r eli gi ou s r it e s and wh en du r ing th e ye ar , ,

menti one d China w as vi s it e d by a dr ought of unex ample d

,

se ver ity th e aid of th e s e r ain m ak er s w as invoke d

, Yi e ld — .

ing p er h ap s not unw illingly to th e popul ar e ntr eaty a

, ,
'

gr oup of p r i ests as cende d a hill and p r ocee de d to p r onounce

their invocati ons To th e joy of th e onl ooker s th e sky be
.

came dark ene d and a r u shing sound w as h ear d at fir s t mis ,

taken f or an oncoming r ain s t or m but to th e dismay of al l -

,

an immense sh ow er o f s t one s of al l s iz es f ell u p on th e

e ar th d est r oyi ng wh at r emaine d o f th e p ar ch e d fr uit s and

,

E . F. F . C hladni , Ne ues V er z e ich niss d er her abgef allenen Stein und

E isenm assen, p
lbe t s A nna l n d er
. 17 ; Gi r
’
e Phys ik vol 1 , ( From c opy hav ing
. .

MS . no tes and emendat ions by t h e auth or ) .

“
Metal l oth eca Vat ic ana Roma 17 19 p , , , . 248 .
94 TH E MAGIC OF J E WE L S A ND C HARM S

gr ain cr op s killing or maiming many p e r s ons S o ter ri

, and .

f ying w as th e s ight that th e J e suit s w h o we r e watching th e

r esult of th e af fai r h al f b e li eve d th at th e L as t D ay h ad c ome
-
.

Wh en th e p anic h ad finally sub sid e d th e p e ople fe ll up on ,

th e u nlucky Tao i s t p r i es t s and b e at th em s oundly .

43

In th e A nnal s of th e Ott oman E mpir e by S ubhi

“ ”
,

M ohamm e d E f fendi the r e is an account of th e fall of a

,

me t e or at H ase r gr ad on th e b ank s of th e Danub e on th e

, ,

fou r th of S ab an A H 1153 ( Oct ob e r 25 , . . Th e ,

we ath er w as fine not a cloud w as to be s een in th e sky and

, ,

not a b r e ath of air w as s ti r r ing S udd e nly th e r e ar o se .

a whi r lwind th e air b e c am e ob s cu r e d with cl o ud s o f du s t

, ,

r ai n f e ll in t o r r ent s and it b e c am e d ar k as night

, While .

all w h o w e r e o u t of d oo r s w e r e h as t eni ng to see k s h e lt e r

fr om th e s t or m thr e e t er r ific p e al s of thunde r we r e h e ar d

, ,

as l oud as th e s ou nd o f m any c annon Aft e r th e s t orm h ad .

p as se d seve r al st r ange mass e s p ar tly of s t one and p ar tly

o f i r on w er e di s c o v e r e d in a ne ar by fi e ld Th e Vizi e r b o r e .

tw o of th e s e as g r e at r ar iti es to th e S ult an in C ons t anti

nop l e .
44

Th e influ enc e xe r t e d by p opular b eli e fs ev en up on th e

e ,

l e ar ne d is w ell illu str at e d by th e opini on gi ven by s om e

,

o f th e l e ading F r e nch phys ici s t s of th e e ight eenth c entu r y

as to th e ch ar act e r o f m e t e o r it e s Wh en a m e t e or ic s t one .

fell at L uce De pt Marne F r ance S ept emb e r 1 3 1 7 68 thr e e

,
.
, , , ,

F r ench s ci e nti st s among th em th e c e l eb r at e d L avoi s i e r

, ,

we r e s ent to inve stigat e th e matt er In th eir r e p or t to th e .

Ac ad emy of S ci e nce s th ey s tat e th at th e r e mu s t h ave b een

,

s ome er r or in th e acc ou nt s gi v e n o f th e e vent f o r it w a s ,

an as su r e d f act th at no s uch thi ng s as p ie r r es d c f ou d r e ,

or thu nd er s t one s exi s t e d

-
Thi s w as of c ou r se p er fe ctly
,
.
, ,

t r u e but Lavoi si e r and h is comp ani ons did no t st op to think

,

“
Ul yssis A l d r ovand i, M u se um M etal l icum , pp . 5 2 8, 5 2 9 .

“
F n u dgr ub en d e s Or ien t s , vo l . iv, p . 2 82 ; Wien ,
1 814 .
96 THE MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

a mi r acul ou s th at du r ing th e d e sp er at e and bl o o dy

w ay, is
b attle of B or odino w on by Nap ol e on ov e r th e Ru s si ans
,
,

S e pt emb e r 6 1 812 a m e t e or it e is s aid to h av e fall e n ne ar th e

, ,

h e adqu ar t e r s of th e Ru ssi an ge ne r al Thi s would ce rt ainly .

h ave b e en r e gar de d aft e r th e e vent as a m anife s t ati o n

— —

o f divi ne w r ath a nd h e nc e a p r o gnos tic o f th e R u ss i an

,

d e fe at H owev e r h ad th e F r e nch b e en de fe at e d th e me t e or
.
, ,

ite w ould h av e b e e n l o ok e d up on a s a S i gn o f divine f av or ,

and it w ould h av e b e e n h o no r e d and r e v e r e nc e d I n mo d .

e r n tim e s th e natu r al ph e nom enon is t ak e n f o r wh at it is

wo r th and th e only int e r e s t e xcit e d is a pu r e ly s ci entific one

,
.

Of al l th e m e t e o r it e s that h av e b e en di s c o v er e d th e ,

m o st r e ma r kabl e ar e u nd oubt e dly th os e f ou nd at M e lvi ll e

B ay ab out 35 m il e s e as t of C ap e Y o r k W e s t Gr e enl and in
, , ,

189 4 by Admi r al , th e n L i e ut e nant R ob e rt E P e ar y and

, , .
,

b r ought by h im to th e Unit e d S t at e s in 189 5 and

Th e y ar e now to be s e en in th e A me r ic an Mu se um of Natu r al
Hi s t o r y New Y or k Th e fi r st r e p o r t of th e e xi s t ence of
,
.

met e or ic i r on in th e vicinity c ame fr om C apt ain R o s s w h o ,

in 1818 w as giv e n tw o i r on kniv e s or l anc e h e ad s by s om e ,

—
,

E skimo of R e gent s B ay A n analy s i s of th e me t al r e v e al e d

’
.

th e p r e s e nc e of nick e l and imme di at e ly s ugg e s t e d a m e t eo r ic

o r igi n o f th e m at er i al ; nothing m o r e d e finit e c ould be
l e ar ne d at th e time fr om th e E skimo th an th at th e me t al h ad
b e en t ak en fr om an ir o n m o unt ain not f ar aw ay In
“ ”
.

1 840 th e King of D e nmar k wh o s e int e r e s t h ad b e en ar o u s e d

, ,

in th e matt e r auth ori z e d th e sending ou t o f an e xp e diti o n to

,

se e k f or th e s u s p e ct e d s id e r it es but th e se ar ch p r o v e d nu ,

s ucc e s s ful ; a l at er att e m pt mad e by th e offi c e r s o f th e N o r th

S tar a F r anklin r e li e f s hip in 1849 50 al s o f ail e d

, F or a
,
—
, .

time th e d e te r minati on of th e te llu r ic or i gin of th e s upp o s e d

sid e r it e s di s c o v e r e d at Ovif ak Disk o I sl and We s t G r e e nl and , , ,

“
L i ut R b t E P
e . o y N thw d v th G t I
er . e ar , N w Y k
or ar o er e re a ce , e or ,

189 7 , vol . ii, pp . 55 3 sqq.

 ON ME TE ORI TE S , OR CE L E S TI L S TONE S A 97

by B ar on N A E No r denski old in 1870 cast some doubt

. . .
,

up on th e t r u e me t e or ic char acte r of th e i r on of which th e

Cap e Y or k kniv e s h ad b e en mad e and r ath er di s c ou r age d ,

fu r the r s e ar ch e s I t w as not until 189 4 th at these e x tr aor di

.

na r y m as s e s of m e t e or ic i r on w e r e at l as t s e e n and l o cat e d by
a E u o p e an one of th e hunt e r s of th e T el l ik ontinah t r ib e of
r ,

S mith S ound E skimos s e r ving as L i e ut enant P e e r y s guid e ’

“

Th e s id e r ite s we r e th r e e in numb er th e tw o small e r h aving ,

b e e n n a m e d by th e E s ki o
m Th e D og
”
and
“
Th e Wom an ,

r e sp e ctiv e ly whil e th e l ar g e s t w as kno wn as Th e Tent “

, .

It now b e ar s th e name o f A h nigh ito that o f th e d aughte r o f ,

th e expl or e r .

Th e tw o sm all e r one s r ep o s e d l oose ly up on gne i ssic r o ck s ,

but A h nigh ito found on a small i sl and some six mil es aw ay

, ,

on a t e r r ac e 80 fe e t ab ove tid e w at e r and ab out 1 00 fe e t -

fr om th e sh or e l ay almost bu r i e d in r ock s and sand

,
.

E s kim o l e g e nd h ad wove n its w eb ab out th e s e e ni gmatic

me t e or it es and th e natives s aw in th em an Innuit woman ,

w h o with h e r d og and t ent h ad b e en hu r l e d f r om th e sky in a

bygone age by To r nar su k th e E vil One Or iginally th e
,
.

mass call e d Th e W oman w as said to h ave cl os e ly r e s em

“ ”

ble d th e figu r e of a woman se ate d and engage d in sewing , ,

but by th e gr adu al chipping away of fr agment s of th e i r on

thi s fo r m h ad almos t dis appe ar e d P e ar y w as to ld that not .

l ong b e for e th e h ead h ad fall en o f f and th at a p ar ty of

,
“ ”

E skim o h ad t r i e d to car r y it aw ay l as h e d to a s l e dge ; h ow ,

e ve r as th ey w e r e p ass i ng o v e r th e ice it sudd enly b r oke

, ,

up so th at s le dge i r on and do gs s ank in th e w ater and th e

, ,

E skimo th em s e lve s b ar e ly e s cap e d with th e i r liv e s .

Th e dim ens i ons of A h nigh ito th e l ar ge s t s id e r it e e ve r,

di s cover e d ar e given as foll ow s l ength 10 fee t 11 inche s ;

,
: ,

h eight 6 fee t 9 inche s ; thickne s s 5 fe e t 2 inche s It weigh s ,

.

som e thi ng o v er t ons Th e weight of Th e Woman

.
” “

is 3 t ons and th at of 1100 p ound s

“ ”
,
Th e D og Th e .

7
98 THE MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

chemical comp ositi ons of th es e thr ee side r ite s which ar e ,

r e gar d e d as havi ng o r igi nally c ons titut e d a s ingl e mas s ,

have b een de t ermine d by J E Whitfi eld In additi on to . . .

small qu antiti e s of c opp er s ulphu r phosphor u s and car , ,

bon th e foll owing p r op or ti ons of th e main cons titu ent s wer e

,

as c er taine d : ‘7

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Th ough sl ess imp osing by i ts mass than th e

mal l er and

g t t
r e a e s o f t h e C ap e Yo k me t e or it es that c all e d
r
“
W illa ,

me tt e fr om having b e e n found tw o mil e s nor thwe st of

”

th e t own o f th at name in C l ack amas C ounty Or e gon, r ank s ,

as th e f ou r th or p o ssibly th e thi r d l ar g e st ir on m e t e o r it e in
,

th e w o r ld and is th e l ar ges t di s c o ver e d withi n th e t e r r itor y

'

o f th e Unit e d S t at e s ; r emar kabl e p eculi ar iti e s of form mak e

it an e sp e ci ally inter esting objectf It w as a chance fi nd ‘8

,

mad e in 1 9 02 by tw o p r os p e ct o r s in thei r s e ar ch f or go ld
o r s ilve r Noting what app e ar e d to be a ver y slight r o ck
.

p r oj e ction they t app e d thi s with the i r hamme r s and th e

sou nd of th e blow r eveale d th e p r e sence of met al ; di gging
d own h er e and ther e th ey asc er t ained th e exi stenc e of a ,

consid er abl e mass of i r on Alth ough at fir st no one supp os e d .

th at it w as a mete or it e b efor e l ong this f act b ecame known , ,

and th e find e r by ve r y p r imitiv e me th od s and by dint of

,

ti r ele s s ef fo r t s succeede d in t r anspor ting th e i r on to h is

,

ow n l and His c ou r ageou s att empt to acquir e p osse s si on

.

of it w as not h ow e v e r cr owne d with succe ss as th e c ou r t s

, , ,

de cide d th at th e company owning th e l and wh er e on it h ad

‘7 u d t
E d m n O is H o vey Th e y ll ct ,
Fo er Co e t t
ion of M e eor i e s, ” A me r i an c
Mu s eu m o f Na tu l t ory G uide L eaflet
r a H is ,
. b
No 26, Dece m er , 1 9 07, pp
23 —2 7 . .

“ y
Henr A War , d Willam tt e M et t
.
“
e eor i e
”
; Pr o c ch t
R o e s er A a
. of c d .

Se .
, v o l i
.v , pp1 3 7-
. pl at es 13 1 8
148, -
.
By co u rt e s y of R o c h e s te r ( N Y A d my
ca e of S cxe nce s

T W O V IE W S O F T H E W I LLA M E T T E M E T E O R I T E N O W I N T H E A M E R IC A N M US E U M
O F N A T UR A L H IS T O R NE W O RK Y , Y C IT Y
F ou nd i n C l ac k a m as C o u nt y , Ore g on, ne a r t h e t o w n o f W i l l ame t t e Wei gh t p o u nd s .
100 TH E M GIC OF A JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
micr os copi c di amond s in thi s met e or it e and late r inve stiga ,

ti ons by P r of H enri Moi s san confirmed thi s dis cove r y and

.

enl ar ge d its s cop e A mas s of th e i r on we ighing ab out 400

. !

p ounds w as u se d by P r ofess or Moi ss an ; this w as cut by

me ans of a s t ee l r ibb on s aw A s h ad b een th e cas e in .

Ko enig s inve stigati ons th e s aw soo n enc ount e r e d e x ecs

’
,

sivel y h ar d p or ti ons th at ob s tr uct e d its op e r ati on so th at ,

twenty days lab or w as r e qui s it e to s e p ar ate th e i r on

’

into tw o par ts e ach with a se cti on ar e a of ne ar ly 100 s quar e

,

inche s On close examinati on it b e cam e e vident th at th e oh

.

s tacl es to th e cutting c ons i st e d of r ou nd o r elliptic al no dul e s ,

o f a d ar k gr ay to bl ack h u e and encl os e d in th e b right i r o n

,
.

Th es e no dul e s w er e mainly c omp ose d of tr oilit e ( i r on p r o

to su l ph id e ) A ft e r ch emic al tr e atme nt an insoluble r es idu e
.

r emai ne d c ons i s ting o f s ilic a amo r ph ou s c ar b on gr aphit e

, , ,

an d di am ond M any of th es e ve ry mi nute di am ond s we r e

.

bl ack but a f ew w e r e tr ansp ar ent cr y s tal s o ct ah e dr ons with

, ,

r o u nd e d e dg e s Th e p r e s ence of thi s di amond mat e r i al in

5 1
.

th e inte r i or o f th e i r on m ass of th e me te or it e indic at e s th e i r

fo rm ati on fr om car b on by th e combine d agenci e s of high
t emp er atu r e and gr e at p r essu r e as in th e c as e of th e ar ti ,

fi cial di am ond s exp e r im ent ally p r o duce d by Mo i s s an in an

i r on m ass fir s t subj e ct e d to int ense h e at in th e el e ctr ic f u r
nace and th e n r apidly c ont r act e d in volume by s udd e n chill
ing . Th e fe r vid imagi nati on o f e ar ly wr it e r s w o uld ce r
tainl y h av e att r ibut e d w onde r ful t ali sm anic p owe r s to s tone s
like th e se p r ob ably gene r at e d in some l ost plane t and r e ach
,

ing ou r e ar th th r ough th e was t es of c e l es ti al s p ace c ould ,

th ey h ave b e en abl e to ob ser ve and di stingui sh th em with th e

incompl e t e optical r e s ou r ces of th e ir time .

Th e fi r s t announc em ent o f th e di s co very o f th ese dia

S ee He nr i M o iss an, E u t d e d l a meteo it d Ca n D iabl

e r e e
'

ii o o. Co m ptes
Ren du s d e l A cad e mie d es S ien
’
c c s vol cxvi
e , . pp 2 88 qq e . s . s e a so l h is
pap e r on th e Ovif ak me t or ite Compte s Re ndus vol cxxi
e , pp , . . 483 s qq .
 ON ME TE ORI TE S , OR CE LE S TIAL STONE S 101

mond s fr om th e C anon Di abl o me te or it e w as made by Dr .

A E F oote and not long aft e r P r ofess or Koenig s d e

. .
,
’

te rminati on of thei r ch ar acte r th e p r e s ent wr ite r sugge ste d ,

an e xp e r iment th at w o uld afi or d ab solut e p r oof th at th e

mater i al w as r eally di amond Thi s w as to char ge a new .

skei f or di am ond p o li s hing wh e e l with th e supp ose d dia

,
-

,
‘

mond du st obtaine d fr om th e meteor ite ; should th e mater i al

p oli sh a di am ond ther e could be no doubt as to its char acter .

On S ept emb er 1 1 189 3 thi s e xp er iment w as t r i e d at th e

, ,

M ining B uilding of th e Wor ld s C olumbi an E xp osition ’

.

A fter th e skaif h ad b een char ge d with th e r esiduum s ep a

r ate d fr om th e me t eo r ite by Dr 0 W H untington it w as . . .
,

given a sp eed of 2500 r evo luti ons to th e minute and in l e ss ,

than fift een minut e s a small flat su r fac e h ad b een gr ound

down and p oli sh e d on a cl eavage pi e ce of r ough diamond -

held against th e wh ee l Th e exp e rim ent w as then r e p e ated

.

se ve r al time s on oth er di amond s and always success fully .

Thi s sh o we d conclu siv e ly th at th e r e s iduum of th e me teor it e

containe d many minut e di amond fr agment s “2 .

A mos t imp or t ant gr oup of me te o r it es wer e found in

1 886 in B r enh am tow nship K i owa C ounty Kansas by s ome , , ,

of th e farme r s of thi s di s t ri ct in th e c ou rs e of the i r farmi ng

op e r ati ons E ntir ely unawar e of th e i r s ci entifi c valu e th e

53
.
,

fi nde r s u se d th e s e obj e cts to we ight down h ay st acks or f or ,

s imil ar u s e s to which th e y w ould put small b ould e r s In al l .

some tw enty of the se s p e cimens h ave b e en r e covere d var y ,

ing in we ight al l th e w ay fr om 46 6 p ound s down to a s ingle

ounc e Most of th em we r e t ak en fr om an ar ea of ab out
.

six ty acr e s al th ough s ome w er e s catt er e d ov er a wid er

,

tr act Th e l ar gest pi e ce of th e gr oup th at on which th e

.
,

G F K
”
. . unz and O W Hunt ingt n On th e Diamond in th e Canon
. o
“

c Ir on and on th Har dn ss o f C a b undum Amer ican Journal

.
,

bl
Dia o Met eor i e e r or ,
”

c c
of S ien e, vol . xlvi De cemb 1 89 3 er , .

A mer ic an Jour nal of

,
"
I
Geor ge F . Ku nz On F iv e Am e ican Me te o it es
,
r r ,
"

c c
S ien e, vol x 1, . Oct 189 0 pp 3 12 3 23
.
, , .
-
.
102 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

farme r s h ad b es towe d th e fanciful name of th e mo on

met e orit e h ad l ai n only thr ee inche s b ene ath th e su r face of
,

th e g round and b r ok e a plough s har e wh en it w as fir s t s tr u ck ;

none o f th e mas s es app e ar to h ave b e en bu r i ed d e ep er down
than fr om fi ve to six inch e s Th e l ar ge s t mas s me asu r e s
.

twenty fou r inch e s acr oss th e wide s t par t and four t een and
-

a h alf at th e thick e s t p ar t Th ese K i owa m e t e o r ite s ar e in

.

a s e ns e gem me t e or it es f o r a nu mb e r o f b e autiful and b r il

-
,

li ant olivine cryst al s o ccu r in th em ; many ar e in tw o d is

tinct z one s th e inne r one b e ing a b r ight tr ansp ar ent yell ow
, ,

whil e th e outer one is of a dar k b r ow n i r on olivine in r e ality

-
,

a mix tu r e o f t r o ilit e and o livi ne Th e ch ar act er and com

.

p ositi on of th e wor ke d i r on of me t e or ic origin found in s ome

o f th e Tu rne r g r oup o f Indi an m ou nd s in th e L ittl e Mi am i ,

Valley Ohi o indicate th at th e l att er may p e r hap s be

, ,

b r ought into conne cti on with thi s gr oup of me t e or ite s F or .

h e r e as in th e F r oz en No r th among th e E squ imo and in a

, ,

numb e r o f o th e r c as es th e i r on avail abl e f or p r i mitive m an

,

w as mainl y that of me t e or it e or igin .

In vi e w of th e r e l ative ly small numb er of m e te or it e s

th at h ave fall en in hi s to r ical time s and o f th e small p ar t ,

o f th e e ar th s su r f ac e actu ally o ccupi e d by hu m an s e ttl e

’

ment s w e ne e d s car cely be su r p r i s e d at th e s t at ement th at

,

th e r e is but one cr e dibly r e cor d e d ins t anc e o f th e killing of

a hum an b e ing by a me t eor it e Thi s uniqu e di s as te r is s aid
.

to h av e happ ene d at Mh o w in Indi a and fr agment s o f th e ,

me t e or it e which fe ll then ar e to be s e e n in mu s eum col l ec

tions Th e gr e at we ight of some me te or it e s would hav e r en
.

d e r ed th em ver y de str uctive h ad th ey not fall en in th e op en

c ountry ; th e h e avie st singl e mas s actu al ly know n to have
fall en came to th e gr ound at Knyah inya Hungar y in 1 866
, , , ,

and w e igh e d 5 47 p ounds ; it bu r i e d it s e lf 11 f ee t in th e

gr ound Of c ou r se much he avi e r ae r olites and sider it es

.
,

s ati s facto r ily r e c o gniz abl e a s s uch h av e b e en f ound ,th e ,

104 TH E M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
Mil an fr om th e end of th e s event eenth or th e b e ginning of
th e e ight e enth c entu r y wh en a ve ry small me t e o r it e w e igh
, ,

ing not quite an ounce fe ll int o th e cl oi st er of S ant a Mar i a

,

dell a P ac e ( now a cottonfact or y ) and kille d a Franci s can

monk S uch w as th e ve locity of thi s littl e s t one th at it
.

p ene tr ate d dee p into th e monk s b o dy whenc e it w as ex ’

,

tr acte d and p r ese r ve d f or a long time in th e C oll e cti on of

C ount S e ttal a Th e gr e at e r p ar t of thi s c oll e cti on went
.

lat er to th e Amb r os i an L ib r ar y at Mil an but C hladni sought ,

in vain th er e f or any tr ac e of th e d e ath d e aling me t eo r it e -

.
59

Among th e Wel sh p e as ant s th e r e is a b eli e f that when a

me t eor fal l s to th e ear th it b e come s r e duce d to a mas s of
j e lly This th ey name pw d r e s er Th e mo st pl au sible ex
. .

pl anati on o f fer e d f or thi s f ancy is th at th e autumn th e ,

seas on wh en th e l ar ges t nu mb er of me t e or s may be ob s e r ve d ,

is al so th e time of th e y ear wh en th e j e lly like mas se s of th e -

pl asmodium of Myx omyc et es most fr e qu ently app e ar in th e

fi eld s A p e as ant w h o after noting th e app ar ent fall of
.
,

a me t eor sh ould go in se ar ch of it might e asily c om e acr o ss

, ,

one of th e se lu mp s of pl asma and might w e ll be i nduc e d to ,

think that h e h ad found al l that w as left of th e me te or after

its vi ol ent fall to th e e ar th Of c ou r s e w e h ave h er e to d o . .

w ith th e app ar ent not wi th th e r e al fall of a me t e or it e

, , .

In thi s c onne cti on it is int er e sting to not e th at th e med usa ,

or j elly fi sh h as b een c al l e d a fall en st ar by sailor s

” “ "o
-
.
,

Thi s We l sh fancy that me t eo r s o r falling s t ar s tu rne d —

to a j elly wh en th ey s t r uck th e e ar th app e ar s to h ave b een

quite gene r al in Gr e at B r itain and th e j elly lik e sub st ance ,
-

w as var i ou sly nam e d s t a s l ough s t ar s h oo t s t ar

“ ” “ ” “
r -
,
-
,

gelly or j elly
” “ “
s t ar ,
”
Th e We l sh p w d r e s e r lit
er al l y means s t ar r ot A s e ar ly as 1 641 S ir J ohn S uck
“ ” -
.

l ing ( 1609 1642 ) w r o t e th e foll owing line s which w e ll d e

—

l”
C h l ad ni , op cit , . . p . 22 .

See Na re tu
f or J un e 23 and July 2 1 , 19 10 .
 ON ME TE ORITE S , OR CE LE S TI L S TONE S A 105

c ib e th e w ay in which th e s e gel atinou s sub stance s c am e to

s r

be r e gar d e d as th e r emains of a fall en s tar ”

“

As h e whose quic ker eye doth tr ace

A f al se st ar s h o t to a mar k d plac e ’

D o s r un ap ace
’
,

A nd think ing it to c at ch
, ,

A j elly up d o snatch .

S ir Wal t er S c o tt
wh o se famili ar ity with su per sti l
a so,

ti ons w as ver y gr e at h as not fail e d to not e thi s one in his

,
“
Tali sma n ”
wh e r e th e he r mit s ays : S eek a fallen st ar
,
“

and thou s h al t only light on some f oul j e lly which in sho ot ,

ing th r o ugh th e h o r izon h as assume d an appe ar ance of

s pl e nd o u r H e r e th e star it s elf is supp os e d to h ave h ad
.

thi s ge latinou s form .

A n e ar ly wr ite r noting thi s cu r iou s b e li e f that a white

,
61 ‘

and ge latinou s sub s t ance w as al l th at r em aine d o f a f al l en

”

s t ar d e cl ar e s th at h e h ad cl e ar ly d emons t r at e d to th e R oy al
,

S o ci e ty that th e mass w as c omp os e d of th e int es tine s of

fr o gs and h ad be en vomite d by cr ows adding that his opin
, ,

ion h ad b een c onfir m e d by th e t es timony of o th e r s ci entific

men H uxl ey fr om a d escr ipti on c onj e ctu r e d th at th e sub
.
, ,

st anc e w a s no s t o c a g e l atinou s ve ge t abl e mass but thi s

, ,

seems to be s ome wh at d oubtful In 17 44 Rob er t Boyl e s tat es .

that some of this s tar s hoo t w as given to a phys ici an of

“ -
”

h is acqu aint ance w h o dige st ed it in a w ell stopt gl ass

“ -
,

f or a l ong time ”
and th en s o ld th e liqu or f or a sp e cific in
,

th e r emo v al of w e ns
” .

A j e lly like mas s b elieve d by h im to be th e r emains of a

-

fal len s tar ” w as found by Mr Rufu s Gr av es at Amh er st .

,

Mass on Augu st 14 1819 and duly r ep o r te d in th e Amer i

, , ,

can J ou r nal of S ci enc e A s thi s gentl eman w as at one 63

.

‘3
Merr e tt ,
Pinax re r um natu r al ium Br it annicar um, ” Lon don , 166 7,
p . 2 19 .

u
Th e Wor s k of th e H on Ro . b t er Bo yl e,
”
vol . i, p . 2 44 .

“
V ol ii, . pp
3 35 7, 1820 .
-
.
1 06 TH E M AGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
time l e ctu r e r on chemis tr y at Dar tmouth Colle ge h is t esti ,

mony is wo r th h e e ding but th er e can be no d oubt that whil e

,

h e accu r at e ly d e s cr ib e s wh at h e found h e w as al t o ge th e r ,

mi s t ak en in supp o s ing that th e me t e o r fe ll p r e ci s e ly on th e

s p o t wh er e h e di s c ove r e d th e g e l atinou s sub s t anc e As we .

h ve t d it as r e ce tly b e e n sugge s te d that th e se jel

a no e h ,
n “

li e s ar e pl asmo di a of for ms of Myx omyce tes which d o not

”

app ea r to h av e any c onnec ti on with th e s p o t wh er e on th e y

r es t but s e em to h av e f all en f r om th e air “ .

,

F alling s t ar s ar e e xpl aine d by th e natives of L ab r ado r

and of B aflin s B ay a s b ei ng s oul s o f th e d e p ar t ed b o und on
’

an e xcu r s i on to H ad e s in o r d e r to s ee wh at is g oing on th e r e ,

whil e th e phe nomena of thund er and lightning ar e cau s e d

by a p ar ty of ol d w omen w h o quar r el s o vi ol ently ove r th e,

p oss e s si on o f a s e al th at th ey b ri ng th e hou s e down ove r th ei r

he ads and s h atte r th e l amp s The se ol d women mu st .
,

o f c o u r se be s pi ri t s of th e upp e r air no t hu m an b e i ng s
65
.
, ,

In s om e Au s t r ali an t r ib e s th e s or c e r e r s o r “
m e dici ne ,

m e n t aking advant age of th e sup e r s titi o u s dr e ad of f all

,
”

ing s t ar s c omm on among th e ab o r i gine s p r e t end to h ave ,

mar ke d th e sp o t whe r e such a s tar h as fall e n and to h ave d u g l

it up and p r e se r v e d it in th e i r me dicine bag Th e se supp o s -

.

ititiou s “
f ll n star s ar e s om e time s qu ar tz p ebbl e s and
a e
”
,

in one i ns t anc e th e cu r i o sity of a E u r op e an inv e s tig at or

w as sati sfi e d by th e di s pl ay o f a pi e ce of thick gl as s which ,

th e s or c e r e r s tri ctly m aint aine d h e h ad dug ou t of th e

gr ound wh e r ein th e st ar h ad fall en .
66

Ar r ow h e ad s enc ase d in silve r we r e look e d up on as th e

-

s olid c ont ent s o f th e lightni ng fl as h and w er e no t o nly ,

thought to p r ote ct th e h ou s e in whi ch th ey we r e ke pt fr om

dwa d E F in Natu N v 3 19 10 N
E r . r ee re , o .
, , o . 2 14 0, vol . lxxxv .

“
A rnaldo Fau t ini G l i E ch im es i
s T in ,
s , or o, p 41
1 9 12 , . .

“
E dwa d M Cu r r Th e A u st r al ian Rac e s Melbou r ne and don
“ ”
r .
, , L on , vol .
iii, p 29
. .
108 TH E MAGI C OF JE W E L S A ND C HARMS

r e se mbl e d th e t n
s o es
“
with
el f which
-
E u r op e an p e ”
a s an t s

w e r e wont to r ub any of th e i r cattle b e lieve d to h v a e b e en

“
sho t
”
by fair i es or elve s A vill age in w h ich one of th e se .
'

magic obj e ct s exi st e d w as c ons id e r e d to be p ar ticu l ar ly

f av o r e d by for tu ne as th ey not only s e r ve d to p r ot e ct th e
,

cattl e fr om b ewitchment but w e r e e qu ally e ffi caci ou s in pr e

s e r vi ng human b eings fr om th e s p e ll s o f witch e s
69
.

In E a st P r u ssi a wh e n c ow s ar e bel ieve d to h av e b e en

'

b ew itch e d s o th at th ei r milk is u nd e r a s p ell r e sor t is h ad ,

to th e p owe r s o f a p e r f or a t e d thund er s t one S uch

“ ” -
.

s t o ne s w e r e anci ent s t one h amme r s with a c ent r al p e r for a

tion f or a h andl e Th e s t one is h e ld b ene ath th e cow at

_
.

milki ng time and th e milk is al l o we d to p as s thr ough th e

-
,

p e r fo r ati on B y thi s me ans th e sp e ll is b r ok en and th e

.
70

milk b e c ome s h arml e ss .

S uch p e r for at e d st one s ar e al s o u s e d to p r ot e ct a h ou se

f r om b e ing str uck by lightning Wh en a storm app r oache s .

ne ar e r and ne ar er th e o wner of one of th e se magic s t one s

,

will thr u st h is fi nger th r ough th e h ol e twir l th e st one ar ound ,

th r e e time s and th en hu r l it against th e d oor of th e r oom

,
.

Wh en thi s h as b een d one th e h ou se is b eli eve d to be p r oof ,

agains t lightning
71
.

In Wes tph ali a th e s tone is l aid up on a t abl e al ongsid e

of a c onse cr at e d c andl e th e s h r e wd p e asant s thu s as s u r ing
,

f or th ei r h ou se s th e p r o t e cti on of th e chu r ch as w e ll as th at
o f th e anci ent G od of Thu nd e r
72
.

Anoth er ph ase of th e sup e r s titi on in r egar d to th e st one

ax e s known in many di ff er e nt p ar t s o f th e w or ld as thu nd e r

s to ne s ,
b ecau se th e y ar e b e li e ve d to h av e fall en du r ing
a thu nd e r st or m is giv e n by D r L u nd in a l e tt e r w r itt en
-
, .

fr om L ogoa S ant a in B r azil H e s tat es th at th e inhabit ant s .

“ d
A a ir , His or t y o f th e A m ic an I ndian er s, d
Lo n on, 1 77 5, p 4 25 . .

chb
Fr is ier , He xenspr uch u nd Z auber bann , l
Ber in, 187 0, p 19
. .

7‘
bd p
I i ,. .107 .

‘3
t
H a r mann, Bi lder au s W es tf a l e n,
”
O snabr il ck , 1 87 1, p . 14 4 .
 T h e C ro co d il e .

T h e O r) x.

Fis h

111ppo po tamus .

By co ur t e s y of th e B ritis h . d
M us e um L o n o n.

F L I N T A M U LE T S O F T H E P R E D Y NA S T IC P E R I O D , EG YP T
1 10 THE M AGIC OF JE WELS A ND CH ARMS
in Inniske a, i s land of f th e coast of Mayo th er e w as in
an , ,

1851 a st one id ol c all e d in th e I r i sh t ongu e Neevou gi Thi s

,
.

w as s ai d to h av e b ee n p r e ser ve d and w or s hipp e d fr om time

immemor i al Th e s tone is de s cr ib e d as h aving b e en wr app e d
.

in so many f o ld s of h ome spun fl anne l th at it l ook e d lik e a

mass of that mat er i al Thi s is e xpl aine d by th e cu s tom
.

of d e dicating a d r e ss o f thi s fl anne l to th e s t one wh e ne v e r

its aid w as s ought th e gar ment b e ing s ew e d on by an ol d

,

woman w h o offici ate d as th e p r i e st e ss of th e s tone P r ayer s .

w e r e o ff e r e d to thi s st r ange idol f or th e cu r e of di se as e s as ,

it w as supp ose d to be endowe d with extr ao r dinar y p owe r s .

A s t r anger p etiti on some time s made w as th at a st orm might

ar i s e and w r e ck a s h ip up on th e c o as t s o th at th e th rifty

i sl ande r s might p r ofit by its mis for tune ; on th e o th e r h an d ,

with ch ar ming inconsi st ency wh en th ey wi sh e d to go a fi sh ,

-

ing or p ay a vi s it to th e mainland th e t r u sty s t one w as ,

e xp e ct e d to as su r e th e m fai r w e ath e r and a c alm s e a .

In Tave r ni e r s time ( ab out 1 6 50) many p oor famili e s

’

living in th e wood s and on th e hill sid e s in Indi a f ar fr om ,

any vill ag e wh e r e th e r e w as a t em pl e w ould t ak e a s t one , ,

p r ob ably one of a p e culiar sh ap e and would r oughly p aint ,

on it a no s e and e ye s in r e d or gr e en c o l or Thi s b e ing d one .

,

th e wh o le family w ould gathe r ab out thi s s t one and r e v er

e ntly ad o r e it as th e i r id o l
”
.

In cer t ain di st r ict s in No r way up to th e e nd of th e e igh ,

te enth centu r y sup er stiti ou s p e as ant s u s e d to p r e se r ve

,

r ou nd s t one s and s et th em up in a c onspicu ou s pl ac e in th e i r

,

hou s e s At Yul e tid e th e se s t ones wer e sp r inkl e d with fr e sh

.
-

al e S ome of th em we r e w or shipp e d as diviniti e s and e v e r y

.
,

Thu r sd ay or o ft ene r th ey we r e sm e ar e d with butt e r or

, , ,

s ome s imil ar sub st anc e b e fo r e th e fi r e Thi s o intment w as

, .

all ow e d to d r y on th e s t one which w as th en r e tu r ne d to its ,

L Si V y g
es d J
x B pti t T v
o a es i L H y
e ean17 1 8 l ii
a s e a e r n er , a a e, ,
vo .
,
p . 439 l iv iii,
. ch ap . x i.
 ON M E TE ORI TE S , OR CE LE S TI AL S TONE S 111

place of h onor The se ce r emoni es we r e supp os e d to insur e

.

th e h e al th and h appine s s of th e h ou s ehold .

78

Th e f act th at s p e ci al ce r emoni e s we r e p e r for me d in

co nne cti on w ith the s e st o ne s on Thu r s day as we ll as th e ,

name Th o r s t o ne s
“ -
appli e d to many o f th em i nd ic at e s
”
,

th at in e ar ly time s the y w e r e as soci at e d with th e wor s hip

o f th e go d Th or Th e so c alle d thund er b olt s u su ally flint
.
— —

ax e h e ad s
-
ar e b e li ev e d to h av e b een hu r l e d at th e t r oll s o r
—

e lv e s by th e thunde r so ,

th at th e s e e vil di sp o s e d -

s pi r it s might be s ubdu e d

and p r e vent e d fr om ful

filling an ol d s aying acco r d ,

ing to which th e y would

d e sol at e th e e ar th Or ig .

inal l y it w as Th o r hims e lf
w h o w as b e li e ve d to hu r l
th e thunde r b olt .

Th e s e s t ones w e r e su p
p o s e d to be e nd owe d with
wonde r w or king p ower s .

Wh en a woman w as in
l ab o r al e w as allowe d to
dr ip over a s tone of thi s mas emaiw azar sa m
,
: h
w

kind and w as th en given to

,

th e w oman to d r ink All thr ough th e S candinavi an coun

.

t r i e s th e p e as ant s b eli eve d th at if such a st one we r e hung up

in a h ou se or on c attl e th e t r o ll s and o th e r mal e v ol ent s pi r it s
,

would be d r iven aw ay and al l sp ell s and witchcr aft would ,

be r end e r e d h arml e s s .
79

In S ir Willi am B r e r eton s acc ount of his t r av el s ( 1 634 ’

“
M agnu se n, 0m en Ste enr ing me d Ru ne ind s k r if t , A nnal er f or Nor d isk
Ol d kynd igh e d , C o p enhag e n, 183 8—1839 , p . 13 3 .

7"
M agnu sen , Om en S t e enr ing m e d Ru neind s k r if t, A nnal e r f or Nor d isk
Ol dk yndigh ed , C o p enh ag en, 183 8—18 3 9 , 13 2—134 pp . .
112 TH E M AGIC OF JE WEL S A ND CH ARMS
d th at h e s aw in th e S ch ool of A natomy at
we r ea

L eyd en a s t one c all e d F ul minés S agitta o r th e d ar t of th e “

,

thu d b lt ab out th e siz e of y ou r littl e finge r

n e r o ,
”
Thi s w as .

e ith e r a b e l emnit e or a s t one ar r ow h ead o f s ome wh at

81 -

s imil ar fo r m I t b or e a L atin ins c r ipti on to th e fo ll owing

.

ef f e ct : Many b eli eve th at nu r sing childr en can be cu r e d

“

o f r uptu r e if thi s s t one be att ach e d to th e i r thigh s o r if th e y ,

d o not su f fe r fr om thi s c ompl aint th ey will be p r ese r ve d ,

fr om it .

On th e r idge b e am of an I r i sh c o tt age at P o r t r u sh w as
-

fo und a ne olithic ce lt of th e kind b e li e ve d by th e p e as antr y

to be thund e r b o lt s
“ ”
Thi s c e lt h ad b e en pl ace d on th e
.

r oo f o f th e c o tt age to p r o t e ct it fr om b e ing s t r uck by light

ning a no ti on th or oughly in acco r d with th e th e or y of s ym

,

p athe tic magic In S u r r ey E ngl and a lik e b eli e f is h e ld

.
, ,

as to th e f o s s il b e l em nit e s and no dul e s o f i r on pyr it e s s uch ,

a s h av e b e e n fo u nd in C r e t ac eou s fo r m ati ons ne ar C r agd o n

ar e al s o th ought to h av e fall en f r om th e sky du r ing a

thund e r s tor m and to p o s s e s s p e culi ar p o we r s in r e fe r enc e

-
,

to th e lightning .
82

In I r e l and th e p r e hi s t ori c s to ne ar r ow h e ad is b eli ev e d -

to h ave b e en sh o t at man o r b e as t by th e f ai r i e s S h ould an .

o l d w om an be s o lucky a s to fi nd one s h e will b e c ome highly

h onor e d in h er vill age and it is u s e d as a cur e f or di s e as e s ,

p r oduc e d by th e wil e s of evil spir it s To e f fe ct a cu r e th e .

,

ar r ow ) mu st be pl ace d in wat e r which is th en

”
s aig e ad ,

g i v e n to th e s ick p e r s o n to d r ink C ow s which h av e b e en .

83

wound e d by th e fair y d ar ts ar e al so mad e to d r ink of thi s

“ -

9°
B r er e t ve l
in Ho an , t h e Uni e Pr o in e s , E n an , S o an
on, Tr a s ll d td v c gl d c tl d
l d
and Ir e an , 163 4 C h eth am S oc , L o n on, 1844 , 41 . d p . .

81
Th e f o s s i iz e or n l dh
r o ess o f an e in yp c
cu tt l e fi sh xt ct .

A E Wr i . and E
. Lo e ,ght v tt
S e im ens of M o er n M a s o s and A n
. pc d ct
c t ul t
ien A m e s o f th e B r i is I s es , F o
”
t h l
L o r e, vo l x ix , 19 08, 2 9 8 ; PI V I , lk . p . .

fig 2. .

“8
Mo one , Th e M e i a M y o og of I r e an , d c l yth l y
A m Ph i S o c , vo l i , l d . l . . . xxx v
p 143 , 1 887
, .
114 TH E MA GIC OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

de r ive d fr om th e form of ce r tain of th e se pr e hi sto r ic

Th e Bu r m ans h ave giv e n th e highly p o e tic name of
r ai nb o w di se ase to th e di sor d er known to u s as app endi
” -

oiti s and th ey u se th e ax e h e ad s and o the r p o i nt e d o r s h ar p

,
-

e ne d ar r ow h e ad s of th e S t one A ge f or th e cu r e o f thi s
-

mal ady s tr oking th e r e gi on af f e ct e d with one of the se im

,

pl ements Th e nativ e s s har e in th e de lu si on almo st u ni

.

v er s al among p r imitiv e p eople s th at the se st one impl ement s ,

h ave fallen fr om th e sky dur ing thunder s torm s and th at -

,

th ey p ar tak e of th e natu r e of thunde r b olt s ; h ence th ey ar e

supp o se d to d es t r oy th e r ainb ow di se ase as th e app r o ach o f -
,

he avy s tor m cl ouds char ge d with lightning d ar ke n th e sun

'

, ,

and put an e nd to th e b e autifu l natu r al ph enome non .

In th e i s l and of Mi nd anao one of th e Philippine gr oup , ,

th e h e ath en Manob os c alle d th e thund e r th e s p e e ch o f th e

“

lightning and r e gar de d th e l atte r as a kind of wild ani

,
”

m al s o th at wh ene v e r th e lightning s t r uck th e e ar th o r a

,

t r e e th ey b e li eve d that th e animal h ad bu r i e d its t e eth in

th e s p ot Th e y th e r e fo r e l o ok e d up on any s tone impl ement
.

found the r e as one of the se t ee th .

89

Th e anci e nt st one h amm er s f ound in J ap an ar e c all e d

m i f n s eki thunde r b o lt s ”
o r tengu no mas akam
“ “
b attl e
'

, , ,

ax e s of Te ngu th e war d er of th e h e av ens Oth e r s t one

”
.
,

impl ements b e ar th e name f ox ax es or f ox pl ane s

“ “ -
,
” -
.
”

Th es e p e culi ar d e signati ons ar e empl oy e d b e c au se th e f ox is

a s ymb ol of th e d e vil and th e s t one ax es ar e r e gar d e d as ,

we ap ons of th e devil Of cou r se thi s in no wi s e p r ev ent s .

thei r u se as amul et s or me dicinally ; indee d the ir p o wd er is ,

th ought to be an e sp e ci ally e f fe ctive r eme dy f or b oil s and

ulcer s Many such s t one s may be s een in th e templ es wh er e
.
,

88
Mor gan ,
“
Matér iaux p ou r
’
l h ist . p r imitive ,
”
Par is, 1885 , p . 4 84 ; V e r
handl Be l A nthrop G es 1879 p 3 00; Von Rosenb g
. r . . .
, , . er ,
“
Der M al ayisch e
A r ch ip e l L eip ig 187 8 p 17 5
”
, z , , . .

9°
S emp er D ie Ph il ipp inen Wiir z bu rg 186 9 p 6 1
, , , , . .
 ON ME TE ORI TE S , OR C E LE S TIAL S TONE S 11 5
’

th ey ar e car efully p r e s e r ve d and shown to th e pilgr ims w h o

vis it th e diff er ent sh ri ne s .
9°

E v e n at th e p r ese nt d ay th e sup er s titi ou s b eli ef in th e ,

magic p r op e r ti e s of th e p r e hi s to r ic s t one impl ement s s till

s u r viv e s am ong s ome of th e S c andinavi an p e a s ant s Th ey .

b e lie ve that th e se off e r p r ot e cti on agains t lightning and ,

th ey ar e v e r y unwilling to p ar t with th em In some r egi ons .

th e s t one ax e s o r ar r o w h e ad s ar e s upp ose d to aff or d p r o

-

tection ag ai ns t lightni ng and the y ar e o cc as i onally u s e d to

,

r e li e ve th e p ang s o f childbi r th In th e l atte r c as e th e y ar e .

pl ace d in th e be d of th e suf fer ing woman A noth e r cu r i ou s .

u se to which th e y ar e put is a s a cu r e f o r an e r uptive di s e ase

o f child r en H er e th e flint is s t r uck sh arp ly with a pi e ce

.

of s t e e l so th at th e s p ar ks fall up on th e child s h e ad
’ 91
.
,

This giv es u s an add e d p r o o f of th e as s o ci ati on o f th e se

s t one ax es e tc with fi r e and with th e lightni ng fl as h
,
.
,
.

Th e B u r me s e c e lt s or s t one ha tch e t s ar e f r e qu ently o f

j ade and diff e r fr om th o s e u su ally m et with in E ur op e and
I ndi a in th at th e y ar e p r ovid e d with a chi s e l e dge ins t e ad
,
-

o f a d oubl e s l o p e d cutting e dge

— A n int e r e s ting acc ount o f .

th e sup e r s titi ons c onne ct e d with th e se impl em ent s is given

by Mr Th e ob ald fr om wh om w e qu ote th e foll owing p as
.
,
92

s ag e I t will be no t e d th at th e B u r m ese id e as ar e in almo s t

.

e x act acc or d with th o s e cu r r ent in E u r op e .

Th e Bur mese c all th ese impl ements mo j o thunder chain or thund er - z

,
-

b olt and b el ieve th at they d es c end with th e l ightning flash and af ter p e ne
, , ,

tr ating th e ear th w or k their w ay b ac k by d egr ees to th e s ur f ac e wh er e th ey

, ,

ar e f o und s c att er e d ab o ut th e fi e l ds among th e l ower h ill s u s u al ly af te r ,

r ain or o n r emoving th e c r o p s Th e tr ue mo j io is sup p ose d to p osses s -

.
,

many o ccult vir tu es and it is not c ommon to fi nd one which d oes not s how
,

signs of h aving b e en ch ip p e d or s c r ap e d f or me d ic inal pur p ose s .

b ld J
V on S ie o , r , V er h andl Ber A n r o . Ges , 187 8,
. th p
43 1 pl . . . . .

v
S e n Ni ss on,
“
l tv h bt t
Th e Pr im i i e I n a i an s o f S an ina ia , c d v t r ans . by
th e a uth
or and e d S ir o n L. byo , 3d , Lo J h ubb ck cd
n o n, 186 8, d
19 9 p . . .

”
Memoir s of th e G eo o i a S r e of I n ia, vol , l gc l uvy d x pp
25 5 — 2 5 9 . . .
11 6 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

One of chief virtues of th e mo j z o is to r end er th e p er son of th e

th e -

wear er invulner able ; and many an unlucky mo j z o h as succumb ed to th e -

p o pul ar test which is to wr ap it in a cl oth and fi r e a bulle t at it at s hort

,

r ang e . I f th e m an miss es th e cl oth th e auth enticity and p ower of th e ch ar m

,

is at onc e e stabl ish e d ; if th e s t one is f r actur e d it is h eld not to be a r eal

mo j io
-
.

will not c onsume a h ouse which c ontains one th ough I nev er

F ir e ,

he ar d of th is or deal b eing attempte d Last but not le as t is th e known f act

.

that th e owner of a r e al mo j z o can cut a r ainb ow in h alf with it

-
'

C e r t ain r e ce nt
h app enings h ave sugge st ed th at th e name
avi at o r s t one wo uld be a p e culi ar ly app r opr iat e d e sig
-
”

nati o n f or m e t eo r it es and i nd e e d thi s ne w nam e w ould

,

only s e r v e to emph as iz e th e l e g e nd ar y b e li e f that h e w h o ,

b or e with h im a me t e or it e wh en h e w as in d e adly p e r il would

e s c ap e al l inju r y By a s t r ange c oincid e nce th os e w h o ar e
.

willing to take gr e at r i sk s and chanc e s ar e ge ne r ally m o r e

o r l e ss sup e r s titi ou s r e gar di ng sm all things and a d ar i ng ,

avi at o r r e c e ntly r e mar k e d th at on o ne occ as i on wh en h is ,

machine h ad sudd enly f al l en fif ty fe et h e f e lt f o r h is tie ,

and s aid to him s e lf : Thi s accid ent h as h app ene d b e c au s e

“

I fo r go t to put on my op al p in but I h av e b e e n s ave d fr om,

inju r y b e c au s e I c ar r i e d a m e t e or it e Thi s avi at or having .

,

menti one d th e incid ent to H ar m on a f ew minut e s b e for e th e ,

l atte r made h is succe s sful att empt to w in th e Doubl e d ay

Page aviation p r iz e H ar mon imme di at e ly t o ok th e me t e or
fl
,

ite which h ad b een sh ow n to h im saying L e t m e h av e it

, :
“
.
”

H e a cc ompli sh e d his t a sk and alth ou gh b oth th e c omp e ting

,

m achine s w e r e inju r e d th e avi at or s th emse lves w e r e s av e d

, .

A m e t e or it e of cou r s e c anno t be cl aime d to be a p r e

, ,

ventive of d anger o n al l o ccasi ons but s ev e r al w h o h av e ,

always c ar r i e d th em h ave s e em e d to e s c ap e al l sor t s o f

h ar m S ome ye ar s ago a m e t e o r it e w as gi ven to E dw ar d

.

H er on Allen th e f amou s wr it e r on p almi st ry and th e vi o lin

, ,

and thi s gift e d m an alw ay s wo r e it ab out him One m or ning .

h e aw ak ene d to fi nd th at th e enti r e r o of ab ove h im h ad fall en

 III
é tones of h ealing
N h is c ommentar y on The ophr astu s S ir J ohn H ill
IItouches up on th e question of th e medicinal vir tu e s of ,

p r e ci ou s s tone s His r e se ar che s r e gar ding th e cau se s and

.

conditi ons de te rm ining col or in s tones l e d h im to th e con ,

j e ctu r e that th e active p r incipl e if it r e ally exi st e d w as , ,

to be sought in th e c ol o r ing matt e r A s th e opini on of a .

ve r y cl eve r student in h is d ay h is wor d s will b e ar qu o ,

tatio n 1

Th e gr eatest p ar t of these [me dic inal v irtues ] c annot but be seen at

first view to be altogether imaginary ; and as to th e v ir tues of th e Gems in
gener al it is now th e r eigning Op inion th at the y ar e ne ar ly al l s o th eir
, , ,

gr e atest Fri end s all owing th em no oth er th an th ose o f th e c ommon alk al i ne

A bs or b ent s H owe v er wh eth er th e met all ine Part icles to wh ich th ey ow e
.
, ,

their Colour s ar e in e ither Q uantity or Q uality in C ond ition to h ave any

, , ,

cfi ect in th e B o dy is a M atter w orthy of a s tr ict and r e gul ar Tr y al and th at

,

would at onc e d e c ide th e Q uestion between us and th e A ntients and sh ew ,

whether w e have b een too r as h or they too s up er stitious , .

Th e call e d do ctr ine o f signatu r es tr e at e d of th e

so -
“ ”

mar k s s e t by natu r e up on c e r t ain obj e ct s to d eno t e th e i r

u s e fulne ss in th e cu r e of di se ase s af fe cting di f fe r ent p ar ts
o f th e b o dy o r th e i r p ow er to neut r aliz e th e e ffe ct s o f th e
,

bite s of c e r t ain anim al s o r r e ptil es Of thi s th eor y Mar tins .

s ay s th at th e s ignatu r e s ar e no t to be s ought in a f anciful

r e s embl anc e to th e f o rm o f th e o bj e ct s with th e di se as e d

p ar t s of th e human b o dy but r ath e r in th e co lor o d or , , ,

t as te c omp ositi on e tc o f th e obj e ct s

, ,
.
, .
2

‘
Th ph t
eo Hi t y f S t
r as u s s
’
with E gl i h v
s or i by J h n
o o ne s, an n s er s on o

H i ll L ond on, 17 4 6 , p 7 3 . .

Mar t ins, Unt er r icht vo n g

d er Ma isa Na tur ali , Le i pz ig , 1 7 1 7, p . 29 0.

118
 S TONE S OF H E AL ING 11 9

M e di eval me dic al lit e r atu r e h as no mor e int er e sting

e x ampl e th an th e t r e ati s e entitl e d Th e s au r u s Pau p er um, ”
“

or th e P o or m an s Tr e asu r y wr itt en by P etr u s H is

“ -
’
,

p anu s w h o lat er r e igne d f or a b r i ef p e r i o d as p op e under

,

th e nam e of J ohn XXI ( 1 27 6 Th e bi r thpl ac e of th e

auth or w as L i sb on in P o r tug al and h e s tudi e d f or s om e ,

tim e at th e Unive r s ity o f P ar i s whe r e his le ar ning e ar ne d

,

h im high p r ai s e P r ior to h is e l e ction as p op e h e se r ve d

.
,

f or a tim e as fi r s t phys ici an to P o p e Gr e go r y X ( 1 27 1

127 M o st of th e r eme di es p r e s c r ib e d in thi s littl e t r e ati se
ar e natu r ally s uch as h ad l ong b e en p o pul ar among th e

p e as ant r y and th e ingr e di ent s of which c ould e asily be

,

s e cu r e d ; v e ge t abl e gr owth s pl ant s h e r b s and fl ow e r s and

, , ,

ce r t ain p ar ts o f th e m o r e common animal s s e r ve d he r e as , ,

in Pli ny s d ay and e ar li e r s till as th os e mo s t highly fav or e d

’
,
.

Of th e c omp ar ative ly f ew mine r al sub s t anc es wh o se u se is

r e c omm end e d may be no t e d th e r e d var i e ty o f ch elid onins

s w all o w s t one f or th e cu r e o f e pil e p sy ; th e p owd er of

“ ”
or ,

th e
“
i i
r s
”
( p r ob ably an i r ide s cent var i ety of qu ar tz ) w as
al s o a cu r e f o r e pil e ptic s Th en w e fi nd s t r ange to s ay a
.
, ,

r e c omme nd ati on o f such c os tly r e me di al ag e nci e s as emer ald

and s apphi r e e ith e r o f which if t ouch e d on th e eye w o uld

,

h e al di se as e s of that o r gan C old st one s pl ace d on th e

.

t empl e s and tightly b ound on we r e s aid to ar r e s t ble e ding

fr om th e nos e and c or al w as a gr e at he lp in sync op e F o r
,
.

s t one in th e bl add er tw o mi ne r al s ub s t anc es humu s and “

,

so ngie ar e w arm ly r ecomm end e d ( th e f o r me r can s c ar c e ly

’
,

be h e ld to s ignify m e r e as ar e al s o s t one s fou nd

“

in th e gizz ar d s of co ck s ( th e al e ctor ins ) and th o se fr om th e

”

bladde r s of h ogs Al l th es e we r e to be r e duce d to p owder

.
,

di ss olve d in liquid and t ak en in th e for m of p oti ons Th e

, .

u s e o f s t one s and c o r al r ath er as amul e t s or t ali smans th an

as r eme di e s is o cc as i onally me nti one d Thu s th e l oad s t one

.
,

if worn is s aid to r emove di sc or d b e tween man and woman ;

,
120 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

cor al if kept in th e h ou s e de st r oy e d al l e vil influ ence s and if

, , ,

a w oman w o r e t ouching h e r s ki n a c o nc r e ti on t ak en f r om th e

s t omach o f a s h e go at th at h ad no t h ad you ng thi s w om an

-
,

w ould nev e r b e ar a child .

3

Th e cu r i o u s ol d me dical t r e ati s e in v er se call e d th e

S ch ol a S al er nit ana w as t r ans l at e d int o E ngli s h by S ir ,
”

Jam e s H ar ington in 1 607 Th e following line s give advice .

that is as appr op r i at e to th e conditi ons of ou r ow n age as

to th os e of any oth e r 4

Use thr ee physitians still first d octor Q uiet , ,

Next d o ctor Merr y —man and d octor Dye t .

Wh e th er with with out int enti on th e tr ansl ator h as

or ,

omi tt e d to r end e r th e qu alific ati on given in th e o r i gi nal

S i tibi d efi ciant m e dici ( if othe r do ctor s ar e lacking )

“ ”
.

Th e t e r r ibl e pl agu e known as th e B l ack D e ath is s aid

to h ave cl aime d victim s in E u r op e in th e ye ar s
13 47 and 1348 A cont emp o r ar y Olivi e r d e l a H aye in
.
, ,

a p o em d e s c ri bing thi s f e ar ful vi s it ati on give s a nu mb e r o f ,

r e cip e s u se d o r to be u s e d as r eme di e s
,
In o ne of th e s e .

th er e app e ar as ingr e di ent s p e ar l s j ar goons em e r alds and , ,

co r al one sixth of a dr ach m of e ach o f th e se mat e r i al s ente r

,
-

ing int o th e c omp o siti on of th e p r e s cr ipti on Th e symp .

5

t oms of thi s for m of th e plagu e as d e s cr ib e d by th e ol d ,

w r it e r s ar e s aid to r e s embl e cl os e ly tho s e of th e dis e as e th at

,

w as p r e v al e nt not l ong ago in some p ar t s of A s i a e sp e ci ally ,

in nor th e r n C hina and M anchu r i a .

A famou s class of me dic al r eme di e s u se d in me di eval

3
Fr om a fo ut
th centu y I tal ian MS t an lati n of t h t e atis in th
r e en r . r s o e r e e

a uth or s l ib ar y ; se f ol 8 ct c l 2 ; f l 9 cto c l 1 ; f ol 10 ect o c l 2 ;

’
r e .
, re o, o . o .
, re , o . .
, r o .
,

f ol 1 4 v e
.
, col 1 ; f l 1 7 v e so c l 1 ; f l 2 5 v er so c l 1 ; f l 2 6 v e so
r so , . o .
,
r , o . o .
, , o . o .
, r ,

c l
o 1 ; f l 26 v
. o c l
. 2 ; f ol 2 9 v e so c l 2
,
er s o , o . .
,
r , o . .

R egim n anitat is S al e nit anu m ed S ir A l x and

‘
e s C ooke Ox f o d 183 0
r , . e er , r , ,

p 125 This diti n c ntains p duction f m any cu i u s woodcut s f om th e

. . e o o re ro s o r o r

ol d G e m an ditions f C u io publ ished in 1559 156 8 and 15 7 3

r e o r , , .

H avar d H ist oir e d e l orf év e i Par is 189 6 p 3 5 9 Olivier d e l a H ay ”

’
,
r r e, , , . e,

Poeme su r l a grand e p este d e v er ses 3 162 sqq .

122 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

c
of a r a ob r o t h e r c r u s t ac e an du r i ng th e m o ulti ng p e r i o d and ,

this w as and is s till u s e d as an e ye s t one f o r th e r emo ving -

of f or e ign b o di e s th a t h a v e e nt e r e d t h e e ye t h e e y e s t one
,
—

y p y J
.

h ar m ac F r om
' “ "
I nt e rio r of fi f t e e nt h cent ur o h annis d e C uba O r tu s S ani tat is
g
S t r assbu r , 1 4 83 .
s .

b e ing intr oduce d unde r th e eye lid Thi s r e sult s in a r apid .

flow fr om th e t e ar duct s which oft e n wash e s aw ay th e

-

for eign b o di es th e p as s age of th e s tone acr os s th e e ye b all

,

o cc as i onall y aiding in th e w o r k by r ubbing o f f th e b o dy .

124 TH E M AGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
Re gar ding th e l ength of tim e du r ing which vari ou s p r ep
ar ations r e t ai ne d th ei r s t r e ngth B r au nf e l s 1 1 s t at e s th at ,
,

a ccor ding to th e opini on of th e A r abi an physici ans th e s olu ,

ti on of l api s A r menu s laste d f or te n ye ar s whil e that of ,

l api s lazuli c ould be pr e s e r ve d only ab out thr e e ye ar s A .

l i s t of th e indi s p e ns abl e m at e r i al s which sh ould be in e ve r y

goo d ph ar m acy includ e d th e foll owing p r e ciou s st one s
J inth M gn
ac a es

S ap phir e C or al
E mer al d H ematit e
To p az A et ites
Mar gar ith a . J p as er

( p e ar l )
Th e upp os ed me dicinal pr op er tie s of p r e ci ou s s tone s
s

ar e subj e ct e d to a s e ar ching c r itici sm by th e V e r one s e

phys ici an F r ance sco Indi a wri ting in

, Aft e r e st ab
,

l ish ing th e di s tincti on b e tw e e n alime nt ar y and me dicinal

sub s t anc e s h e p r o c e e d s to e xclud e f r om th e l att e r c at e go r y
,

th e j acinth e me r ald s apphi r e e tc b e c au s e alth ough th ey

, , ,
.
,

c ould be r e duce d to a p owde r th e y could not be di s s o lve d , ,

s o th at wh en t ak e n in a p o ti on th e y c ould be ab s o r b e d in th e

human syst em H enc e no such e f f e ct s could p r o p e r ly be

.
13

as c r ib e d to th e m as w e r e to be e xp e ct e d f r om th e r e gul ar

and no r m al m e dicinal age nci e s Thi s wr it e r as c ri b e s th e .

o r i gi nal u s e of such s t o ne s as r e m e di e s f o r m alignant f ev e r s

and o th e r d ang e r ou s di s e as e s to t e A r ab s adding th at

“
h h ad ,

th ey no t made thi s mi st ak e and thu s l e d many phy s ici ans

into e r r o r they would h ave b een b e tt e r w or thy of p r ai se
, .
” 11

I n fact h e d o es not h e s it at e to p r onounc e th e e m ph atic

o pini on th at th e s e s t one s ar e no t r e m e di al ag ent s fit to be

11
Br a nf eu l s, t
R e f o r ma ion d er A ppte ck en, S t r ass bu g
r , 15 36 , f ol . XIV b
XX b
,

12
F r ancis e i I nd iae, Hygiph yl u s, v
si e de f e b re ma l igna d ial ogu s , V eronze ,

1“
Op . cit . pp . 1 15 sqq .
 S TONE S OF H E AL ING 125

a d niste ed o u sed by y ti al physici an

m i r r a n r a o n “
Th at .

p owd er e d h ematite ( r ed oxid e o f i r on) p o ss es ses an astrin

gent qu ality and may r e ally be l ooke d up on as a me dicine ,
h e fully r e cogniz e s , mor e p ar ticul ar ly its effi cacy f or th e
cu r e of di seases of th e eye , bu t neither th ese nor similar
qu aliti es can be cr e dit e d to s apph i r e s , emer alds, or j acinth s .

At th e s am e tim e h e is not di sp ose d to d eny th at the se stone s

m ay h ave s ome subtl e e ff e ct up on th e b o dy wh en worn, or
wh en held in th e mouth f o r a time Thu s h e agr ees with .

A vicenna ( B en S ina ) that a j acinth w or n ov er th e he ar t may

t
s r en gthen th at or gan f or h e knows of th e p ower inher ent ,

in j asp er to ch e ck a hemor r h age In a wor d hi s ar gument .

is p r incip ally di r e ct e d agains t th e inte rnal u se of p owd er s

m ad e fr om th e s e har d and unassim il abl e s t one s u
.
s

Rob er t B oyl e wr iting in 1663 att empt s to sh ow th at th e

, ,

th e or y of th e th e r ap eutic action of p r eci ou s st ones is not

inc omp atible with ob se r ve d fact s In thi s connection h e .

I a m lt ther of th eir mind th at absolutely r ej ect the inter nal

not a oge ,

u s e of Le af Go ld R ubies S aph yr s
-
,
E mer ald s and oth er Gems as th ings
, , , ,

that are unconqu er able by th e h eat o f th e stomach For as there ar e rich .

P atients that may with o ut much inc onvenience goe to th e p ri ce of th e

, ,

dear es t Me d ic ines ; so I th ink th e S t omach acts not on Me dicines bar e ly up on

th e account of its h e at but is e ndowe d with a s ubtl e dissolvent ( whenc e ne ver
,

it h ath it ) by which it may p er f or m divers things not to be d one by so

languid a h eat And I h ave with Liquors of diff ering sor ts easil y dr awn
.
, ,

f r om V eget abl e S ub stance s and p er h ap s unre ctifi ed sometimes diss o lv e d

, , ,

and sometimes dr aw n Tinctur es f r o m Gems and th at in th e c old Bu t ,

th at which I chiefly consider on this occas ion is that tis one thing to make ,
’

it p r o babl e that is p ossibl e Go ld Rub ies S aphyrs etc may be wr ought

, , , , , , .
,

up on by humane Stomach ; and another thing to shew both th at they ar e

w ont to be so and th at th e y ar e actu ally end owe d with th ose p art icul ar
,

“
Op . cit., p 116
. .

Op . cit., pp 1 18—122
. .

“
Bo yl e ,
“
On th e Us ef ulne s s of E xp er i ment al Ph ilosophy, ”
x
O f or d
, 16 64,
p . 108.
126 TH E M AGIC OF JE WE LS A ND C H ARMS
and s p ecifi ck V ir tues th at ar e as cr ib e d to them ; nay and ( o ver and above )
that these V irtues ar e s uch and s o emine nt th at they consid er ably s ur p as s ,

those of cheap er S imples A nd I think th at in Pr es cr iptions mad e f or th e

.
,

p oor er s or t of Patients a Phys ic ian may we ll s ub st itute che ap er I ngr e dient s

,

in th e pl ac e of the s e p r e c io us ones wh ose V ir tu es ar e no h al f s o nu que s

,

tionabl e as th eir De ar nesse .

Wh eth er what myste r i ou s illness and d e ath of

th e s ome

th e p op es L eo I V and P aul 11 c o uld h ave b e en cau s e d by th e

gr e at qu antity o f p e ar ls and p r e ci ou s s t one s th e y we r e in
th e h abit o f w e ar i ng w as a qu e s ti on s e ri o u s ly di s cu s s e d by
J oh ann Wo l f f th e supp o s e d l e th al e f f e ct b e ing att r ibut e d to
,

th e c ol d ne s s of such obj e ct s I nd e e d th e fri gi dity of .

17
,

p r e ci ou s s t one s w as adduc e d by c e r t ain wr it e r s a s one of th e

chi e f r e asons f o r th ei r r eme dial u s e in fe ve r s .
18

Not o nl y to Ki ng F r e d e r ick III of D enm ar k him se lf to ,

wh om on h is d e a th be d in 1670 a dose of pulve riz e d b e z o ar

-
,

w as admini s t e r e d but to his qu e en an d th e i r childr en s uch

,

r em e di e s we r e give n th e r e b e i ng r e c or d th at o n S e pt e mbe r
,

1 9 1 663 a p r e s c r ipti on c ont aini ng r e d c or al and p e ar l

, ,

p owd er w as comp ounde d by th e C o u r t Ph ar macy f or th e

qu e e n while a f ew ye ar s e ar lie r th e ine vit abl e b e z o ar and
,

al s o a t onic p e ar l m ilk w e r e a dmini s t e r e d to s ome of th e

-

r oy al o f f sp r i ng
“ 9
.

S ome inte r e s ting de t ail s as to th e u se o f p r e ci ou s s t one

r e me di e s f o r th e cu r e o f ill ne s s app e ar in th e m anu s c ri pt

no t e s of l e ctu r e s gi v e n at th e L e yd en H os pital by th e s e ve n
te e nth c entu r y physici an Lucas S ch acht in 16 7 4 and , ,

Thi s s h ows th at th e s e r eme di al ag ent s w e r e th e r e and at

th at tim e only u s ed as a l ast r e sor t wh en th e p ati ent s con ,
’

J h i W l flii C i
c au n a o m l t m c ut t
, F n f ti
u r osu st a u e or u s r a or , ra co ur e
L ips iae , 169 2 , 5 64p . .

m J B S il vatici Co n t r ov er s ies me dic ea, Fr anco f u r t i, 1 601, p

. .
, . 22 3 .

”
l
A x e G ar ce , bKu nsth istor isk e S Kjbenh avntud v
ie r o e r E d e l st ene,
t
0 g Kr is iania, 1 9 1 5 , 25 4 p . .

2°
S ee A e Ga rxl o s ,
“
b
Ku l tu r h ist o r is k e S ier o er ZEd e l stene , me d smr l igt tud v
Henbil k paa d e t 17 A ar h u nd r e d e, Kjbenh avn 0g Kr is iania, 1 9 1 5 ,
.
”
14 1 s qq t pp . .
 S TONE S OF H E AL ING 127

diti on h ad b ecome de sp er ate and th e physici an is u sual ly ,

o blige d to r e c o r d th e fact th at d e ath e ns u e d s h o r tly aft e r

war ds Thu s w e ar e told of th e case o f a cer t ain Ludo vicu s

.

C ar el s w h o w as s u f fe r ing fr om diffi culty of b r e athi ng and

pu r ul ent e xp e ctor ation ; h is b ody w as s o di s tended that h e
c ould s car ce ly move h is limb s and h e al so h ad a seve r e ,

di ar r hoea Thi s w as h is condition on Novemb e r 12 1674 and

.
, ,

th e s ympt oms s t e adily g r e w w or se u nd e r a t r e atment of

h e r b d e co ctio ns until a f ew days late r on Novemb e r 21 it
, , ,

is no t e d th at h e only think s of d e ath “

S till th e d o ct or s .
”

wai t e d until Nov emb e r 24 b e fo r e the y de cide d to admini st e r

a c omp o u nd r e m e dy c ons i s ting in p ar t o f th e e lixi r s o f

j a cinth and p e ar l ; thr e e days l at e r th e p ati ent di e d In .

gene r al th e chi e f sympt oms which ju s tifie d th e u se o f such

r eme di es w e r e th os e o f high fe v e r o r g r e at w e akne s s .

Al th ough by th e mi ddl e of th e e ight e e nth c entu r y th e

b e li e f in th e sp e ci al cu r ative p o we r s of p r e ci ou s st one ma -

te ri al h ad alm o s t enti r e ly di s app e ar e d givi ng pl ac e to a ,

m o r e s ci entific c once pti on of th e che mical c omp o siti on of

the s e b o di e s st ill w e fi nd e ven in so cap abl e a wr it e r as
, , ,

th e G e rm an mine r al o gi s t U F B B r iickrnann a linge r ing ,

. . .
,

tr ace of th e ol d id e a f o r whil e h e declar e s th at al l inte lligent

,

physicians h ave aban done d th e ir u s e h e adds if h ow “

, , ,

e ve r any s t o ne o f thi s kind h as m o r e e fi e ct th an an o r di

,

nar y e ar thy s ub s t ance it is th e lapi s l azuli bu t w e h av e , ,

a hundr e d o th e r r eme di e s e qu all y effi c a ci o u s and much

ch e ap er H e al so t e s tifie s to th e fact th at v e r y littl e genu

.

ine m at erial w a s to be h ad fr om th e ap oth e c ari e s h e h im ,

s e lf h avi ng o ft e n s een a ye ll o w fe ld sp ar o ff er e d i nst e ad o f a

j acinth and poor gar ne t s as sub s titu t e s f or r ubi e s

,
.
21

To war d th e end of th e e ight eenth centu r y a fam ou s ,

c or di al me dicine call e d Gascoign s P owd er afte r th e

“
,
’
,
”

”
U . F . B . Br uckmann , A bhandlung vo n E de l st eine n,
”
B r a nsu chweig ,

1 75 7, pp . 4, 5 of pr ef ace .
128 TH E M GIC OF A J E WE L S AND C H RMS A
physici an c omp ound ed it h ad an imm ens e vogue in
wh o ,

E ngland Thi s man is said to h av e got mor e th an

.

fr om th e sale of thi s s ingle r eme dy It is st ate d .

to h av e c ontaine d Or i ent al b e z oar ( th e most imp or tant

ingr edi ent ) white amb er r e d cor al cr ab s e ye s p owder e d
, , ,
’
,

h ar t sh orn pe ar l and black cr ab s claws ; ce r t ainly a mos t

,
’

incongr u ou s mixtu r e and one well c alcul at e d to t e st th e

r e s i s ting p ow er s of th e p er son to wh om it w as adminis

te r e d .
22

A modern wr ite r finds in th e home op athic th eor y of

me dicine an e xpl anati on of th e app ar ent the r ap eutic e f fe ct s
o f p r e ci ou s st ones F or if th e smal l er th e d os e th e gr eate r
”
.

th e e ff e ct th en s uch sup er subtl e emanati ons as ar e th ought

,
-

to p r o cee d fr om p r e ciou s stones mu s t h ave e ff e ct s still mor e

p ower ful than thos e of th e mos t highly dilute d tinctu r es
admi ni s t er e d by h ome op athi s t s o f th e ol d s ch oo l Chr i sti an .

S ci ence how ev er with its b o ld d eni al of th e exi st enc e of

,

di seas e and with i ts pu r ely s pi r itu al tr eatment of th e men

,
‘

tal e rr or ”
that is supp ose d to be at th e r oot o f al l mor bid
sympt oms coul d e ven mor e e asily account f or th e app ar ent
,

cu r e s wr ought by mer ely we ar ing pr eciou s st ones Th e be .

li ef in thei r r eme di al vir tu e would ser ve to r emove th e mor

bid impr essi on and would r estor e th e mind to its no rmal and
,

he althy s tat e .

An inst an ce fr om ou r own d ay of th e applicati on of a

miner al sub s t ance ext ernally f or th e cu r e of di s e as e app e ar s ,

in th e u se of th e u r anium pitchbl ende occu r r ing in J oach im s

th al Boh emi a Thi s is enclo sed in l eathe r b ags and appli e d
,
.

to th e h e ad f or th e cu r e of h e ad ach e Th e mos t vi ol ent p ains .

ar e s ai d to be r e li e ve d in a s h or t time by thi s t r e atment ,

” J hn nd A nd w V n Rym dyk Mu um B itt i m 2 d vi d

o a re a s , se r an cu , e . re se

and cor rected by P . yl e London

Bo , , 1 79 1 , p 51
. .

e ciou s S t ones f at ive Wear to l p

”
5°
Fer nie, Pr or C ur , Br is ,
1907, . 256 .
13 0 THE MA GIC OF JE WE LS A ND CHARMS

23 813111
Th omas d e C antim m tell s u s that th e b er yl cur e s
é 29

quinsy and s w ollen glands in th e ne ck if th e afi ected p ar t be

r ubb e d with th e s t one I t is al so u se ful as a r eme dy f o r
.

di se as e s of th e eye and if wate r in which it h as b e en

,

s t e e p e d be giv en to anyone s uf f e r ing fr om an att ack o f h ic

cough s r eli ef will be af for de d

, .

Th e b er yl w a s w arml y r e c ommend e d as a cu r e f or in
ju r i e s to th e eyeb all even of th e m o s t se ri ou s kind F o r
, .

u s e in such c ase s th e s t one w a s to be pulv e r iz e d in a m o r t ar ,

and thi s p owd e r th en p asse d thr ough a fi ne s i e v e Of th e .

minut e p ar ticl e s thu s s e cu r e d a small qu antity w as to be ,

intr oduc e d e ach morning into th e inju r e d eye th e p ati ent ,

b e ing in a r e cumb ent p os tu r e H e w as th en to k ee p pr op e r ly

.

qui e t with h is eyes shut f or a conside r abl e length of time

aft e r thi s o p e r ati on Alth o ugh it w as no t ind e e d cl ai m e d th at
.

whe r e th e p ower of sight h ad b een des t r oye d it could thu s

be r e s t o r e d s till e v en in c ase of such s e ve r e inju r y th e
,

e yeb al l w as h e al e d s o one r and assu me d a b e tt e r app e ar anc e .

I n l e s s s e r i ou s c as es a cu r e w as c ons id e r e d to be assu r e d .
30

Gl arhuml e
Many vi r tu es ar e attri bute d to car buncle s I t is r e l at e d .

th at thos e w h o we ar them can r e si st p oi s ons and ar e p r e

ser v e d f r om th e p es t Th e y di s sip at e s adne ss cont r ol in
.
,

continence ave r t evil thought s and dr e ams exhil ar at e th e

, ,

s oul and fo r e t ell mi s f o r tune s to man by l o sing th ei r native

s pl end or
31
.

Konr ad M ege nber g s f o u r t ee nth c ntu y v uch d er N a tu

’
er s ion, B
2"
von e r r,

ed . by DrFr anz Pf e ifl er , S
.
'

ar , 1 86 1 , tuttg t p 4 36
. .

d
A n re w Bacci i, D e G emm is et Lapid ibu s Pr e tio s is ( La in t ve s ion by
r

W lg g
o t l g
f an G abe l ch over of th e I a ian o r i ina ) , Fr anco f u r t i, 1603 ,l pp 100 101
.
, ,

Not e o f G abel ch ov er .
“
J hannis B au n
o r ii, D e V e stitu S ace r d o tum H ebr aeo r u m , A m stel o d am i,
16 80 pp 6 72 3
, .
— .
 S TONE S OF H E ALING 13 1

absl rrnunp

P e r for at e d spher ical b e ad s of milky white chalcedony

,
-

ar e w o r n at th e p r e s ent d ay by I t ali an p e as ant w omen to in -

cr e as e th e supply of milk H ence th e Itali an name f or such .

a b e ad p ie tm l atte s, P e r for ate d b e ad s of whit e s te atite .

,

b e l onging to th e e ar ly I r on A ge have b e en found ne ar ,

P e r ugia wh er e th e ch al ce dony b e ad s ar e wor n and it

, ,

is b e li ev e d th at th e s e s t e atit e b e ad s we r e b orne f or th e
s am e pu r p o s e
32
.

«rural
C or al f
if w r app e d in th e skin of a cat wer e
and s a r an , ,

b e li e ve d to have mar ve ll ou s power s ; and when emer al d s

we r e adde d to th e cor al th e t al isman would d r ive of f a mor
tal fe ve r T o h av e th e p r op e r e f fe ct h owe ve r it mu s t be
.
, ,

a tt a che d to th e ne ck o f th e p ati e nt ” A s a cu r e f o r hydr o .

ph obi a d og collar s se t with flint and Malte se cor al wer e

,
-

r e c o mm e nd e d in R om an times ; sacr e d s h e ll s and h er b s

“ ”

o v e r which magic i nc ant ati ons h ad b e en p r onounc e d w e r e

al s o att ach e d to or e ncl o s e d in the s e c o ll ar s Th e u se of

, .

c o r al in thi s cas e app e ar s to h ave b e en d u e to th e b eli e f in

its p ow e r to di sso lve th e s p e ll cas t by th e E vil E ye f or ,

Gr atiu s w h o fl ou r i s h e d in th e fir s t centu r y A D and w as a

,
. .

c ont emp or ar y of th e p oe t Ovid asser t s th at if such collar s ,

wer e put on d ogs suf fe r ing fr om hydr ophobia th e go ds we r e ,

ap pe as e d and th e ch arm c ast by an envi ou s eye

“ ”
,
w as
b r oken .
34

Th e H indu physici ans found th at cor al t ast e d b o th sw ee t

and s ou r and th e y as s e r t e d th at its p r i ncip al acti on w as
,

B el u cci, Ca t al gu o e c t ’
d e l E x position d e l a S o ié é d A nth r opol ogie
’
( Ex .

de pp 27 8—2 7 9 . .

“
S e v er u s S amm nicu s
3
P ept es mé d ic aux text and t an by L
o , re c ,
”
r s. . Ba ud et ,

Par is 1845 pp 7 6 7 7
, , .
, .

“
G at Fa l is ci
3
r Cynegeticon
ii co ll ct i n d s aut ur L at in ed
, e o e e s , . Niz ar d ,
vo l x vi Par is 185 1 p 7 86 line s 4 01 4 05
.
, , , .
,
-
.
132 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

on th e se r e c ti ons of th e mucous membr ane on th e bile and on ,

c e r tain mor bid secr etions? Alth ough th e ch emical con 5

s titu e nts of c or al have but s light m e dicinal v alu e it is quit e ,

p os s ibl e th at some eff e ct s up on th e se cr eti ons may h ave

b e en ob ser ve d exp er imentally aft er th e admini str ation of
a d ose of p owd e r e d c o r al .

A n ol d ph arm acopoei a gi ve s e l ab or at e dir e cti ons f o r th e

p ep ar ati on of th e Tinctu e of C o r al
r
“
r
”
A b r anch of ve r y .

r ed co r al w as to be bu r i e d in m e lt e d w ax and all owe d to ,

r emain o ver a fi r e f or th e s p ac e o f tw o d ays aft er which

“
,

time you will see that th e co r al h as b ecome whit e whil e ,

th e w ax h as ass ume d a r e d h u e A fr esh br anch of cor al ”

.

is th en to be put into th e p ar ti ally c ol or e d w ax and th e ,

ab o v e o p er ati on r e p e at e d ; th e w ax will th en be r e dd er th an

b e fo r e ”
It is now to be b r ok en int o c ru s t s which ar e to be
.
,

s t e e p e d in alc oh o l u ntil th e liquid h as ext r act ed th e c ol o r i ng

matt er fr om th e w ax and h as b e come r e ddi sh In thi s w ay .

,

aft er th e r emoval of th e w ax by fil t r ati on e tc a tinctu r e , .

,

w as o bt ai ne d which is r e p r e sent e d to h ave b e en an exc e ll ent

t oni c and to h ave h ad th e p owe r to exp el bad humor s by
,
‘
,
’

inducing p e r spir ation o r by its diur e tic action ,

We 36
.

s tr ongly su sp e ct th at in thi s as in many mo d e r n t onics

“ ”
, ,

th e content s of spi r it w as th e a ctive p r incipl e .

A n app ar ent confi r mati on of th e wid e sp r e ad b e li e f of

fo rme r centu r i e s that r e d cor al chan ge d its h u e in sym p athy
with th e stat e of th e we ar e r s he al th cau se d p er h ap s by th e
’
,

e xud ati ons o r sw e at s ar i sing fr om f eve r s or o th er ailm ent s ,

is given fr om p er sonal exp er i e nce by th e German phy s ici an ,

J oh ann Wittich Wr iting t ow ar d th e end of th e sixt eenth

.

ce ntu r y thi s auth or r el ate s th at h e w as c all ed in to att end a

,

y outh name d B er nar d E r asmu s son of th e bur gomaste r of

“
G ar be d ch M l N Va ga
’
Dei i n is e in e r a ie n ah ar a r i s Rajanigh ap tu, r .

XIII
,

, Leip ig z , 1882, p 76
. .

L emery u u m t v by va
”
3°
, C rs s Ch y i cu s , L a in e r s io n De Re becqu e, G e ne ,

16 8 1, p . 33 8 .
1 34 TH E M A GI C OF J E WE L S A ND CH ARMS
thi s s t one w as to be wo r n on th e r e g o n af e i f ct e d by th e
mal ady .
40

Diamonh
H
Th e H indu physicians cl aime d that th ey h ad found th at
th e di am ond h ad six fl av or s ; it w as sw e e t s o u r s alty pu n , , ,

gent bitt er and ac r id S inc e th e st one unit e d al l the s e

, , .

app ar ently c ont r adict o r y qu aliti e s w e hav e no r e as on to be ,

su r p r i s e d th at it s h ould be supp ose d to cu r e al l di se as e s

and l e ss e n al l ill s A n e lixi r o f gr e at p ot ency s timul ating

.
,

and s t r e ngth e ni ng al l th e b o dily functi ons w as mad e fr om ,

th e diam ond .
41

Th e auth o r o f th e J aw ah ir nameh ( B ook of J ew e l s ) -

,

wr itt en ab out a centu r y ago give s s ome of th e p r eval ent ,

H i ndu id e as r e gar ding th e di amond H e as se r t s th at th e .

s imil ar ity of thi s s t one and r o ck cr y s t al l e d to th e b e li e f -

th at th e l att e r w as only an inc ompl e te o r unr ip e fo r m of

“ ”

th e di amond F o r thi s r e as on r o ck c r y s t al w as c all e d

.

kach a “
unr ip e and th e di am ond p akka r ip e
, ,
“
Th e , , .

s am e w r it e r aft e r no ting th e g ene r al b e li e f th at if a d ia

,

m ond w e r e put in th e m outh it c au s e d th e t e e th to fall ou t ,

s t at e s th at s ome w e r e no t di s p os e d to admit thi s as di am ond ,

du s t h ad b e en u se d as a t ooth p owd e r with out any bad -

e f fe ct s I t might c er t ainly s e r v e to whit e n th e t e e th but

42
.
,

any one w h o t r u s t e d to thi s v e r y d r as tic d e ntif r ice w o uld

s o on be s adly in ne e d o f th e d enti s t s h e lp
’
.

A s a p r o o f th at th e di am ond w as no t much p r iz e d a s
an o r nament al s t one in th e Middl e Ag e s alth o ugh som e o f ,

Ro se, A r is t te l es
o D e l apid ibu s u nd A r no l d u s S a xo , in Z e it sch . f ii r
D Al t
. .
, New S e r ies , vol vi, . pp
3 7 8, 3 7 9
. .

“
G arbe d ch e M in ali n Nah ar a i s Rajanigh antu Va ga
“
D ie in is er e r
’
r

XIII
, ,

, L eip ig
1 882 p 80 z , , . .

O ienta l A ccount s of th P c iou M iner al

42
r t r an by Raj a Kal ik i h an e re s s,
”
s. s

with remar k s by Jam s Pr ins ep ; J u n A siat S c of B ngal v l i Calcutt a

,

e o r . . o . e o .
, , .

p 3 54
. .
 S TONE S OF H E AL ING 1 35

th e p r ai se b e s t owe d up on it by Pliny and o th e r clas sical '

wr ite r s w as copi e d and r e copi e d in a m or e o r le ss p e r f unc

t or y w ay w e may cit e th e f ew lines devot e d to th e st one by
,

P se l l u s w h o live d in C ons tantinopl e in th e e l e v enth ce ntu r y

,

A D
. . Thi s w r it e r s imply r emar k s o f th e di amond th at it is
h ar d and d ifiicu l t to pi e r c e adding as its chie f vi r tu e th at
, , ,

it would qu ench th e h e at of th e semi t e r ti an ” fe ve r

“ —
.
43

Th e b e li e f in thi s co o ling qu ality of th e di am ond w as su g

ges te d by its l ack of col or coupl e d with its extr eme har dne s s ,

th e l att e r qu ality b e ing th ought to augment th e r e fr iger ant

p ow er supp ose d to be inh er ent in color l es s cr ystals which
r e s embl e d ice .

«Einst ein

Th eme r ald is e sp e ci ally commend e d f o r amul et s to be

e

s u s p end e d fr om th e ne ck s o f child r en ; it is b e li e ve d to p r e

s e r v e th em f r om e pil e ptic c onvul s i ons and to p r e v ent th e

falling sickne s s ; but if th e vi ol ence o f th e di s e as e is such

that it c anno t be ove r c ome by th e st one th e l atter b r e ak s up , .

B ound to a w om an s thigh it is s aid to h as t en p ar tu r iti on ;

’

hanging fr om th e neck it dr ive s o f f vain f e ar s and e vil

s pi r it s I t s t r engt h ens th e mem or y r e s t or e s th e s ight r e
.
, ,

ve al s adult e r y and give s a knowle dge of th e futu r e pr o ,

duc es e l o qu enc e and incr e as e s we alth .

44

Be side s th e u su al de si gnati on mar akata which Gar b e

b eli e ve s to be d e r ive d fr om th e Gr eek p dp rd th e S ans o a oc
,

k r it h as s e ve r al di s tingui shing name s f o r th e eme r ald One .

o f th e s e agmag ar bh aj a s ignifi e s s p r u ng f r om th e r o ck
“ ”
, , ,

and w e ll d e s c r ib e s th e e m e r ald in its m at r ix A noth e r name .

is gam l am ene my o f p o i son indic ating th e gr e at r e pute

“ ”
’

, ,

e nj o y e d by thi s s t one in Indi a as an antid o t e f o r al l animal ,

43
Se e Pin e r , De ad damant e,
”
Be r ol ini, 1 829 , 66 p . .

“ Jh o annis B r au nii, De V est tu Sace r d o u m H eb a r u , A mst el o d am i,

i t r e o m ”

16 80, p . 6 59 .
136 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

mine r al ve ge tabl e p oi sons

and In Me xic o th e eme r al d .
45

b or e th e nam e Qu etz al itz l i s tone of th e qu e tz al be cau se

,
“
,
”

its c o l or r e sembl e d th e b r illi ant gr een of th e plum e s o f th e

bi r d call e d in th e Mexican tongue qu e tz al Th e se plume s .

we r e wor n as insignia of r oyalty by th e s ove r eigns of Mexico

and C ent r al Ame r ic a and h ence th e e m e r ald w as r e gar d e d
,

a s an e s sentially r e gal
gem al th ough its u s e w as no t con ,

fined to r oyalty .

Th e tinctu r e of e me r ald is r e comm end e d by th e A r ab

phys ici an A benz o ar as an int e r nal r eme dy f o r th e cur e of
dys ent e r y th e do se p r e s cr ib e d b eing six gr ains H e al s o
, .

claim s to h ave cu r e d one of h is p ati ent s suf fe r ing fr om thi s

di s e as e by m aking h im we ar an em e r al d Thi s illu s t r ate s 47
.

th e u se of th e s t one in M oo r i s h S p ai n in th e e ar ly p ar t of th e
e l e venth c entu r y th e p e r i o d of th e high e s t d e ve l o pm ent o f
,

Moo rish civiliz ati on f or A benz oar o r Abu M er u an as h e is

, , ,

s ome time s c all e d w as b or n in S evill e ab o ut 1 09 1 A D and

, . .

di e d in 1161 or 1162 .

198m m“
Th e cu r ative p r op er ti e s of th e hematit e wer e gener ally
r e c o gniz e d by th e e ar ly w r it e r s and in thi s c as e th e y w er e ,

not s o much at fault as thi s sub s t ance p o ss e s s e s cons id e r

,

abl e as t r ing ent p r op er ti e s Gal en r e c ommend s its u se f o r

.

infl ame d e yelid s fo llo wing in thi s th e t e achings o f th e E gyp

,

ti an s chool s of me dicine I f th er e we r e tum o r s on th e .

e y e lid s th e h ematit e w as to be di ss o lv e d in whit e o f e gg and

, ,

if th e tumor s we r e ve r y l ar ge it w as to be b oil e d with

fenugr eek ( f ce num gr aecum ) ; if h owe ver th e r e we r e no , ,

tumor s but simply a gener al infl ammati on of th e eye lid s a

, ,

G ar e, b D ie in disch e M iner al ien Nah ar ar i s

’
Rajanigh antu , Var ga
X p g
III, L ei z i , 1882, p . 76 .

“
Th e eme r a ofld M ex ico w as e i en v d tly th e j ade or th e p ied m d el h ij ad a .

b l
G a r ie C o in, l A ve nz o ar , sa vie et s e s w u vre s ,
”
d t t d ct
iss er a ion f o r o or a e t
in Uni v . of Par is, 19 1 1, pp . 1 64 , 16 5 .
138: TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

be d e r ive d fr om s om e annot ati on to th e I li ad m ad e in th e

Al ex and r ine scho ol s f or H ome r him s elf know s no thing o f
,

it In th e fate ful e ncount e r of H e ct o r with Achille s th e

. ,

for m and asp e ct of D ol on ar e as sume d by Ath ena to d e ce i ve

He ct or i nt o th e b eli ef th at h is fr i e nd w as at h is s id e to aid
h im in th e une qu al s tr uggl e Th e bl oo d of Ur anu s wh e n .

w ounde d by Kr onos is stat e d in L ith ica as th e gene r ating

c au se of h ematit e and th e st one is r e comme nd e d as a cu r e
,

f or eye di s e ase s
-
.
50

Geam!)
l

A p e culi ar ly stimulant and t onic ef f e ct e x e r ci s e d by th e

j acinth w as not e d by B en S ina ( Avicenna) and to thi s is ,

att r ibut e d its v alu e as an antid o t e f o r p o i sons No t h ow .

,

e v e r to th e m at e r i al c omp os iti on o f th e s t one w as thi s e f f e ct

,

to be att r ibut e d f or it p r o c e e d e d f r om th e m a s s in th e s ame

,

w ay as did th e vi r tu e o f th e magne t H enc e B e n S ina is .

o pp ose d to th e th e o r y th at th e natu r al w ar m th o f th e b o dy

act e d up on th e j aci nth wh en t ak en i nt e r nally p r o ducing a

, ,

tr ansmutation di s s oluti on and m ingling of its s ub stance

,

with th e volatile S pi r itu al e s senc e .

51

In C ons t antino pl e at a time wh en th e pl agu e w as ex ce p

,

tional l y p r ev al ent th e citiz ens u se d to w e ar j aci nth s be

, ,

c au se o f th e sp e ci al vi r tu e s th e s e st one s w er e supp os e d to
p o sse s s as gu ar di ans against th e pl agu e Th at j acinth .

amule t s i nt e nd e d f o r th e r ap e utic u se w e r e o cc as i onally to be

found in ph ar maci e s is atte st e d by A mbr o sianu s w h o s tate s

, ,

th at a j acinth th e siz e of a hum an nail and se t in silve r w as , ,

kept in a ph armacy in P ol and

“
Thi s s t o ne if h e ld to a
.
”
,

wound w as s aid to p r e vent m o r tifi cation

, .
52

. 11ne s 6 36 s qq .

vc
A i e nnae, Li b erms Bas il eae, 1 55 6
cano , .

A l d r o va nd i, M u se um m e tal l icum , ” Bononiaa, 16 4 8, p . 9 65 .

 l 2
4 5a
7 5b

JAD E T O N G UE A M U L E T S FO R T H E D E A D . C H I N E SE

E13 9 p
1- 4 , l ai n t yp
e s ; Fi g 5 . car ve d i n s h a e o f p r e a l i s ti c cicad a (a pp
b l o w e r f ace ) :
J
. u er . .

Figs 6— 9 , co nve nt i o na l i z e d f o r m s o f ci cad a Fr o m “

ad e ,
"
by B e r t h ol d L au f e r
By co urt e s y of t h e a uth o r and Fie ld M us e u m of Natio na l H i s to r y , C h icag o
140 THE M AGIC OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
as thma and still e d thi r s t Take n r e gular ly f or a l ong p er i o d .

it acted as a p ower ful gene r al t onic and h ad th e sp eci al ,

e fi e cts of s t r e ngth ening th e v o ic e and r end er ing th e h ai r

glossy ; but al l th ese go o d ef fe ct s c ould onl y be se cu r e d by

th e u s e of unwr ought j ad e .
54

Th e l ap is nep h r iticu s ( j ad e ) w as h e ld to be a r eme dy

f or oed emat ou s aff e cti ons of th e fe e t A s thi s s tone w as .

so highly in favo r in E u r o p e f o r a c entu r y o r tw o af t e r it

h ad fi r s t b een b r ought fr om A me r ic a by th e S p ani ar d s ,

many w er e o f th e o pini on th at it s hould be c ons t antly w or n

to e x e r t its full cu r a tive p o we r The r e we r e some h o we ver .
, ,

w h o ar gu e d th at with thi s as with o th er r eme di e s c ons t ant ,

and u nr emitti ng u s e w eak ene d th e e fl ect s o th at wh en th e ,

we ar er w as sudd enly att ack e d by s ome di sor der f or which

j ade w as a cu r e h is sys t em w ould h ave b e come so habitu
,

at e d to ts acti on th t it w uld l g wo k as a r eme dy

i a o no o n er r
“ .
5

Of th e l ap is nep h r iticu s th e ol d Dani sh wr ite r C asp ar ,

B er th ol in r el at es in 1628 th at f ou r p r ominent citiz ens of

,

C op enh agen wh om h e h ad r e c omm end e d to w ear it to br e ak

,

up th e calculi with which th ey w e r e aff lict e d could t e stify to ,

its wor th addi ng somewh at nai v e ly “ at l e as t tw o of th em

, , ,

can f or th e tw o o th er s ar e d e ad but not of th e s tone He

” —
, .

himself h ow e ver al th ough h e h ad sent f or sp e cimens at

, ,

gr eat exp ense to Venice Nu r emb e r g and B atavi a could not

, , ,

gain any r eli e f fr om h is tr ouble but ne ve r the less fi rm in his , ,

conviction of th e sp ecial cu r ative p o we r of j ade h e asser t s ,

that th e calculi which tor mente d him mu s t h av e b een ex cep

tional l y h ar d and flint lik e s o th at th e y c ould not be b r oke n —
,

up Th e v o gu e enj oye d by thi s s upp os e d r eme dy in th e

.

D enmar k o f th e time is illu s t r at e d in th e case o f th e r e i gn

T ng J ung t
“
Yil hu ( di c u j d ) t n by S t ph n
“
’
a -
so , -
s o a s o r se on a e r a s. e e
J d Th Bi h p C ll cti n N w
,

W B u h ll ; Inv t ig t i
. s e d S tud i i
es a ons an es n a e, e s o o e o e
Y k 19 00 pp 3 29 3 30
,

or , , .
, .

J c bi W l ff C i
5°
a o m l t om c ut t
, F n f ti t L ip i
u r os u s a u e or u s r a or ,
”
ra co u r e s e ,

16 9 2, pp . 2 1 8, 2 19 ; c it ing p r in c ip ally , B a r th o l ini, De lapid e ne ph r it ico .

”
1 42 THE M AGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
w as s o h wn in turn d e cl ar e d th at h e h ad u s e d th e s to ne in
,

thi s w ay but did not know its name Thi s is p e r h ap s th e .

e ar li e s t u s e of th e name ne ph r it e th e f or m o ccu r r ing in th e

,

I t ali an t ext b e ing e ith e r d u e to a typ o gr aphic al er r o r o r ,

A rnobio s ignor anc e of th e co r r ect sp e lling

’
.

P r oc eeding to dil at e up on th e many vi r tu e s of thi s s tone ,

O l e an d r o qu o t e s Ald b d
o r an o
“
a phy sici an phys ici s t and , ,

phil os opher of B ol ogna w h o d e s cr ib e d it a s h aving u su ally

”
,

a pu r pl e sh ad e almo st like p o r phy r y with var i o u s fi gu r e s

, ,

o f h e r b s fl ow e r s knot s and A r abic ch ar a ct e r s in a y e ll o w

, ,

col or Th er e w e r e h owever a ccor ding to th e s am e auth or

.
, ,

ity s ome of a d ar k e r h u e w ith p r otub e r anc e s and b and s

, ,

o f y el l o w and al s o bl ack sp o t s as though th e s t one w er e a ,

s e cti on of th e s pl e en Thi s kind w as r e c omm ende d and u se d

.

in di s ease s of th e spl een In anoth e r var i e ty in th e mid s t

.
,

o f th e pu r pl e c o l o r might be s een a y e ll ow s t ai n with pitting s

and h o ll ow s ; thi s w as th ought to figu r e a se cti on of th e live r ,

S p att e r e d with bil e and such s t ones w e r e empl oye d with

,

goo d efi e ct to cu r e th os e su ff er ing fr om bili ou s di sor der s .

To di s ch ar ge th e bile a d os e of fo u r gr ains w as admini s t e r e d ,

th e p owd er e d s t one b e ing th or oughly di s s o lv e d in wine .

S till anoth er kind of a r e ddi s h h u e

, lik e co agul at e d bl oo d ,
‘
,

full of pittings and veinings w as th ought to be mo r e es p e ,

cial l y v alu abl e as a r eme dy f or di s or d e r s o f th e bl o o d and

f or checking h emo r r h age s 59

.

Th e l e arne d K o Kei as s e r t s th at th e b o dy o f a man w h o

h ad t ak en near ly fi ve p ound s o f j ad e did not ch ange c o l o r
aft er h is d e ath and s t at e s th at th e b ody h avi ng b e e n e x

h u me d sever al y e ar s l at er did not sh ow th e s light e s t alte r a

ti on B e side s this it w as ob ser ve d th at the r e we r e gold and
.
,

j ade ar ound th e tomb S ince th en ( in China) in th e Kan

.
,

p e r i od th e cu s t om w as foll owe d of emb alming th e d e ad

,

b odi e s of th e empe r or s and of pr eser ving th em in a gar

,

Oleand ro dell Vene t ia pp

5“ ”
A r nobio , Tesor o e Gio ie, , 16 02, . 13 9- 14 1 .
144 TH E M AGI C OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
'
Gasper
In th e colle cti on of th e Bibli ote c a di Ravenna the r e is a
r e d j as p e r amul e t eng r av e d with a d e vic e r ep r e senti ng

H e r cule s st r angling th e Nemae an L i on Amul e t s of thi s .

typ e ar e r e commende d f or th e cu r e of th e colic by th e Gr e ek

physici an Alex ande r Tr al l ianu s w h o flou r i sh e d in th e fi r st ,

half of th e s ixth centur y A D H e di r e ct s th at thi s d e sign be

. .

e ngr av e d o n a M e di an s t one which is th en to be s e t in a

“
,

gol d r ing and wor n by th e p atient Th e fact th at th e .

63

c ons tell ati on L eo w as b e lieve d to r ul e ov e r th e s toma ch ,

and
p o s sibl y ov e r th e liv e r al s o p r ob ably d e t ermi ne d th e ,

se l e cti on of th e d es ign On th e r e ver s e of th e R av enna

.

am ul e t ar e ins c r ib e d th e l e tt e r s K K K which ar e b e li e v e d ,

to s t and f o r K um c olic ” 64
ai / ,
.

Aft er noting th e p ower of th e j asp e r ( pr ob ably th e r e d

var i e ty ) to ch e ck h em or r h age s fr om any p ar t and its gen ,

e r al e f fe ct up on th e ci r cul ati on o f th e bl oo d in r e duci ng th e

pul se thu s calming desi r e and qui eting th e r e stl e s s mind

, ,

C ar d ano tu r ns to ano th e r of th e r e put e d vi r tu e s of thi s

s t one th at o f r end er i ng th e w e ar e r vict o r i ou s in b attl e
,
Th e .

t r u e r e as on f or thi s h e finds in th e st one s t endency to dimin ’

~

ish p ass i on and h enc e to r end e r th e we ar er tim id and cau

,
~

ti ons f or th e timid u su ally conqu e r since th ey avoid a

,
“
,

d oubtful c onte st if p os sible Ge sne r s t ate s th at h e s aw

.
”

in th e p os s e ssi on of a w r it e r of L au s anne ”
a g r een j as p e r , ,

b e ar ing th e image of a dr agon with r ays similar to th e gem ,

de s crib e d by Gal en .
65

Of th e j asp er D e B o ot r e l at e s
,
fr om his own ex pe ri 66
,

e nc e th at f or ch e cking h em o r r h age s th e r e d vari e ty is th e

,

mos t e f fe ctive and in thi s conne cti on h e d es cr ib e s th e cas e

, , ,

o f a y ou ng w oman in P r agu e w h o h ad su ff e r e d f o r s ix ,

A l ex andr i T al l iani
r De med icament is, B a si ese, 1 5 5 6,
, 59 3 l p . .

“
R vue A ch é l og iqu e
e r o , 3 r d ser vo l i, . 29 9 sqq . pp . .

G esne r i, l p du
D e flgu r is a i m, Tigur i, 15 65 , f o l 11 3 , e r s o . v .

Gemm ar u m et a l p du h
i m isto i ,
r a
”
L ugd Bat , 16 3 6 , 2 5 1—3 . . pp . .
 S TONE S OF H E AL ING 145

ye ar s fr om h emor r hage s Many di ff e r ent r eme di es h ad.

b e en t r i e d with out avail and when D e B oot w as call e d in to

,

att end th e c as e h e advi se d th e w oman to w e ar a r e d j as p e r

, .

A s so on as thi s s t one w as att ach e d to h er p e r s on th e h emo r

r h age c e ase d Afte r we ar ing th e j asp er f or some time th e
.
,

wom an thought sh e c ould s afely l ay it aside but whe neve r ,

sh e did s o th e h e m o r r h age r e tu r ne d aft e r a l o nger o r s h o r t e r

int e r val while it always c e as e d imm e diate ly sh e r e sume d

,

we ar i ng th e s tone Thi s se eme d to pr ove conclu sive ly that

.

it che cke d th e flow of bl o od E ventu ally th e woman w as s o .

e f f e ctiv e ly cu r e d th at s h e w as abl e to gi ve up w e ari ng th e

s t one . Gr e en j asp e r if wo r n attach e d to th e ne ck s o as

,

to t ouch th e g as t r ic r e gi on w as acc or ding to De B oo t a , , ,

cu r e f or al l di s e ase s of th e s tomach Th e same wr it e r .

allud e s to th e b e li e f th at th e vi r tu e o f thi s s t o ne w as e n

h ance d if it we r e e ngr ave d with th e image o f a sco r pi on

whil e th e sun w as e nt er i ng th e co nst e llati on S co r pi o but h e ,

r e j e ct s thi s b e li e f as enti r e ly s up e r s titi ou s and futil e whil e ,

adm itting th at to obt ain th e b e s t r e sult s th e j as p e r s h ould

, ,

always be s et in s ilve r .

P e ar shap e d pi e c e s of r e d j asp e r s e em to h ave b een m or e

-

e s p e ci ally favo r e d f o r u se as amul e t s I t ali an amul e t s o f .

to d ay sh o w thi s and B e llucci find s th at th e fo r m is ch ose n

-
,

as r e p r e s e nti ng a d r op of bl oo d and thu s aiding by sym p a , ,

th e tic magic in th e cu r e of hemo r r h age s o r wound s and

, ,

p r e venting th e inflicti on of th e latt e r S ometime s such .

amul e t s of r e d j asp e r ar e att ach e d to th e be d p o s t by a -

r e d r ibb on In th e ca s e of a p ar ticul ar ly valu e d amul e t o f

.

thi s typ e B e llucci w as info r me d by th e p e asant owne r th at

,

it o we d its gr e at vi r tu e to h aving b een ble ss e d by th e p ar i s h

p r i e s t Thu s th e tr aditi onal p owe r of a p agan amule t r e
.

ceive d th e s ancti on o f th e chu r ch and th e obj e ct w as as so ci

at e d with pu r e ly Ch r i s ti an amul e t s
67
.

Be llucc i tc
I l f e i ismo p r imitivo t al ia ugia pp 87—90
“ ”
,
in I , Per ,
19 07 , . .

10
146 TH E M AGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS

J et, th e g agatcs of th e anci e nt s , w as s aid to h av e b e en

fir s t found in th e r ive r Gagates in Lyci a, whe nce its name
w as d e r ive d G al en, th e gr e at e s t phy s ici an of anci ent time s ,
.

re p o r t s how ev er th at h e se ar ch e d in vain f o r thi s r iver

, , ,

alth ough h e s ail e d in a s mall v e ss e l al ong th e wh o l e c o as t

o f L yci a s o that h e might cl o s e ly o b se r v e it

,
S till h e did .
,

not giv e up h is s e ar ch f or th e m at e r i al e ven wh en h e f ail e d ,

to fi nd its r eput e d s ou r ce and in Cael o S yr i a on a hill on ,

-
,

th e e as t e r n s h o r e of th e D e ad S ea h e c ame acr os s c e r t ain ,

black c r u s tac e ou s s tone s which emitt e d a sl ender flam e

, ,

when pl ace d in th e fi r e Th e se mu st have b e en sm all m ass e s

.

o f bitume n and acc or di ng to G al en th e y w er e u s e d f o r

, , ,

chr onic s wellings of th e kne e j oint which ar e diffi cult to

“ -

cu r e .
” 68

Th e fum e s of j et ar e menti one d as a r eme dy f or th e p es t

in one of th e e ar li e s t Gr e ek m e dical t r e ati s e s w r itt en by ,

Nicand er w h o fl ou r i sh e d in th e s e cond c entu r y

,
He d e
cl ar e s that th e mos t vir ul ent p e stil enc e c ould be dr iven away
if th e b e dr oom s w e r e fumigat e d with th e smo k e of th e
s l o w bu r ni ng j e t Th e pl a gu e w as c al l e d th e bl ack pl ague
- 69
.

and natu r ally th e aid of a bl ack s ub s t anc e w as s o ught to

cur e it .

F or Pliny je t w as end ow e d with m any m e dicinal vir

,

tu e s Its fume s we r e a cu r e f or hyste r i a and we r e s aid to

.

r e v e al th e p r e senc e o f a l at ent t end ency to e pil e p s y ; con

necte d with thi s in som e w ay w as th e cu r i ou s b e li e f r e p e at e d ,

by later autho r s with cer t ain var i ati ons th at th e s e fume s ,

could al so be u s e d as a t es t of vi r gi nity Wh en p o wde r e d .

and mix e d with wine j e t r eli ev e d th e p ains o f th o s e s u f fe r i ng

,

fr om to oth ache and if th e p o wde r w e r e combine d with w ax

, ,

0“
C l au d ii G al eni,
”
p
O er a omnia, e d Ku n, L i . h psi -
e
t , 1826 , vol . x i i, p . 207 ;
De s impl ic med , l ib vii, cap 2
. . . . .

“
Nicand r i, Th er iak a,
”
Par is iis, 15 5 7 , 2 p . .
148 TH E MAGI C OF J E WE L S A ND C HARM S

simil ar l api s laz uli with which it w as o ft en confu se d in

,

anci ent tim e s Ibn B eith ar s t at e s th at if p r o p e r ly p r e p ar e d

.

it would not p r ovoke nau se a as w as o th er wi s e th e case It ,

.

w as s aid to c au se a v er y abundant e vacu ati on of bile and

mu s t have b e en r e gar de d as an e ffi ci e nt r eme dy f o r th e
bili ou s di so r de r s s o gene r al in war m climate s .
73

A blu e amul e t agains t ve r tigo mel anch oli a and

“ ”
,

e pil e p s y c o uld be m ad e up o f th e fo ll owing i ng r e di ent s :

s h avi ng s f r om an e lk s h o r n and f r om a hu m an skull to be

’
,

r e duc e d to a fi ne p o wd e r th e e xc r eme nt of a p e ac o ck
, ,

white agate l api s lazuli or l ap is A r menus of which enough

, ,

w a s to be u se d to give th e r e qui r e d sky blu e tint Th e wh o l e — .

mas s w as th en to be s o ft ene d by th e additi on of gum t r aga

c anth and forme d int o h e ar t sh ap e d t abl e t s which we r e to
,
-

be d r i e d ou t in th e air and th en smoo th e d o n a tu r ning l ath e

,
-
.

Th e s e amul e t s w e r e to be wo r n att a ch e d to th e ne ck o r th e
ar m some time s th ey w e r e e ncl o s e d in a littl e r e c e pt acl e o f
,

s ilve r o r of r e d s and al w oo d a d su sp e d e d f om t e ne ck
n n -
r h “
.

El apis fl asuii
In P apyr u s 3027 of th e B e r lin Mu s eum a r e cor d th at ,

d at e s fr om ab out th e fift e enth c entu r y B C and app e ar s to . .

,

be c ont emp or ane ou s with th e c e l e b r at e d P apy r u s E b e r s ,

w e h ave d i r e cti o ns f or th e cu r ativ e u s e o f th r e e s t ones as

amul e t s ; name ly l api s l azuli m al achit e ( Am az o n s t one ? )
, ,

and p r ob ably r e d j as p e r
, ,
Th e i nt e r p r e t ati on of th e t e xt
.

o f f e r s c ons id er abl e di fficulty but it se em s th at th e s t o nes ,

wer e w or k e d into th e for m of b e ad s and th en st r ung on a

c o r d and su sp end e d fr om a sick child s ne ck The r eup on ’
.

a f o r mul a w as r e cit e d c alling up on th e di s e as e to p as s

,

7“
I bn el Be ith ar , t
Tr a i é d e s si m ple s ; F r en ch t ans f L L cl c in
r . o . e er
Not ic es e t E xtr ait s d e M SS d e l a Bib . . et c., v l xx iii Pt 5 Pa i
o . 187 7
, .
, r s, ,

pp . 4 1 8, 4 19 .

D e r R6 m isch Kaiser i en A a l ch k d emi e d er Na tu r f or s che r A bb and

lung , b t ”
h l
S ie en er T ei , Nur n e r , 1 7 5 9 , b g p 90 . .
 S TONE S OF H E ALING 149

thr ough b e ad s and d isp e r s e itself thr ough wat er and

th e
air or m or e lite r ally to attach its e lf to th e d eniz e ns o f
, , ,

wate r and air Th e tr ans lation of Dr Adolph E rman is as

. .

fol lows 75

[A r ed lapis l az ul i ther eon ]

h ead ? of -
.

a gr een h e ad ? of mal ach ite is th er eon .

a r e d b e ad of j as p er ? is ther eon

0 yo b eads ! f al l up on th e h aunches [ of th e
, in th e fl oo d ; on th e
s c al es ? o f th e fi sh in the stre am on th e f e ather s of th e b ir ds in th e h e av e ns
; .

H as te n f or th ! fl a w f all up on th e e art h ,

Le t th is t ext be re c ite d over th e be ad s 1 o ne o f l ap is l az ul i th e o th er o f ,

-
,

j as p er i th e oth er mal achite which ar e dr awn on a string o f

, , and

hung up on th e ne ck of a child .

does not ventu r e to tr anslate th e name of th e dis

E r m an
e ase but s ays th at ano th e r w or d der ive d fr om the
s am e r o o t signifi es a di s ch ar ge f r om th e nose P ossibly .

w e h ave to d o with c r oup or s ome s imil ar di se as e of th e

r e s pi r at or y o r gans .

A cu r i ou s p r es cr iption f o r th e cu r e of catar act is given

in th e E b er s P apyr u s dating fr om ab out 1 600 76
,
Th e
six ing r e di ent s ar e as f o ll ow s : genuine l api s l azuli ve r di ,

gr i s salve a r es inou s sub s tance p e r hap s similar to what is

,

to d ay ca lle d t ab as h e e r milk s tibium and cr o codile ‘

-
, , ,

e ar th th e slime of th e Nil e I t is p o s s ibl e that th e w or d

”
.
,

ch cs be t which u su al ly s ignifi e s l api s l az uli w as und e r s too d

, ,

in thi s c ase as indic ating some oth er st one such as that ,

known by th e name of l ap is A r m enus— this l atte r is a car

b onat e of copp er and r eally p o sse s ses ast r ingent p r op e r ti e s .

F o r r eme di al u s e a l api s l az u li ( cyanus ) o f d e e p h u e is

E r m an, Z aube r spr uch e M f iir utt er u nd hl d

Kin ,
”
P i os o is e u ndph ch
H is tor is che A bh dlu an ngen d er K6 nig P r A . . kad d Wissensch t
. . af en, 19 01, B er in, l
p . 9 .

pyr u s E be r s Die Maase und d as Kapitel fi ber die A ugenk ankheiten

Pa , r ,

by G eo g E ber s I n th e Abh and l d ph i] h ist Kl asse d er K6nigl siich s Gese ll d

r . . . . . . . . .

Wis nsch af ten vol x i Leip 189 0 p 3 18

se , .
, .
, , . .
150 THE MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

c
re o mmend e d by Di os cor ide s Thi s st one w as to be bu r ne d .

tho r oughly and th e r esultant p owder mois t ened s o that a

kind of p ast e w as obtaine d Thi s w as cl aime d to have an .

a s t r i nge nt and c au s tic e ff e ct and w as f r e e ly u s e d as a ,

count e r i r r itant -
P r ob ably h e r e as in o th e r case s a su l
.
77

ph at e of copp er h as b e en co nfu se d with th e l api s l azuli .

Th e anci ent s did not fav or th e ad mi ni s t r ati on of l api s l azuli

int e r nally and B r aunf e l s th e r e fo r e r e gar de d th e fr ee
,
78

u s e o f pill s o f l api s l azuli which w a s c omm o n in h is time as a

s ou r c e o f gr av e d ange r Th e l ap is A r menu s h owe ve r if

.
, ,

well p r e p ar e d and pr op e r ly wash e d w as le s s to be fe ar e d ; ,

but unfo r tunate ly th e genuine s tone w as r ar e ly to be found

, ,

in th e ap oth e car i e s s h op s ’
.

mal achite

Many m e dici nal u e s wer e as cr ib e d to mal achite

Vir t .

Wor n as an amul e t it av er te d att ack s of f aintne s s pr e , ,

vente d h er nia and save d th e w e ar e r fr om d anger in f alling

,
.

In thi s l att e r r e sp e ct s imilar p o we r s s e em to h ave b e en

a dmitt e d in th e c as e o f th e g r e e n m al achit e as w e r e att r ib

u te d to th e light blu e o r g r e e ni s h blu e tu r qu o i s e If mala -

.

chit e wer e r e duc e d to a p owd er di ss olve d in milk and taken ,

as a p o ti on it cu r e d c ar di ac p ai ns and c o lic ; mix e d w ith

,

h oney and appli e d with a linen cl oth to a w ound it st anch e d

, ,

th e flow of bl oo d and c r amp s we r e r e li e ve d if thi s soluti on

,

wer e appli e d to th e af fe cte d p ar t ; lastly if mix e d with wine , ,

it w as a cu r e f o r vir ul ent ulcer s .

79

P owd e r ed mal achite w as some time s admini s te r e d me dici

nally with wh at r e sult s w e h av e littl e d e finit e i nfo r ma
,

ti on ; cer t ainly if not v er y car e fully u s e d th e e f f e ct would

, ,

c idis D e m at e ia m d ica l ib v cap 1 06

D io s '
or r e ,
”
.
, . .

B aunf l s V on Ed l te ine n S t ass bur g 15 36 f l xlv iii a ”

r e , e s , r , , o .
, .

De B t G mm aru m et l ap idum h is t or ia L u g Bat 163 6 p 264

”
oo , e , . .
, , .
, l ib n,
.

cap. 1 13 .
152 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

fr om among th os e in th e t r e asu r y of th e mo nas te r y Th e .

r e c or d s s t at e th at one of th e s e st one s w as s o l ar ge th at
“

a man c ould not g r as p it in h is h and ” I t w as b e li e v e d to .

give gr e at h elp to women in childbi r th H enc e it w as not se t .

,

in th e S h r ine but w as l e ft fr e e s o th at it might be t ak e n

, ,

fr om h ou s e to h ou se as r e qui r e d Th e S iz e of thi s st one and

.

th e fact th at it w as not u s e d f o r o rname nt ati on might h av e

i duce d th e b e li e f th at it w as o ne of th e singular e agl e
n “

s t one s , s o c e l eb r at e d in anci e nt and m e di ev al tim e s but ,

it is e xpr e s s ly d e s cri b e d as an onyx gem th e gi ft of King -

,

E th e l r e d I I ( 9 68—1 016 ) to th e m onas t e r y F r om th e d e .

s cri pti on w e l e ar n that on one s id e o f thi s o nyx w as cut an

image of E scu l apiu s th e go d of he aling and on th e oth er

, ,

that of a boy b e ar ing a buckl er

“
A s th e ar t of gem
cutting w as p r actic ally unknown in E u r op e in th e t enth
centu r y thi s mu s t have b een an antiqu e gem and may h ave
, ,

s e r v e d as a p agan am ul e t m any c e ntu r i e s b e fo r e it w a s

pl ac e d up on th e shr ine of a C hr i s ti an saint and u s e d as

a C hri s ti an amul e t
83
.

A n ol d manu s cri pt of M atth e w P ar i s give s a S ke tch of

84

th e gem fr om thi s auth o r s ow n h and A S th e s p e ci al p o we r

’
.

e x er t e d by thi s t ali sman w as to aid w om en in th ei r confi ne

me nt s it w as l o ane d ou t fr om time to time to s uch as w e r e

,

conside r e d wor thy of th e h onor In one cas e however it .

, ,

came into unt r u s twor thy h ands f or th e favor e d lady fail e d

,

to r e tu r n th e gem wh en h er imm e di at e nee d of its h e lp h ad

p asse d r e taining it in h er p os s e ssi on until h er d e ath wh en
, ,

S h e b e qu e ath e d it to h er d aught e r D u r i ng h e r lif e tim e.

th e l att er app ear s to h av e h ad no p r icking s o f c ons ci e nce but ,

o n h e r d e ath be d p o s s ibly th r ough th e e xh o r t ati ons o f h e r

-
,

confe ss o r Sh e m ad e p r ovi si on th at th e l ong lo st s ar d onyx

,
-

m Du d al e M onasticon A ngl icanum ” L ondon 18 1 9 , pp

g , , , vol . 11 , . 184, 185 ;
l
a so e xtr act f r om C ott on M S , Ner o D vii, o n p 2 1 7
. . .

“
D e vit . a bbot .
 S TONE S OF H E AL ING 15 3

s hould be re tu r ne d
Abb ey I t is s aid to h ave b o r ne
to th e .

th e nam e K aad man which M r Th oma s W r ight r e g ar d e d

, .

as a c o r r upti on o f cad m eu s or cam eu s e ar ly f or ms o f ou r ,

came o .
’ 85

19 min
I n G e ne va and in th e ne ighb or ing
gions gr e at vir tu es re

ar e as c r ib e d to a cut and fac e tte d i r on ( pyr it e ) v e r y h ar d , ,

s u s c e ptibl e o f a high p o li s h and of r e s pl end e nt lu s t r e Thi s .

is cut to r e s embl e th e r os e o r b r illi ant f or m of di amond and ,

is s e t in r ing s buckl e s and oth e r o rnam ent s In app e ar ance

, , .

it r e s emble s p oli s he d s te el and is calle d pie w e d e s anté or ,

“
h e alth s t one f or it is b e li e ve d to gr ow p al e wh en th e
-
”
,

h e alth o f th e we ar er is ab out to fail Thi s sub st anc e is 86

.

known as mar casit e and is a bi sulphid e of i r on In th e time .

o f L oui s XV I it w as l ar ge ly u se d f or o r nam e nt al pu r p os e s ;

at p r e s ent s t e e l h as alm o s t enti r e ly t ak en its pl ac e alth ough ,

it is still utiliz e d to a limite d extent Many b eli e v e th at thi s .

is th e mat e r i al to which Vict or Hugo allud e s in h is gr e at

r om anc e L e s Mi se r abl e s a s h aving b e e n manuf actu r e d
“ ”
, ,

by J e an Valj e an .

fi ct ke t rpatal

M e dic al men in R ome , in th e fir s t c entu r y , att est e d th at

no b e tter caute r y f o r th e human b ody c ould be u s e d th an a
cry stal b all acte d up by u y on thi s u se of th e
th e s n s r a s
’
,
87
and

mat e r i al s e e m s to have b e en ve r y ge ner al at that tim e ;

I n h is c om ment ar y on A nd r e a B acci s gem t r e ati se ’ -
,

Wo lfgang Gabe l ch ove r th e Ge rman tr ansl ato r says th at , ,

a Ge r man nam e o f r o ck c r y stal in h is ti me th e e ar ly S ix-

,

te enth c e ntu r y w as S ch w ind e l s tein ( ve r tigo

“
, be
T omas Wr i
h ght On A nt iqua ian Re s a ch es in th e Middl A ges
“ “
, r e r e ,

A r ch aeo l ogia, vo l xxx L nd n 184 4 pp 444—4 4 6 ; cut n p age 444

.
, o o , ,
. o .

C o ll in d e Pl ancy D icti nna i I nf e nal B ux ll s 1845 p 4 15

3° ”
, o re r , r e e , , . .

Pl inii Natur al is histor ia

,
“
l ib xxxv ii a
p 10 ,
”
.
, c . .
154 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

cau se it w as b e li eve d to p r es e r ve th e we ar e r fr om attack s o f

dizzine s s Oth e r r eme di al or phy s ic al e f fe ct s of r o ck
.

cr ys t al ar e al so not e d Tak en as a p owd e r in d ry wine 1 t

. ,

w as a cu r e f o r dy s ent e r y and th e phy s ici an C h r i s t o ph e r

, ,

B ar z iz iu s t aught th at if its p o wd e r w e r e mix e d with h one y

,

and a d m i ni s t e r e d to m o th er s th e y w o uld be th e b e tt e
,
r abl e

to nu r s e th e i r o f fs p r ing
88
.

Th e f oll owing line s by R ob e r t W il s on ( d a p o pu .

l ar s ixt e e nth c entu r y c ome dy wri t er c r e dit amb e r and r o ck

-
,

cr yst al with qu aliti e s not comm only as cr ib e d to th em ,

alth ough th e f anci e d gr owth of r o ck c r y s t al fr om a pi e c e o f

-

ice p r ob ably e xpl ains its supp os e d s typ tic vi r tu e

89

LU CRE : A nd if th ey d emand wher ef or e your

w ar es and mer ch andis e agr ee ,

You mu st s ay j et will take up a str aw ;

,

amb e r w ill mak e one f at ;

C or al w ill l oo k p al e when you be s ic k ,

and c ryst al st anch bl oo d .

Th at dial tinctu r e of r o ck cr ys tal c ould be made

a r em e -

w as fi r mly b e li e ve d by th e D ani s h ch e m i s t Ol e B o r ch ( Ol au s ,

B o r ri chia s 16 26 ,
and in h is ch emic al l e ctu r e s h e give s

th e f oll owing di r e cti o ns as to th e p r o ces s e s to be empl oy e d .

A r o ck cr y st al w as to be h e at e d to a high t empe r atu r e and

-

th en cas t whil e still w arm int o c old wat er ; it would th e r e

, ,

up on b r e ak u p int o sm all fr agm ent s By h e ating th e s e p ar ti .

cl e s t oge th e r with t ar t ar ic s al ts th e wh ol e m as s w ould be ,

r e duc e d to a liquid so luti on H al f o f th e qu antity aft e r

.
,

cooling off w as to be put int o a di s tilling gl ass with th e b e s t

,

S pi r it o f wi ne and w as to be dig e s t e d in a b ath o f luk e

“ ”

war m wate r I t w ould th en be s e en that th e s oluti on b e came

.

8"
d
An Bacii,
r eas
“
D e gemm is et l apid ibu s pr et io sis ( L a in r ans a io n t t l t
by lg g t l g l
Wo f an G abe l ch over o f I a ian o r i ina ) , F r ancof u r t i, 1 6 03 , 103 p . .

8°
l
Wi so n, Th e r ee
T L a ies o f h
L o n o d
n,
”
1 5 84 Th e d
r e e f e ma e ar a er s . th l ch ct
are sym bo l ic al or all eg
orica l and ar e name d r es p ctiv ly
e e , L uc r e, Lo ve , and

C ons cienc e .
 S TONE S OF H E AL ING 155

red . Thi s
p r o ce s s is r ep e ate d s eve r al tim e s and finally th e ,

tinctu r e is concentr ate d by di s tilling off th e S pir it o f wine ,

le aving th e pu r e r o ck cr y s t al tinctu r e Its r em e dial qu al ity

-
.

is s t a t e d to h ave b e e n applicabl e to d r o p sy s cr o ful a o r , ,

hyp o ch ond r i ac m e lanch o li a if it w er e taken in dose s up to ,

fo r ty dr op s in a p r o p e r m e dium .
90

To m ake th e magis te r iu m of r o ck cr ys t al a p ou nd of -

th e sub s t ance w as to be h e at e d to a high t emp e r atu r e and

then dip pe d int o spiri t s of vitr i ol Afte r thi s op e r ati on h ad .

be en r e pe ate d ten time s th e r o ck cr ys tal w as to be gr ound ,

-
,

o n a m ar bl e S l ab to a v e r y fi ne p o wd e r which w a s a s u r e
, ,

re me dy f o r gout and f o r c alculi fo r m e d in any o f th e b o dily

o r g ans Th e S pi r it s o f vit r i ol in which th e r o ck cr ys t al h ad

.
-

b e en dippe d w as some time s filte r e d thr ough blotting p ap er -

and s old as c r y s tal s pi ri t s o f vitr i o l ; thi s w as asser te d to be

a p o w e r ful diu r e tic fr om s e ve n to ten d r o p s b e ing given at a

,

d o s e in a cup of me at b r oth .
91

A S l at e as th e l as t h alf of th e e ight e enth c e ntu r y a

Dr B ou r ge oi s r e c omm end e d th e u s e o f r o ck cr ys t al c alcine d
.
-

and g r o und as a ve r y e xc e ll e nt a s t r ingent in th e mos t ob

,

s tinate c as es o f d ia r r h c ea In r e p o r ting thi s V al mont d e

.
,

B omar e ( 1 7 31 1 807 ) add s th at it would be d e s i r abl e to know

—

th e natu r e of th e acid in r o ck c r y s t al and its s t at e of com -

binati on H e r e a s in al l c as es wh e r e s ome of th e con

.
92
,

stitu e nts o f p r e ci ou s st one s may r e ally p osse s s c e r t ai n cu r a

tive p owe r s a b e tter r e sult can be attaine d by u sing the se

,

cons titu ent s in o th er fo r ms o r c ombinati ons .

Th e wond er ful th er ap eutic vi r tu e s of a S c otch l ake

name d L o ch mo nai r e ar e e xpl aine d by a l o cal l e gend as
- -

F r om M S
”
s
. e o f B or ch l ctu
r es o f 1685 , in th e Ro a Li r ar
’
at C o en y l b y p
h g
a en, Th ott sk e C o e io n , 7 4 4 ;ll ct
i e in A e G a r boe
’
ct d
s
“
Ku l tu r h istor isk xl
Stud v
ier o e r E d e l st ene, Kpbe nh avn og Kr is iania, 19 1 5 ,
”
2 15 t p . .

91 “
D er R 6m isch Kaiser i e n A a emie d e r Na r f o r s er l ch k d A an tu ch bb d
lu b t h l ”
ngen, S ie en e r T ei , Nii r nbe r g, 1 7 5 9 , 1 62 , 163 pp . .

“ V l
a m nt d e Bomar c ct ionnai e univers el ”
2
o , Di r r aisonné , Par is, 17 7 5 , vol .

iii, p 1 18
. .
1 56 THE MAGIC OF J E WE L S A ND CHARMS

h aving ar i sen fr om ce r t ain m agic cr yst al s which h ad b een

cas t into its wat er s Th e s e c r ys t als if pl ace d in w at e r r en
.
, ,

d er ed th e liquid a p oti on of gr e at cu r ative p owe r The y .

wer e th e p r ope r ty of a woman w h o h ad gained by their p os

s e s s i on a gr e at r eput ati o n as a h e al e r but h er succ es s ,

att r act e d th e envy of a ne ighb o r w h o d e t er mi ne d to se cu r e

f o r him self th e w oman s w o nd e r w o r king s t one s

’
In pu r
-
.

s a ance of thi s d es ign h e c am e to h e r f e i gn ing ill ne ss Sh e , .

s aw th r ough h is d e c e pti o n and s o ught s af e ty in flight but h e ,

pur su e d h e r and w as gaining r apidl y on h er when sh e thr ew ,

th e s tone s into th e wat e r s o f th e l ak e cr ying ou t th e Gae lic ,

wo r d noir e sh ame and utte r ing th e wi sh th at its water s

“
,
”
,

S h ould be r end e r e d p ow e r ful to cu r e th e s ick al l exc e pt ,

tho se of th e cl an Gor don to which th e would be thi ef be -

l onge d A s th e cor r e ct t ransl ati on of th e name of th e l ak e

.

is s aid to be not “ L ak e of S h ame ” but S er p ent L ak e th e ,

l e gend app e ar s to have no go o d foundation but is p er h ap s as ,

tr u e as any of th e p opul ar tal e s pur p or ting to explain th e

o r igin o f th e vi r tu e s of h e aling s p r i ng s o r w at e r s
93
.

T o many s t one s w as a tt r ibut e d th e p ow er of tr ansmit

ting a c ertain r emedi al vi r tu e to w at er or oth er liquid in
which the y wer e imme r s e d Thi s as w e h av e r el ate d w as th e
.
, ,

case with th e whit e s tone that S t Columb a sent to K ing .

B ru d e at I nve rness when th e king s d r uid p r i e s t B r oich an

’

w as s uf f e r ing fr om di s e as e A p e culiar ity of thi s s tone w as

.

that if it w er e r e quir e d in th e case of a p er son ab out to die ,

it would di sapp ear fr om vi ew Thu s its r eme di al p owe r s .

could ne ver be put to t es t unle s s succes s wer e assu r e d 94

.

Th ere can be no r e as onabl e d o ubt th at s ome r emar k abl e

cu r e s have b een e f fe ct e d by me ans of r elics or by dr inking ,

th e wat er s of a sp r i ng b e li e ve d to h ave b een p oint e d ou t

by some divine vi sion F r om a pu r ely sci entific st andp oint
.

“
3
Wal sh u r iosit ie s o f Po pul a Customs
C r , h l d elph ia 19 11 p 624
P ia , , . .

R el ig i n o f t h e A nc i nt C e lt s d burgh 19 1 1 p 3 3 2
”
MacC ul l och
'
,
o e , E in , , . .
158 THE M AGIC OF !
JE WEL S A ND C H ARMS
f ro m inju r y and nothing h armful could
all ,
th b efal l e m "7 .

A me di eval t es t of th e antitoxin qu ality of th e s apphir e

w as to pl ac e a s pid er in a v e s s e l to wh os e m outh a s apphi r e
w as s o su sp end e d th at it w o uld swing b ackwar d s and f or
war d s ju s t ab ove th e spider Th e supp o s e dly ve nomou s .

inse ct w as not long abl e to r e si s t th e p owe r of th e stone and

fell a victim to its vi r tu es Wolfgang G abel ch over gr avely .

ass er t s th at thi s e xp e r ime nt h ad oft en b e e n succ e s s ful

98
.

Th e r emov al of p ar ticl e s of s and o r du s t fr om th e eye

w as s aid to be su cc e ss fully a cc ompli sh e d by warming a
“ ”

s apphi r e o ve r th e e ye th e vir tu e of th e s t one thu s p as s ing

,

int o th e eye and gi vi ng th e or gan th e str ength ne ce ss ar y f or

th e e j e cti on of th e tr oubl e so m e for e ign b o dy Thi s at .
99

tribu tio n of a ch emical acti on to th e s apphi r e in eye—t r oubl e

may be add e d to th e many s tat ements of its gene r al cu r ative
p owers in eye di s e as es -
.

stops ;
thi r t eenth centur y Hindu physician Nah ar ar i s tat es
Th e
that th e top az tas t e s sou r and is cold It is a r eme dy f or .

flatulence and is a mo st exce llent app etiz er Any man w h o .

we ar s thi s stone will be as su r e d of l ong life b e auty and ,

intelligence ° Many a cu riou s le gend h as b e en woven ab out

1
.
°

th e ol d b eli e f th at th e t op az qu ench e d thi r st H owe ver .

,

p opular fancy do es not endow any and e ver y top az w ith

thi s p ower One of th ese thi r s t r emoving t op az es is s aid
.
-

to h av e b e en in th e p osses si on of a cel eb r at e d Hindu ne cr o

manoe r who s e s e r vic es h ad b e en s ought by one of th e p e tty
,

r aj ahs of Indi a on th e d ay of a de ci s ive b attle E ith e r thi s .

ne cr om ancer s ar t mu s t h av e f ail e d h im at th e cr itic al

’

"
Al d r ovandi, u u
M se m metal l icu m, Bononiaa, 164 8, 9 72 p . .

“
A nd r as B a on, c
De gemmis et l apidibu s pr et io s is, Fr ancof u r t i, 16 03,
p 68 t t v g l t l
No e of Gabe l ch ove r t o h is L a in er sion of th e or i ina I a ian .

d c J cb
. .

“
v d qu t
F r e er i i a o i S ch al l ingi, 0459 141131111 si e is isi io h er m e t ico gal -

e nica d natu a o cu l o u m E flur d t 16 1 5 p 125 ” ’

e r r , r , , . .

G ar be Die indis ch e M ine r ali n ; Nah ar ari s Var ga

”
R ajanigh an u
,
t e .

XI II Le ip z ig 1 882 p 7 9
, , , . .
 S TONE S OF H E AL ING 159

moment, o r e se al p owe r ful enchant e r guide d th e f or

mo r e
tune s of th e e nemy f o r th e la tte r p r e vail e d and th e owne r
,

o f th e p o t ent t op az w as l e ft dying up on th e fi e ld of b attl e .

Alongside h im w as a p o o r wounde d s o ldie r w h o w as clam or

ing f o r a d r o p of wat e r to qu e nch his bu r ning thi r s t H e ar k .

ening to thi s p r aye r th e dying ne c r om anc e r thr e w h is t o p az

,

to th e s o ldi e r t e lling h im to pl ac e it up on his h e ar t

,
No .

s oo ne r did h e d o s o th an h is thi r s t p as s e d away and w e mu s t ,

s upp o s e th at h is w ou nd s w e r e al so he al e d f o r w e a r e t o ld ,

that on th e m o r r ow h e s ought e ve r yw h e r e on th e b attle fi el d -

f o r th e c or p se of h is b e ne fa ct o r but c ould fi nd no t r ac e o f it .

Tav e r ni e r th e gr e at F r ench S e v e nt e e nth C entu r y jew

,

e l e r t r av e l e r th e fi r s t E u r o p e an to vi s it th e r uby m ine s t ook

-

, ,

with h im a numb e r o f eme r ald s gene r ally lar ge Th e s e we r e , .

o ft en cut f r om th e to p o f th e c r ys t al u su ally d ar k e r in c o l o r , ,

and s imply d om e d o f f p r e s e r ving th e or i gi nal h ex agonal

,

s h ap e R e m ar kabl e S p e cimens ar e in th e Indi an Mu se um

.

and th e S o uth K ens ington Mu s e u m p ar t o f th e j e we l s o f ,

Th e bau d K ing of B u r m a Th e fine s t em e r ald s of thi s typ e

,
.

b e l onge d to th e lat e S ult an of Tu r ke y ; one of th e fine s t ,

a r em ar kabl e gem cut r ound e d e n c ab o ch on w as with th e

, ,

B ij oux d u S ult an S M Abd Ul H amid II sold at th e

,
. .
- -
,

G al e r i e Ge or ge s P e tit Nove mb e r 28 1 9 14 ,
It w e igh e d,
.

44 /3
ca r a t s ( ol d s ys t e m ) o r car at s ( me tr ic sys tem ) .

( S ee c o lor pl at e ) .

A r e mar k abl e ch ar m is a h emi sph e r ical tr ansp ar ent ,

aqu am ari ne with figu r e o f hum p bull f ound in anci e nt B aby

, ,

l onia ( S e e c olo r pl at e )
. .

A qu aint ancient amule t is car ve d ou t of fi ne knuckl e

,

b one an e agl e with sp r ead wings engr ave d on one S id e ;

,

p o r tr ait of a P ar thi an King ( S e e c ol o r pl ate ) . .

A B abyl oni an id ol s eye of s ar donyx w as pi e r ce d and

’
, ,

wor n as ch ar m agains t th e E vil E ye ; l at e r engr ave d with

p o r tr ait of a P ar thi an K ing ( S e e c o l o r p l at e )
. .
 IV
(19 11 the virtues of f abul ous S tones «limi ta tions
,

ant f ossil s

OT ly p r e ci ou s or s emi p r e ci ou s S tone s we r e u s e d a s
on -

ch ar m s o r t ali smans and f or cu r ativ e pur p os e s ; a

l ar ge numb e r of anim al concr e tions al s o wer e and ar e still
somewh at in favo r . Th e s e c onc r e ti ons v ar i ou s ly c omp os e d
,

but u su ally c ont aining a qu antity o f car b onat e of lime ar e ,

found in di f fe r e nt p ar t s of animal s b odi es and they w e r e be

’
,

l ieve d to c ont ain a s or t of quint e ssenc e o f th e natu r e o f th e

anim al in which th e y o ccu r r e d F or thi s r e ason th e al s o
.

to r iu s fr om th e b o dy of th e c o ck one o f th e mo s t wid e ly
, ,

known of th e anim al s t ones in anci e nt tim e s w as th o ught ,

to confe r val or up on th e w e ar e r and is s aid to h av e b e e n

,

wor n by athl et e s in th eir cont es ts .

In th e c a s e o f v e nom o u s o r supp os e dly v enom o u s cr e a

, ,

tu r e s such as th e t o ad and c e r t ain snak e s th e s t one w as

, ,

u se d as an antido t e f or p o i s ons Thi s vi r tu e w as th ought to

.

be no tably p r e sent in th e s o c all e d b e z oar s t one t a

-
k en fr om ,

th e s t om ach o f a sp e ci es of g o at as w e ll as fr om s om e ,

o th e r anim al s . A S w e sh all s e e l e gend sought to acc ou nt

,

f or th e p e culi ar qu aliti es of th e b e z o ar by th e t al e th at th e
ani m al s in wh ose b o di e s th e s t one s w e r e f o r m e d h ad b e en bit

te n by s e r p e nt s I nd e e d it s e em s no t u nlik e ly th at th e b e li e f
.
,

in th e cu r ative p r op e r ti e s o f th e b e z oar S t one o r iginally

ow e d its e xi s t enc e to th e finding o f s ome such c onc r e ti o n

in th e b ody of an animal th at h ad di e d fr om th e e f fe ct s of
snak e bit e
-
.

A s is w e ll known c e r tain p ath ol o gical c onditi ons i nduc e

,

th e fo r mati on o f s t one s of var i ou s kind s and sh ap e s in th e

160
162 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

se lves to an int e rp r e t ati on in line with th e p r imitive ador a

ti on of th e life giving fo r ce s of natu r e and sugges te d th e u se
-
,

of such foss il s to cu r e c er t ain s p e ci al di s e ases Oth er of .

th e se p e tr ifacti ons r e t aining th e fo rm of th e encl osing shell ,

esp e ci ally th o se of ci r cu l a r sh ap e an d with c once nt r ic r i ngs

, ,

w er e b eli ev e d to be of me te o r ic o r igin and to h ave fal len

du r ing thunder or r ain ; h ence th e name s of br ontia and ,

o m bma A ce r t ain cl as s of th es e
'

fo s s ils with convolutions on th e

,

s u r fac e r e sembling th e for m of a

snake w er e call e d snak e e ggs ( ova

,
-

a ngu ina) and ve r y natu r ally e u , , ,

j oye d th e r eput e of p r e se r ving th e

we ar e r fr om p oi sons All the s e .

var i e ti e s will be d e scr ib e d in thi s

and th e f oll ow i ng ch apt e r s .

While some b eli eve d th at th e

t o ad s tone w as vomit e d by th e
-

ani m al o th e r s he ld th at it c onsti
,
-

u te d a p ar t of th e t oad 8 h e ad
Esssr ss as sina
’
a te t .
.
b g- 8
. .
ur 14 4 Th at thi s w as th e p opul ar b eli e f
in S h ak esp e ar e s time is sh o wn by th e w e ll known lines in
’ -

his A s You L ik e I t ( Act II s c 1 )

“ ”
.
,

Whi ch like th e toad ugly and venomous

, ,

Wear s yet a p re cio us j e we l in h is head .

De B o ot , W h o se t r e ati se w as publi s h ed ab out th e time

that S hak es p e ar e wr ot e th e s e line s , give s th e following
acco u nt of th e r e sult o f h is e f for t s to o bt ain a t oad s t one -

acco r ding to t e p e c ib d
h m th d 2
r s r e e o

I th at wh en a boy I t ook an ol d t oad and set it up on a r ed

remember , ,

cloth that I might s ecur e a t oadstone ; f or they say th at it will not give up
its st one unless it sits up on a r ed cl oth H o we ver alth ough I w atch e d the
.
,

z
A nsel mi Be tu d e Bood t, G emmar um hist or ia
, Hanovim, 16 09 , p . 52.
 ON TH E V IRTUE S OF F ABUL OUS S TONE S 1 63

t oad f or whole
a nig ht , it d id not j ct anything and f r om this time
e e , I be
came c onvinc e d al l th e t ales conc e rning th is s tone wer e mer ely f on d
imaginings .

A t c ll d
s o ne Indi an S t one
a e s im ply th e
and s aid to
“
,

be light and p o r o u s is no t e d by p seud o A r i s t o tl e and to it

,
-
,

is att r ibut e d th e p ow er to r e li ev e th ose su f fer ing fr om

dr op sy by d r awing th e wat er to it self I f w eighe d aft e r
, .

h aving b e en appli e d to th e p ati ent th e stone w as found to ,

have incr e as e d in weight in p r op or ti on to th e amount of

water ab so r b e d and wh en it w as pl ace d in th e sun wate r o f
, ,

a ye ll owi sh h u e e xud e d u ntil finally th e s t one r esu me d , , ,

B V F ON I T B S
T o ad -st ones . Nat u r a l co ncr e tions o f cl a y s t o ne and l im o nit e . From M er cati s
'
M etall ot h e ca
R o m a . 1 7 19
”
V aticana , .

its or iginal app c w ight Anothe r and p er hap s

e ar an e and e .
3

e ar li er auth or ity gi ve s th e nam e toads tone ” to thi s

“

mat er i al 4
.

Th e t oad s t one w as not only an antid o t e f or p oi sons

-

bu t w as al s o th ought to give w ar ning of th ei r p r esenc e by

be comi ng ve r y h ot To fully p r ofit by thi s s t r ange qu ality
.
,

th e we ar e r of s uch a st one w as advi se d to h av e it so se t in

a r i ng th at it w ould t ouch th e skin ; in thi s w ay h e w ould be

3
Rose, t tl
A r is o e es d e l apid ibu s u nd A r nol d u s S a x o, Z e it sch r f ur. d . Al t
New Ser ies, vo l vi, 1 87 5,
”

.3 73, 3 7 4 pp . .

‘
Pe r a, tS pe cil egiu m S ol esmense, Par isns, 185 5,
”
p . 3 70 .
164 TH E MAG I C OF JE W E L S A ND CH ARMS
su r e to h ave time ly no tic e if any p oi sone d food o r d r ink
,

we r e of f e r e d to h im .
5
Th e wr it e r w h o m e nti ons thi s add s
th e foll o wing t al e of th e di s c ove r y of a t o ad s t one -
:

Acler k onc e f ou nd a to ad which h ad a r ound knob on its head wh er e ,

f or e h e th ought th at th er e mu st be a t oad stone S o h e t ook up th e t oad and -

.

tie d it firmly in the sl eev e of h i s c oat When h e r etur ne d f r om the fields .

and s e ar ch e d f or th e t oad h e f o u nd it not alth o ugh th e s l ee v e of his c oat ,

w as tightly b o u nd b e l o w and h e c ould not d is c o v er any o p e nin g thr ough

which th e cr e atur e c oul d h av e p as s e d This sh ows us th at it is a gr e at help .

to p ri s one rs in j ail .

Anoth er e ar ly auth o r ity ,

Th om as d e C antimp r é, sa ys
of th e t oad s t one -
:

If one t take
f r om a l iv ing and st ill quiver ing t o ad a l ittle eye
th e s one

can be s een in th e s ub st anc e ; but if it be t ak e n f r om a to ad th at h as b een

some time d e ad th e p oison o f th e c r eatur e will h av e al r e ady d est r oye d

,

this little eye and s p oile d th e st one .

I f th et o ad s t one be swallowe d at meal time it p ass es

- -

thr ough th e syst em and car r i es off al l impu r iti es H e r e th e .

6

s ub s t anc e may h av e b een o ne of m any c oncr e ti onar y m at e

r i al s b auxite impu r e p e ar l s concr e ti onar y lime s tone

,
—
, , ,

s t al agmit e or ev en th e eye s t one s f r om th e cr aw fi sh ; i nd e e d

,
-
,

any m at e r i al whit e o r g r ay th at h ad a s e mbl anc e to a t o ad

, ,

col o r and w as th en sold by th e v endor o f ch arm st one s as

,

c oming fr om a toad s h e ad ’
.

Th e gr e at E r asmu s ( 146 5 153 6 ) mad e a pilgr image to —

th e famou s sh r ine of th e Vi r gin in th e chu r ch at W al sing

h af n in Ke nt In his d e s c r ipti on o f wh at h e s aw th e r e h e
,
.

e xp r e s s ly no t es a w ond e r ful t o ad s t one

-

A t th e f ee t
V ir gin is a gem f or which ther e is as yet no Latin
of th e
or Gr e ek name Th e F r ench h av e name d it af t er th e toad [ c r ap aud ine ] be
.
,

c ause it r ep r esents so p er f ectly th e figur e of a t oad th at no ar t c o ul d d o th is

L Gr and Lap id aire d e J ean d e M and v ill e
e F o m th e ed t i n o f 15 6 1 e . r i o

ed by J S d l S tt
,

. . V ienn 1 8 62 p 9 0
. e o o, e, , . .

I n K n a d v n Megenber g B uch d r Natur d by D

’
F an Pf e ifi e
‘
6
o r o s e , e . r. r z r,

S tuttgar t 186 1 p 4 3 7
, , . .
1 66 TH E M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
and th en s e t in th e h ot sunshine f or s ev e r al days until thi r s t ,

fo r c e d th e p o or to ad to ej e ct h is p r e ci ou s st one which w as ,

to be r emov e d as soon a s p oss ibl e l e s t it s h ould be swall ow e d

again Ano th e r m e th o d p r op os e d is so c r u e l th at it is a
.

comfo r t to know that th e wh ol e m atter is littl e m o r e th an a

fanciful c once it I n thi s c ase th e t o ad w as to be e ncl ose d
.
,

in a p ot with many p e r fo r ati ons and th e v e ss e l with its ,

unlucky inm ate w as th en to be plac e d in an ant hill and -

l e ft the r e until nothing r emaine d of th e to ad except h is b one s

and th e c ov e t e d s t o ne I t is quite p r ob abl e th at any s t one
.

found in an ant hill aft e r th i s p r oc e du r e wo uld be ter me d a

-

“
t o ad s t one s ince th e t oad w as put aw ay in o r de r to fi nd
-
,
”

one . I n s o m e ins t anc e s th e y m ay h av e b e e n b ony co nor e

ti ons fr om th e h ead of th e t o ad or e ven p ebble s that th e ,

t o ad h ad swall owe d .

Whil e it is quit e p o ssibl e th at s om e o f th e so call e d t oad -

s t ones may r e ally h ave b e en c onc r e ti ons f o und in th e h e ad

o f th e t o ad by f ar th e gr e at e r p a r t w e r e p r ob ably sm all
,

p ebbl es s old as t oad st ones to th o se w h o b eli ev e d in th e

“ -
”

magi c vi r tu e s o f such a s t one and we r e r e ady to p ay a g o o d

pr ice f or one Wh e r e th e r e is a d emand the r e will alway s
.

be a supply and th e r ar e r th e g enuine ar ticl e is th e gr e at e r

, ,

is th e i nce ntive to i mitati on o r s ub s tituti on In th e c ase o f .

s om e o f th e s e t oad st ones s e t in r ings to s e r ve as amul e ts

“ -
,

th e mat e r i al h as b e e n found to be th e fo s sil p alat al t oo th o f

th e r ay a sp e ci e s of fi sh
11
.
,

Th e sm all S h ar e of mat e r i al p r os p er ity th at f ell to th e

l o t of wit s and lit e r ar y m e n in th e E ngl and of th e s ixt e e nth
centu r y eve n in th e age of E liz ab e th induce d Th omas Nash
, ,

( 1 5 6 7 —1 6 01 ) to lik e n th e f at e o f th e wit to th at o f th e t oad

s t one o r as h e w r it es of th e p e ar l which w as s aid to

“ ”
, , , ,

be in th e h e ad of th e t oad thi s b e ing o f e xc e e ding vi r tu e is

“
, ,

e ncl o se d with p o i s on ; th e o th e r of no l e ss v alu e c omp as s e d , ,

11
S mith J w ll y L d n 19 08 p 15 1
,
“
e e er ,
”
on o , , . .
 ON TH E V IR TUE S OF F AB UL OUS S TONE S 167

b ut wi th p ove r ty
a o A wr ite r of th e same p er io d aflir ms
.
” 1

that if th e to ad stone we r e t ouche d to any p ar t e nvenome d ,

“
,

hu r t or s tung with r at S pide r was p or any o th e r venomou s

, , , ,

b e as t th e sw elling and p ain we r e dimini she d

,
”
.
13

Th e b one s o f th e liz ar d w er e supp o s ed to h ave me dicinal

vi r tu e s s imil ar to thos e attr ibute d to var i ou s s tones “ ”

found in anim al s Th e foll ow ing dir e ctions ar e given by

.

E ncel iu s f o r se cu r ing th e se b one s “ Put a gr e en liz ar d : ,

w hil e s till al iv e in a clos ed ves s e l fil le d w ith th e b e s t qu ality

,

o f s alt In a f ew d ays th e salt w ill h ave consum e d th e fl e s h

.

Th ese wer e u s e d as r emed e s i f or e pile p sy and

we r e co nside r e d to be as eflicaciou s as th e hoo fs of th e el k a ,

r ecomm e nda ti on whi ch se em s to h av e b e e n r e gar d e d as s uf fi

cie nt to c o nvi nce th e mos t s c e ptical of th e r eme di al vi r tu e s

o f th e liz ar d S b o ne s
’
.

Th e c r ab fu r ni s h e d th e s t one ca ll e d th e cr ab s eye be ’ -
,

c au s e in form it r e semble d an eye L ik e alm os t al l th e .

anim al c o nc r e ti o ns it w as p r incip al ly u s e d as a r eme dy f or

,

th ose suff e r ing fr om v e s ical cal culi and no oth e r c onc r e ti on ,

w a s b e li e v e d to be so e ffi caci ou s in b r e aking up or di s so lving

th e ca lculi in th e ca s e o f th o s e w h o h a d l ong b e e n afflicte d
wi th th em Th o s e r e fe r r e d to by E nce liu s wer e fr om th e
.

cr awfi s h and ar e o fte n u s e d as e ye—s t one s

15
.

In th e l as t j o int o f a cr ab s cl aw w as s ome time s found a

’

small c onc r e ti on cl os e r e sembling in s iz e and app e ar ance

a gr ain o f mill e t s e ed ; it w as in no w i s e lik e th e l apillu s

-
“ ”

found in cr ab s eye s W e h ave th e t e stim ony of Car danu s

’
.

th at h e h ad pr es er ve d tw o s uch concr e ti ons one of which ,

h e h ad himse lf c om e ac r oss whil e th e o th e r h ad b e en found ,

Anatomy p ll i r s p r int
“ ’
of absu r d it ie . 1 5 89 ; 40 of Co Leah Co l
3 ’
. e re . s

l ectanea, vol ii, . Pt 11 B r isto ,

. . l 19 03 . p
643 . .

L up
ton, O e Th o
n san No au d
e Th in s
"
t bl g .

Encel ii,
”
t lc
De re me al i a , Fr ancof u r t i, 15 5 7 , 2 19 , pp .

”
d
I em , pp . 2 18 2 19. S ee a so. 12 1 of th e re sen l oo p . p tb k .
 168 TH E MA G IC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

by a c oll e agu e Th e y we r e sm ooth and light and of a

.
,

r e ddi s h whit e c o l o r
-
B e cau s e th e y w er e v e r y r ar e ly me t
.

with th e ci r cumstanc e w as r e gar de d as of goo d augur y f o r

,

th e fi nd e r .
16

A und concr e tion ( a calculu s ) fr om th e live r of th e

ro

ox is de s cr ib e d by Ibn A l B e ith ar as b e ing o f a ye llowi sh —

c ol o r and c omp o s e d of succe s sive sup e r imp o se d l aye r s If .

s e cu r e d at th e tim e o f th e full mo on it w as b e li e v e d to p r o

mo t e e m bonp oint and w as much p r iz e d by th e E gyp ti an

,

women f or thi s V i r tu e Th e ef f e ct w as to be att aine d by

.

t aking tw o gr ains of th e pulve r iz e d c oncr e ti on e ith e r with ,

th e b ath or di r e ctly aft er b athing and th e r eup on a “

f at ,

h en w as to be e at en Th e l att er p r e s c ripti on if r e gu
.
17
,

l ar l y and fr e qu ently admini s t er e d might be th ought to su f ,

fi ce with out th e p owd e r e d c al culu s .

F r om th e s e c ond s t omach o f h e ife r s w as s ome time s oh

taine d a d ar k b r own or bl acki s h c oncr e ti on of v e r y light
weight and as r ound as a b all Thi s w as cr e dite d with gr e at .

r eme di al V i r tu e s p r ovid e d it h ad not f all en to th e g r o und

18
.

Th e r e s e em s to h av e b e e n a b e li e f th at th e cu r ative or t ali s
m ani c p r op e r ti e s of anim al c oncr e ti ons o r of th e t ee th o f ,

anim al s w e r e w e ak ene d o r d e s t r oy e d if th es e obj e ct s c am e

, , ,

in c o nt act with th e e a r th Thi s b e li e f w as p e r h ap s d u e to

.

th e id e a th at th e mys t er i ou s p o w e r o f th e s ub s t anc e w a s
o r igi nally d e r iv e d f r om e ar th cu r r ent s or e manati ons and , ,

th at th e active p r incipl e would r e tu r n to th e e ar th if th e

obj e ct c ame in c ont act with it .

Th e l ap is car p iom s or c ar p s t one a t r i angul ar mass

'

, ,

w as t ak en f r om th e j aw s of th e c ar p It w as small e r o r .

l ar ger acc or ding to th e s iz e of th e fi sh Th e p r incip al r eme .

dial u s e w as agains t calculi or f o r th e cu r e of bili ou s d is ,

C ar d ani ,
De s u bt il it ate , B as xl ae, 1 5 5 4 ; l ib vii, . p . 2 11 .

Tr al té d es S im ple f Ibn A l B eith a in Not ices t E xt ait s d s Manu

s o -
r e r e

s cr its bl th qu Nat nal v l xx iii pp 4 1 6—4 17 ; Pa i 187 7

d e l a B i io e e io e, o .
, . r s, .

1°
Pl inii, Natu a l is h ist o ia l ib i ap 7 9
r r ,
”
. x , c . .
170 TH E M AGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C H RMS A
gr ave s it h as often b een
, as so ci ate d with ne cr omancy and

with e vil spir its .

Th e l acmma t e ar is not to be con “

t g
’

ce r vi, o r
’
s a s ,

found e d with th e b ez oar s t one accor ding to S caliger w h o ,

maint ains th at it w as a b ony co nc r e ti on th at f or me d in th e

cor ne r of a stag s eye only aft e r th e animal h ad p ass e d its
’

hund r e dth y ear ; as th e st ag neve r attains thi s age h e might

a s w e ll h ave s aid th at th e e xi s t e nc e of thi s t e ar w as a
“ ”

f abl e H ow ev er h e d e scr ib e s it as th ough h e h ad car efully

.
,

insp e ct ed a sp e cimen s aying that it w as s o smooth and light

,

th at it would almo s t slip thr ough th e finger s of anyone w h o

he ld it in h is hand It h ad s imil ar p ower s to th ose of th e
.

b e z o ar b e ing a p ower ful antid o te to p oi sons and a cu r e f or

,

th e pl agu e if p owd er e d and give n w ith wine ; th es e g o od e f

f e cts r e sulting fr om th e e xc e s s ive ly p r ofu s e p e r spi r ati on
that fo ll owe d th e admini st r ati on of th e d ose .
24

Th e se fabl e d st ag s t e ar s th ough o ft en p r ai se d as su b
’
,

s titu tes f or th e b e z o ar w e r e not b e li e ve d in by al l th e e ar ly

,

wr it er s one of them Roll enh agen giving exp r e ssi on to a

, , ,

c au s tic opini on th at might d o cr e dit to a wr it er of ou r ow n

d ay Alluding to th e many r e p o r t s of th e e xi st ence o f s uch
.

t e ar s she d by th e animal s b e cau s e of th e p ains th ey su f

”
,

f e r e d afte r indul ging in a di e t o f s e r p ent s h e no t es that al l ,

th os e w h o make the se s tatem ent s ar e c ar eful to pl ace th e

habitat of the se e ccent r ic s tags as f ar away fr om the i r own
land as p ossibl e always s omewh e r e in th e Or i ent p r o b
,
”“
,

ably at Now h e r etow n as h e add s

“ ” 25
.
,

Th e ch el omla is s aid by Pliny to h ave b e en th e eye o f

th e Indi an t or t oi se Th e magici ans asser t e d th at thi s w as
.

th e mos t mar vell ou s of al l sto e s ; f or if b ath e d in h one y

“ ”
n

and th en pl ac e d in th e m outh wh en th e moon w as e ith e r full ,

“
D anie l is S ennar t i, pt
E i t me l
na ur a is s cientiae,
Fr anco f u rt i, 1 6 5 0, l ib
o
”
.

v,
cap 4 , . pp . ct g c lg
43 8, 43 9 ; i in S a i er , E x ercit 1 12 . .

Wah r h afi te L iige n von Geis i en u nd Natur al ich e n

ll h g tl ch
'
25
G R o en a en,
.

g
Din e , Wa r e n er , 1680,
n
”
h b g 93 p . .
 ON TH E V IRTUE S OF F ABULOUS STONE S 17 1

or new , it c onfe r r e d th e p owe r of divinati on and thi s p owe r ,

l ast ed f or one entir e d ay Thi s vi r tu e w as not h oweve r

.
26
, ,

alt o g e th e r p e culi ar to th e ch e l omla f or it w as shar e d by ,

s e ve r al o th er sub s t anc e s ; in e ach c ase th e st one w as to be

place d in th e mouth thu s c oming into mor e immedi ate con

,

t act w ith th e or gans of s p e e ch and s timul ating to p r oph e tic ,

utter ance A l a t e r .

wr it er s tates that it
w as th e ut er ine s t one
fr om th e tor toi se th at
gave th e gift of pr oph
e cy . That fr om
th e h ead cu r e d h e a d
a c h e s and av er t e d

lightning whil e th e ,

s t one t ak e n f r om th e

liver if admini ste r e d

,

in s oluti on w as a ,

r em e dy f or agu e ” .

Th e wild as s w as
anoth er of th e ani
mal s th at fu rni s h e d
concr e ti ons p r i z e d
f or th ei r tah smam c il l? h im Ka tm ai? fi f t N ml
‘

“ i h e: ” to rto “t t
tr ee n

and me dicinal p ow “ 15

er s . Th at tak en fr om th e animal s h e ad cu r e d head ach e ’

and e pile p sy ; th at fr om th e jaw mad e th e o wne r ind ef ati

gabl e so that h e yi e ld e d to none in b attle It w as al so a

, .

r eme dy f or ague and f or th e bit e s o f ve nomou s c r e atu r e s as ,

well as a mar v ell ou sly e ffi caci ou s ve rmifuge f or childr en 28

.

Ve r y lik ely th e sto ry of S amson w h o wr ought l uch sl aught e r ,

Natu r alis h ist ia l ib xx x vu

”
“
Pl inii ,
or , . , cap. 56 .

L eonar d i S p e culum l ap idum Venet ia xv iii

”
” 7
, , , 15 02, f o l . x .

m I bid f ol xx iv
. . .
,
17 2 TH E MAG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

among th e Phili sti ne s wh en d with th e j awb one of an ar m e

a s s may h av e s uggest e d th e
,
fancy that th e c oncr e ti on fr om
th e ass s jaw w ould giv e vict o r y to th e w e ar e r
’
.

Pliny not e s th e opini on th at a st one t aken fr om th e b ody

o f a yo u ng s wall ow if w o r n att ach e d to th e hu m an b o dy , ,

h e lp s to st r ength en th e b r ain and h e add s th at th e stone is ,

s aid to be f ound in th e y ou ng bi r d eve n wh en it h as ju s t

br oken th e sh ell Acc or ding to .

29

Th om as d e C antimp r é th e sw all ow
s t one is a t ali sm an f or me r ch ant s

and t r ad e sm en Th e m e r it s of th e 30
.

ch e l id oniu s as thi s s t one w as c all e d , ,

we r e fully r e c ogniz e d in S ax on
E ngl and and ar e giv e n d u e p r om
ine nce in an Angl o S ax on m e dic al -

t r e ati se dating fr om th e fi r s t h alf ,

o f th e t e nth c e ntu r y Wh en th e s e .

s w all ow s t ones h ad b een ob

“ ” -

taine d th ey w e r e to be c ar e fully
p r o te cte d fr om c ont act with w ate r ,

e ar th o r o th e r s t one s To s e cu r e ,
.

th e b e s t r e sult s th r e e of th e m we r e
d m B m
L ug m
to be appli e d to th e p e r s on w h o
u a o ru '

s t o o d in ne e d o f th ei r r em e di al e f f e ct s Not only did th ey .

cu r e h e ad ach e and eye sm ar t but th e y b ani s h e d th e d r e ad e d -

nightm ar e r e nd e r e d futil e th e wil e s of gobli n vi sit or s and

, ,

di s solve d al l fas cinati ons and ench antme nt s Th e s e eker s .

aft er th e s e w ond e r ful s t one s ar e s t outly as su r e d th at th ey

can only be f ou nd in big ne s tlings

“ ”3 1
.

C F l in S
. di N tu l i h i t i
n ecu n d J u Lip i 1880 p 249
, a ra s s o r a, e . an s, s aa, , .
,

l ib. xxx , cap. 11 .

8°
d von M g nbe g ve s ion Buch d e Natu ed Pf ifl
In Konr a e e r
’
s r r r, . e
’

er ,

S tuttg t p 4 40
ar , 1 86 1, . .

R v O wa ld Co ck ayne
“1
e . L e chd m W t u nning and S t a c a f t of E a ly
s , e o s, or c r r r

E ngl and L nd n 1 86 5 v l ii p 3 07 ( Bk iii

”
,
o o ap i o f
,
L aec B c,
o .
, . .
, c .
, e o
174 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

name of p r egnant s t one th e r e is e v e r y r e ason to be

“
th e ,
”

li e ve that it w as alr e ady known of thr ee o r fou r o r e ven , _

m o r e c e ntu r i e s b e fo r e th e i r time fi‘3

Mar bod u s of R enne s c all s thi s s t one th e gu ar di an and

“

de fe nd er of E ncl os ing as it did one o r mo r e

s m all e r s t one s it w as th ought to be s ymb o lically d e s i gnat e d
,

a s an aid to p ar tu r iti on Acco r ding as it w as att ach e d to .

th e l e ft ar m o r to th e l e ft thigh it e ith e r r e t ar d e d or acc e l ,

cr at e d th e natu r al p r o c e s s e s Thi s h ow e v e r by no me ans .

, ,

e xh au s t e d th e vi r tu e s o f th e s t one f or wh e n w o r n on th e l e ft ,

ar m of m an or w oman it c onfer r e d s ob r i e ty inc r e as e d , ,

r ich e s and m o v e d th e w e ar e r to l ove ; it al so b r ought V ict o r y

,

and p o pul ar ity and p r e s er ve d child r en f r om h ar m

,
In .

additi on to al l its o th e r p ow er s thi s s t one s e ems to h av e

p o s s e s se d a c er tain de te ctive qu ality to judge fr om th e f ol ,

l owing wor ds of A etiu s w h o wr o t e in th e s ixth centur y A D ,

.
35

Th e wtites ves to dis c ov er thie ve s if any one p l ac es it in th e br ead

ser ,

which they eat ; f or wh oever h as c omm itte d a thef t is unable to c onsume th e

b r ead It h as al so be en st ate d th at if co o ke d with any kind of f oo d th e
.
, ,

aetit es u nmas ks th iev es s ince th ey c annot e at s uch f oo d

,
If t ake n with w ax .

f r om C yp r us w ith f r esh ol iv e oil or with any oth er c al ef acient this st one

, , ,

gr e atly h elp s th ose s u fi er ing f r om r h eumatism and p ar alys is .

Th e l o o se
cl ose d concr e ti on w as name d in L atin
,
en

cal limu s and w e h av e a d e t ail e d d es c r ipti on fr om th e s ix

,

te enth c entu r y o f one of th e se which b e l ong e d to G e o r giu s ,

F ab r iciu s B e c au s e of its cu r i ou s m ar kings h e h ad it s et on

.

a piv o t in a r i ng s o th at b o th sid e s o f th e s t one c o uld be

,

e as ily se e n Th e mat e r i al w a s in p ar t as cl e ar as a r o ck
.

cr ys tal evidently a ve r y t r anslucent ch alc e dony but th e

, ,

”
Th eOph r asti, D e l apid ibu s ( Per i l ith on ) , ed . by J hn Hil l
o , L on d o n,

1 746, p .1 6 ; cap 10; se e H i s no e,

.
’
1 64 9 ll t pp . .

“
M a r bod e i, l o c cit . .

“5
A etii, Te t abiblos
r , Bas il eaa, 154 2, p . 77
 ON TH E V IRTUE S OF F ABUL OUS S TONE S 17 5

chi e f inte r e s t c entr e d in th e image s or figu r e s tr ace d by

natu r e up on th e s t one Th e s e s h o we d what s eeme d to be .

tw o f orms one of a c owl e d monk and th e o th er th at of a t all

, , ,

b e ar dl es s man ; the r e w as al so
a thi r d s h o wi ng an u nd efine d
,

form On th e und e r side of thi s

.

cal l imu s w as mar k e d th e outline

o f a c r e s c ent moon
36
.

A se vent eenth centur y wr it -

er ,
no t o th e r w i se uncr itical ,

doe s not he sit at e to de clar e th at

h e h ad himself witness e d in th e ,

c as e o f a fi g tr e e an inst ance of —
,

th e s p e ci al p ow er e x e r ci s e d by
th e cetites One of th e s e s t one s
.

having b e en attache d to thi s

tr ee al l th e f m it dr opp e d O f f in i F m J
, d C b O E t t es ro oh annis e u
'
a s
“
rtu s
m b
th e s p ac e of ten h ou r s alth ough
,
s i " an ta t i s S tr u rg ’ 1 4 83 '

th e t r ee h ad app ar ently l o s t no thing of its vigor its foli age ,

r emaini ng as lux u r iant as b e fo r e .

37

A n o l d t r e ati se on th e wtites give s th e fo ll owing name s

as appli e d to it in var i ou s l anguage s 38

I t l i n Aquilin p i t d quil p i t quil in thit ’

a a : a, e ra a a, e ra a a, e e.

Fr ench Pie r r e d e l aigle ’

: .

S p anis h : Pie dr a de l aguil a ’

.

P olish : Or lovi Kamyen .

S w e dish : Oer nar steen .

E ngl is h : E agl e st one -

.

Ger man : A dl erstein .

F l emish : A d el ers teen ar ensteen , .

A r ab ic : H ager ach tamach .

C onr ad i Gesner i
3°
D e fi gu r i l ap idum, Tigu r i 15 65 pp 142 143 ; with s , , , .
,

figu s o f r ing P liny al r eady ment ions th e al limu s Natu alis h isto ia
re . c , r r ,
”

l ib xxxvi cap 39
.
, . .

“
Bau sch ii
7
D e l ap ide as t ite
,
Lipsi 16 6 5 p 6 4 , se , ,
. .

p 9 . .
176 TH E M A GI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H R M S A
S yr iac : A b uo d neshr e .

Ch al d aic : A bno dinesh ar , or abno d enishr a .

H ebr ew : ’
E b en h a—
nosh er .

S ome id th at thi s st one might be found not only in th e

sa

e agl e s ne s t but al so in tha t o f th e st o r k Thi s id e a w as

’
,
. ,

however e ntir ely e r r one ou s in B au sch s opini on f or th ough

,
’
,

h e h ad cau se d diligent s e ar ch to be mad e by al l th os e w h o

enc ount er e d s uch ne s t s no e agl e s t one could e ver be
,
-

found To th e supp ose d stor k s tones h ad b e en given th e

.
” —

name l ych m tes as the y w e r e b e li e v e d to be lumi no u s th e i r

'

, ,

light ser ving to fr ight en o f f any snake s which might be

s ee king th e new l aid e gg s - 39
.

B au s ch e num er at es and r ej e cts a numb er of e xpl anations

to account f or th e supp os e d p r e s enc e of th e whites in th e
ne s t s of e agl e s One th eor y w as th at th e se s t one s s e r ve d
.

to give s t ability to th e nest and e nabl e d it b ett e r to r esi s t th e

,

ass ault s o f th e wind ; oth e r s a s s e r t ed that th e c oolne s s of

th e s t ones l owe r e d th e u nduly high t emp e r atu r e of th e e gg s
and of th e p ar ent bi r d s b o dy ; oth e r s ag ain w e r e i ncli ne d
’

to attr ibut e to th em a my s t er i o u s formative and vivifyi ng

po wer ex e r te d on th e e ggs or e l s e a t alismanic p ower pr o ,

t eeting the s e fr om injur y Whil e r e j e cting al l these noti ons

.
,

as w e h ave s t at e d and ind e e d de nyi ng th e t r uth of th e as s e r

,

ti on th at such stone s we r e ev er found in e agle s nest s ’

,

B au sch cit es th e auth or ity of S t J er ome in h is c omment ar y .

,

o n I s ai ah ch ap lxvi th at th e am ethyst h ad b e en f ound

,
.
,

wi th th e young of th e eagl e b e ing pl ace d with th em in th e ,

ne s t to p r o t e ct th em fr om venomou s cr e atu r e s 4°
.

Th at th e e agl e st ones we r e not al ways h o llo w 1 8 sh own

-

by a sp e cim en owne d in th e e ighteenth c entu r y by th e

E ngli sh f amily Postl eth w ayt e Thi s w as solid and h ad b een .
,

cut int o th e sh ap e of a h e ar t a hol e b eing pi e r c e d at th e ,

b d pp
I i .
, . 9 , 10.
“ b d pp
I i .
, . 11, 12.
178 THE M AGIC OF J E WE L S A ND CH RMS A
bi r th p angs of th e moth er stone or e ls e th e cr y of its new
-
,

b or n o f fsp r ing th e small stone s encl os e d within th e geode

, ,

f or th e s t or y g oes th at e a ch night s ome o f th es e ar e

gene r at e d
44
.

Th e se e agl e st one s
”
s till r e t ai n th e i r r e put e in I t aly
-
,

wher e the y ar e calle d p ietr a gr avid e o r p r e gnant s t ones

“ ”
, ,

and ar e c ons id er e d by many of th e p e as ant s as al mo s t indi s

'

p ensabl e aid s to p ar tu r iti on They ar e in such d emand th at .

th e lucky owne r s r ent th em f o r th e nine m onth s du r ing which

they ar e worn A s s oon as one case h as b e en h appily con
.

clud e d th e amul e t is p as se d on to s ome oth er woman w h o is

,

in ne e d of it A f ee of fi ve li r e or o ne d ollar is p aid in e ach

.
, ,

cas e and a ple dge wo r th a hundr e d lir e

,
is r e qui r e d
b efor e th e st one is h and e d ov e r S ome amul e t s of thi s cl ass .

b ear C hr i sti an symb ol s 45

.

Ge od e s of thi s d e s cr ipti on c onsi s ting of limonit e ar e to

be fou nd in many pl ac e s S ome of th em ar e o f r el ativ ely
.

r e c ent f o rm ati o n and one of th e se s h ow s cu r i o u s ly e nough

,

that in additi on to its o th er vir tu es th e cetites can on o ccas i on

p er for m th e functi ons of a s avings b ank Thi s s tr ange -
.

sp e cim en w as f ound in 1 846 at P ér igu eux d e p ar tment D or , ,

d ogme F r ance On o p ening th e geo de ther e app ear e d within

, .

some 200 silv er c oins d at e d in th e fif t eenth and sixt e enth

centu r i es ; al l of th es e wer e e ncru st e d with th e mat er i al

forming th e encl o sing mass .
46

L ong whit e r ough st one s c al c ar eou s sh e ll gr owth

, , , ,

wer e s ometim e s tak en fr om s nail s and c ockl e s Th e s e w e r e .

b eli eve d to h ave a mar ke d diu r e tic action and wer e th e r efor e ,

s t r ongly r e c ommend e d f o r c e r t ain di s e ases o f th e kidne ys

and th e bl add e r Th ey w e r e al so b e li e v e d to be h elpful in

.

“
Jul iu Ru k D S t inbuch d A i t t l H id lb g 19 12 p 4
s s a, as e es r s o e es ,
”
e e er , , .
,

citing Pet er mann Reisen im Or ient v l ii p 132

, ,
”
o .
, . .

“
B e llucc i I l f e tic i m in I t al ia Per ugia 1 907 p 9 4 not e ( F igure s
”
, s o , , , .
, .

on pp 9 4 and
.

“
L acr oix M iné r al ogie d e l a F ance Par i 1893 —1 9 10 vol iii ”
, . r , s, , .
, p 399
. ,
 ON TH E V IRTUE S OF F BULOUS S TONE S A 17 9

c ase s of diffi cu lt p ar tur iti on Alth ough no d etail s ar e given

.
,

it s e ems m ost pr ob abl e th at th e st one s we r e r e duce d to a

p owde r fr om which s ome sor t o f p oti on w as conco cte d thi s 47
,

having no mor e acti on than s o much gr o und she ll or mar ble

du st .

Th e al cotan as or c ock s t one is one of th e mo s t famou s

’

o f th o s e r e al o r s upp ose d animal c onc r e ti ons th at w e r e

known in anci ent tim es F r om th e age of Pliny and u n

.
—

qu es ti onably l ong b efor e h is

time— th e r e w as a p opular b e li e f
th at thi s s tone w as only to be
found in th e gizz ar d of a cock
whi ch h ad b e en cap oned wh e n
thr ee ye ar s ol d and h ad live d
,

s e ven ye ar s l onge r Thi s w as

.

be lie ve d to allow th e sub stance

to acqui r e its b oaste d vi r tu e f o r ,

th e l onge r it r emaine d in th e
bo dy of th e cap on th e gr e a te r
,

its p ow er S uch a c o ck s t one ”

.
“ -

ne v er exc e e de d th e siz e of a
be an F r om Its as s o ci ati on W ith
. E i l F m h x t ract
; n an a ect or ius . ro
5
h m d S m m
’
b O an s e u as
"
r tu s a t at
th e pu gnacl ous fo wl th e al e c 8 m
.

83 t s bu r z -14 .
,

to r éas b e came a f avor it e s t one with w r e s tl er s and th e g r e at ,

and invi ncibl e Mil o of C r ot on is s aid to h av e ow e d many of

his victor i e s to th e p o ssessi on of one f or if h e ld in th e month

, ,

it qu ench e d th e thir st and thu s r efr esh e d th e c omb atant .

Many o th er vi r tu e s of thi s s tone ar e r e c or d e d ; it r en

de r e d wive s agr eeabl e to the ir hu sb and s d i ss olve d ench ant ,

ine nts b r ought new honor s and p owe r s in additi on to thos e

,

al r e ady enj oy e d an d h e lp ed kings to acqui r e new d omini ons

,
.

How p e r s i s t ent w as th e faith in th e vi r tu e of th e al cotan as

’

is s h own by th e fact th at th e g r e at as t r onome r Tych o B r ah e

‘7
L emnii, De mir acu l is na tures , Fr ancof u r ti, 16 1 1, p . 213 .
1 80 TH E M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
gr e atly valu ed a st one of thi s kind not l ar ge r th an a b e an , ,

and b e li e v e d th at it b r ought him luck in gambli ng and in l o v e .

Th om a s d e C antimp r é s ay s th at th e nam e s ignifi e s an

48

allu r e r o r e ntic e r b e c au s e th e s t o ne e xcit e s th e l o v e o f h u s

,

b and s f or th eir W iv es In o r d e r to s e cu r e th e d u e e f fe ct
.
49

it sh ould be h e ld in th e mouth p o ssibly b e c au s e thi s would ,

r e nd e r th e wif e l e ss e l o qu e nt .

A s p e cimen of th e al e ctor iu s is li s t e d in th e invent or ie s

o f J e an D u e d e B e r r y ( 1401 I t is c all e d th e r e a
“
c ap on s t one and is d e s cr ib e d as h aving r e d and white
—

sp ot s S ev e r al o th e r obj e ct s to which t ali smanic vi r tu e s

.

we r e ascr ib e d ar e al s o note d such f o r inst ance as th e , , ,

A L E C T O R IV S
A l e ct or iu s . Fr o m M e r cat i s M e t al l o th e ca V at1ca na , R oma , 1 7 19 .

m ol ar a gi
of an t ”
s e t in l e ath e r ; p r ob ably th e t o o th o f a
,

hipp op ot amu s or th e fos sil t o oth of som e ante diluvi an c r e a

,

tu r e Th e r e is al so what is te r me d a te st e r comp os e d of
.
“
,
”

s e v e r al s e r p e nt s t ee th ( gl oss op e tr w f ) h o r ns of th e
“ ’ ”
,
“
unic or n ( nar wh al s t e e th ) and s tone s r egar d e d as anti
” ’

d o te s to p o i s on Th ese we r e al l su sp end e d by gold en ch ains

.
,

and w e r e valu e d at se v enty fi ve liv r e s tou r nois - fi0

A s a c omp ani on pi e c e to th e c o ck s t one

“ ”
th e h en f u r -

nish e d a c onc r e ti on p o s s e s si ng sp e ci al vi r tu e s Thi s c am e .

fr om th e fowl s gi zz ar d and w as of a sky blu e c ol o r ; its

’
—

d V on M eg nb g v i n Buch d Natu
In K onr a e d by D
er
’
F an
s er s o ,
er r, e . r. r z

S tuttga t 186 1 p 4 3 5
'

Pf eifle r, r , , . .

Th e w it ron us ly d iv th nam f m th L at in v b a l l ecta e

er err eo er es e e ro e er r ,

th e t ue d e iv ation b ing f
r r m th G k dl éw wp a c ck
e ro e r ee ,
o .

Inv nt ai es d u D u e d e B y vol i p 1 66
'
”
Gu ifi r y e , e r err , .
, . .
182 TH E MAGI C OF J E WE L S A ND C HARM S

to have b een a s to ne but r ath e r th e c ochl eae of th e animal

, ,

th e small b one s in th e h e ad which t r ansmit th e audito r y

vibr ati ons to th e s ens or ium The y w e r e highly valu e d by
.

th e I ndi ans f or th e i r r eme di al a cti on in c r am p s and c o lic ,

and th e S p ani ar d s c o ll e ct e d th e m and b r o ught th em to S p ai n

to enr ich th e i r v e r y mi s c e ll ane o u s ph ar maco p oei a S ome .

times they wer e t ak en inte r nal ly but o ften th ey we r e s e t in ,

r ing s or w o r n su s p end e d fr om th e ne ck a s amul e t s Thi s .

s t o ne o r b one is d e s c r ib e d as o v al in s hap e and o f a h u e

, ,

p
L a is m ans ti F ro m V al e ntim 's M us eu m M u s e or um o d er V ol l st andige S ch s u B uh ne
,
-
.
Fr ank f ur t am M a m. 17 14 .

r es e mbling th ativor y Wh en pulve r iz e d and di ss olve d

of .
,

th e soluti on w as o d o r l e ss and t ast e l e ss Th e y ar e in s iz e .

o ft en as l ar g e as a w oman s cli nch e d fi s t

’ 54
.

Th e e ar b ones of fi sh almos t inv ar i ably in p ai r s ar e s till

-
, ,

u se d as amul e t s in S p ain and It aly One of th e ir chi e f .

vi r tu e s is to p r o t e ct child r en fr om th e E vil E ye as w e ll as
,

Va l ntini
e , M u se um mu seor u m, o d er V o l l st and ige S ch au Buhne
-
,
”
k
Fr an
f ut
r am M ain, 17 14 , B k . III , ca p. 27, 1, 4 .
 ON TH E V I RTUE S OF F AB UL OUS S TONE S 1 83

fr om accident s of any kind The y ar e al so b eli eve d to p r e .

s e r v e th e w e ar e r f r om d e af ne s s or di se as e s o f th e e ar .
55

Thi s is quit e in acc or d with th e p r imitiv e fancy th at th e

d ifi e r ent p ar t s o f th e animal b o dy h ad p r ophyl actic or
cu r ative p owe r s in r e lation to any di se as e of th at p or tion
,

of th e human b o dy .

E v en th e s pid e r w as supp os e d to p r o duce a s t one h aving

r em e di al p ow e r e s p e ci ally th at var i e ty c all e d by th e Ge r
,

m ans K r e uz s pinne ( c r o ss Th e b e li e f w as gen

“

e r al in G e r m any in th e s ix t e enth c ent u r y th at it w as v er y

, ,

unlucky to inju r e one of th e se spid e r s ;

inde e d E ncel iu s w r ite s th at although h e
,

h ad ne v e r s e e n a “
s pid e r s t one h e h ad -

,
”

ne v e r d ar e d to di s se ct one of th e s pid e r s
to s e e k f o r th e s t one H e al s o r emar k s .

that it w as in no wi s e st r ange thi s sh ould

have such p owe r since spide r web s we r e ,
-

u s e d as r eme di e s f or many di s e as e s Nat p m

d
. L a is
f th e h
al ace ns is . s t o ne
h g
u al y e ough th e sp l d e r s t one
po
w as an g i t? fi i
r ’
“
iii ”
r l n — h e r o e c a s
vmm m ll
yi g fil fi
a a

antid ot e agai ns t p o i s o ns and a b e li e f

"

R v
,

w as cu r r ent th at in a y e ar wh en th e pl agu e w as r aging

no K r e uz s pi nne w as to be se en .
56

A n att empt to induc e one of th e s e s pid e r s to s e cr e t e or

p r o duc e its s t one or calculu s is t o ld by S im on P au l l i On .

his r e tu r n fr om F r anc e in 16 3 0 h e st o pp e d f or th e summ er ,

with h is r e ve r e d mast e r S e nnar t at Witte nb e r g in or d e r

, , ,

to pu r su e h is s tudi e s One d ay th ey found by ch anc e th at an

.

enor m ou s s pid er h ad w and e r e d int o th e r ain w at e r h old e r -

and th e ext r ao r dinar y siz e of th e c r e atu r e it w as as big —

as a mu s c at nu t s ugge s t e d th e id e a o f making it th e sub

—

j cet of expe r im ent It w as th e r e for e put int o a gl ass jar

.

“
W . L H il dbu r gh ,
. u th
F r e r No e s o n S anis A m e t p h ul t s , in Fo lk L ore,
Vo l . xx vi , No 1, . p
7 0, M ar
. 3 1, 1 9 13 ch
S ee P a e I , Fig 2 7 . . l t . .

“
E nce l ii,
”
t ll c
D e r e me a i a, F r ancof u r ti, 15 5 7 , 219 p . .
1 84 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

with a qu antity of p owde r e d val e r i an r o o t thi s mat e r i al ( o r ,

s al t ) b e ing r e put e d to h ave a fav or abl e i nflu e nc e in th e p r o

ductio n of th e s tone H ow eve r th e exp e r im ent e r s we r e

.
,

d oome d to di s app ointment f or th e p oo r spider w as unabl e

,

to liv e up to its r e put ati on Ti r e d of waiting f or no thi ng

. ,

r e c o u r s e w a s fi nally h ad to th e d r as tic m e as u r e o f di s s e cti on ,

but no s t one o f any kind could be found Thi s convince d .

th e ob s e r ve r s th at al l th e t alk ab out s pide r s s t one s w as

’

me r e f o oli shne ss o r d e ce pti o n In a no t e in th e Mi s c ell ane a

.

C u r i os a u nd e r d at e o f 1 686 th e s tat ement is m a de th at such

, ,

s t one s c ould ind e e d be f o u nd but o nly in th e autumn s e as on

,

and in no o th er p ar t o f th e y e ar
57
.

A small golden amule t having th e form of a h e ar t and

,

se t with v ar i ou s s t one s w a s s t r ongly r e c omme nd e d to w ar d

,

o ff th e pl agu e by Os w al d C r o ll a w r it er o f th e e ar ly p ar t of
,

th e se v ent eenth c entu r y On th e upp e r s id e of th e h e ar t

.

am ul e t s h ould be se t a f ai r blu e s apphi r e ; ab o ve b ene ath , ,

and at e ith e r s id e of thi s s h ould be pu t a t o ad s t one or a -

s pid e r s t one s o as to gi v e a c r oss e f f e ct s pid e r

“ ” “
-
,
Th e .

s t one s w e r e as se r te d to be p ower ful enemi e s o f th e pl agu e

”
.

On th e u nde r sid e of th e h ear t a goo d siz e d j acinth w as to be —

s e t th e j acinth al so b e ing cr e dit e d with gr e at vi r tu e agains t

,

pl agu e or p e stil enc e Th e go ld h e ar t w as to be h oll ow

.

wi thin To give a fini shing t ouch to th e e fficacy of th e

.

am ul e t it w as ne c e s s ar y to t ak e a living t o ad and k e e p th e

cr e atur e su sp end e d by its hind l e gs until it di e d and dr i e d -

up s o th at th e b ody c ould be r e duce d to a p owde r Thi s .

p owder w as th en to be kne ad e d int o a s or t of p ast e w ith a

little ve r y sh ar p vine gar and intr o duce d into th e h oll ow in
te r i or of th e gold h e ar t .
58

Th e fr e tful p or cupine al s o c ont r ibut e d its s t one to th e

‘ ’

“
7
S ee e t xt
i n A e xl G ar oe s
b ’
Ku l tu r h istor isk e S tud
ier o er E d el ste ne, v
Kjbe nh avn 0g Kr istiana, 1 9 15, p t
56 , no e f r om S imon P au l l i,
. a ri Qu d
par t itu m bo t an ic u m ,
”
A r ge nt or at i, 16 6 7 , 16 3 p . .

“8
Osw al d u s C r ol l iu s , lc
Bas i i a ch ym ica, F r an f r , 1 6 23 , 2 13 kut p . .
186 TH E M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARM S
imp r ob abl e s till ther e is abund ant unmistakabl e evide nce
,

th at ve r y l ar ge pi e ce s have r e ally o cc asi onal ly b e e n found .

In R ome and in th e S ant a C as a of L or e t o c os tly and ar ti s tic

ally s h ap e d pi e c e s o f amb e r gris w e r e to be s e en which ,

cl e ar ly i ndic at e d th at th e w e ight of th e ori ginal unw or k e d

mass mu s t h ave gr e atly e xce e d ed th at o f th e o r nam ent al

obj e ct Th e r e can be no d oubt of th e auth enticity of th e d e
.

t ail s r e gar ding a gr e at pi e ce o f amb e r gr i s we ighing 182

p ounds b ou ght in th e y e ar 1 69 3 fr om King Pid ori by th e
'

D utch E a s t Indi a C omp any f or r ig s d al e r s o r ne ar ly

at th e cu r r e nt v alu ati on o f th e c oin o f th at time In .

fo rm it r e s embl e d a to r t oi se she ll w as 5 fe e t 8 inch e s thick -

, ,

and 2 f e e t 2 i nch e s l o ng After b e ing l ong k e p t in Am ster

.

d am as a cu r i o s ity and h aving b e en view e d th er e by th ou

,

s and s o f p e r s ons it w as finally b r ok en up and s o ld at au c

,

ti on .
61
A lump ext r acte d fr om a wh al e in th e Windwar d
I s l and s w e igh e d 130 p ou nd s and w as s old f o r $ 3 500 o r ne ar ly ,

$27 a p ound .

Th e live r s of c er t ain animal s p r ovid e d conc r e ti ons c al l e d

h ar acz i by th e A r ab s ; th e se we r e much u se d as r eme di e s
f or e pil ep sy Th e Tu r ki sh butch er s wh e n sl aught er ing ani
.
,

mal s alw ays ex amine d th e live r s c ar e fully so as to s e cu r e

,

th es e s tone s A s th e Jews we r e s aid to su f f er much fr om

.

me l anch oli a and e pil eptic di s o r d e r s th ey v alu e d th e liv e r

s t one s v e r y highly
62
.

Th e u s e of fo s sil s as t ali smans and f or th e cu r e of

di se ase s w as m ainly d u e to th ei r st r ange and v ar i ou s fo r ms .

A s c ol or pl ay e d th e m os t i mp or t ant p ar t in th e c as e o f
p r e ci ou s sto ne s e ach col or b eing lo oke d up on as p o ss es sing
,

a c e r t ai n s ymb o lic s ignific ance fitti ng th e s t one f o r s ome

s p e ci al u s e o r u se s so in th e c ase o f fos s il s th e f o r m w as
,

C as p ar Ne umann , Dis qu i it io
s de mbr a gryse a ” D r e s d en 17 3 6 ,
a , ,
pp .

G imm a, De ll a stor ia natural delle g e e mme, Nap ol i, 1 7 3 0, vol . i, p . 4 79 .

 ON TH E V IRTUE S OF F ABUL OUS S TONE S 187

th e de te rmining factor S ome time s it w as as th e fo rm of

.

s ome c r e atu r e he ld by th e sup er s titi ou s to be p ar ticul r ly

a
e nd o w e d w ith mys t er i o u s qu aliti e s b e ne fici al to mankind at
,

o th e r time s th e f os sil f o r m s ugg e s t e d s om e p ar t o f

th e
human b o dy and w as the r e fo r e b elie ve d to aff or d pr o te cti on
,

to thi s p ar t or to cu r e any di se ase aff ecti ng it Thi s will be

, .

mad e cl e ar e r by a b r i e f notic e o f s om e of th e p r incip al

fos sil s which we r e favo r e d in anci ent and me di eval time s ,

e ith er by p o pul ar s up e r s titi on o r by th ose w h o fr om i nt e r

e s te d m o tive s mad e u s e o f th e s e s up e r s titi ons f o r th e

pu r
p ose of gain al though the y may ,

have only h alf b e lie ve d in th e r e al

vi r tu e of th e obj e ct s the y sold .

Th e r eme di al qu ality of f oss il s ,

which we r e b eli ev e d to h ave b e en

form e d fr om sh e ll s and m arine ani
mal s d ep o s it e d du r ing th e d e luge is ,

as c r ib e d by M e ntz e l to th e f act th at

the y h ad b e en p r o duce d by th e acti on mWL d mm nu us u ni B at avo . 16 5 5

o f fi r e and h e nce h ad th e s ame qu ality a s th ough p r ep ar e d

,

and c alci ne d by th e ch emi s t s ar t Th e y w er e th er e fo r e

’
.

b eli eve d to have gr e at m e dicinal vi r tu e s in th e cu r e of

di se ase s .
63

Th e l api s J u d aicu s is d e s cr ib e d as of ov al for m in ,

s h ap e like an o live and s om e time s p r o vid e d with a s t em at

,

th e upp e r p ar t a s tho ugh it h ad gr own on a tr e e Th e s t one .

w as s o ft and fr i abl e and in c ol o r e ith er whit e o r g r ayi s h .

Th e mal e v ar i e ty h ad s e ve r al r ow s of e quidi s tant s pine s

“ ”
,

whil e th e femal e w as quit e sm oo th Th e de s cr ipti on and

“ ”
.

th e figu r e d r e p r e s e nt ati ons of th e lapi s J u d ai cu s sh ow th at it

'

w as a f or m of p ent r emit e— th at is a form of c r inoid , Thi s .

fo ssil which w as s ai d to com e fr om S yr i a and Pal e stine w as

, ,

t ak en in s oluti on as a r eme dy f or calculu s Th e l ar ger male .

,

”
h istiani Ment el i L ap i Bon
C r z i , s o ne ns is, Bil e f el d ize , 16 7 5, p . 47 .

M er cat i M etal l oth eca Vat ic ana Roma , p

“ ”
, , 17 1 9 , 2 27
. .
188 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

t
s ones , w er e r egar d ed as th e be tter f or r enal c alculu s and th e
small e r femal e stones f or ve sical cal culu s Hence th i s
, ,
.

fos s il w a s s ometime s cal l e d tecol ith os fr om ; m to dis ,

1 7 /ca
,

s o lve and M e s t one

,
P l iny al s o st ates th at thi s name
o ,
65
.

w as appli e d to c er tain c onc r e ti ons found in s p onge s and

s upp os e d to p os s e ss s imil ar vi r tu es Of th e r eme dial u s e 66
.

of thi s s t one or f o ssil G al en s t at e s th at wh en p r e s c r ib e d

, ,

f o r v e sic al c alculi it w as pulv e r iz e d in a mor t ar and th e

, ,

G l osso p et raa . F ossil s h ar k ’

s t e e th Fr o m M use u m W ormianu m.
Lugd u m B at avoru m . 16 5 5 .

p owd er b eing mixe d with wat e r thr ee gl asses of th e s olution ,

we r e given H e add s h owev e r I mu st say that as f ar as

.
“
,
:

I h av e s e en th ey hav e no ef fe ct but they ar e effici ent in th e ,

case of r enal c alculi ”

.
67

No fo ssil s w er e mor e p r iz e d th an th e so c all e d gl os s o -

p etr a; o r
“
t ongu e st ones ”
Alth ough th e se w er e r e ally th e
-
.

fos siliz e d or p e tr ifie d t ee th of a sp eci es of sh ar k Pliny and ,

“5
l
F inn Histor ia Natu r al is ,
. l ib . xxx vu , cap. 68 .

I bid
l ib . xxxv
i, cap 3 5 S ee a so D ios. . l corides V 155 ; ZEtiu s II 19
, , .

C l au dii G a eni, l
O e a O
r m nia,
”
ed K p . uhn Lip sie 1826 v l x ii p
, , , o .
, . 19 9 .

De simpl ic med , l ib vu , cap 2

. . . . .
19 0 TH E M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
fil l e d with wine or wat er th e liquid b eing all ow e d to stand
,

until it h ad ab sor b e d th e vi r tu es of th e e ar th ; it w as th en
t aken as a p oti on with goo d e f fe ct s Th e t ongue s and“ ”
.

“
ey e s w e r e o ft en dipp e d in wine or w at e r and w e r e su p
”

p o se d to t r ansmit th ei r cu r ative p ower s to th e liquid .

69

I n th e fift e enth and sixt eenth c entu r i e s a s t r ange b eli e f

w as p r e v al e nt am ong th e ignor ant to th e e f fe ct th at th e fo s sil
s h ar k s t e e th th e
-
t ongu e s t one s we r e th e te e th of witche s
,
-

w h o s uck e d th e bl oo d of i nf ant s ; th e se vampi r e s we r e

”

call e d l amia in anci ent time s P r ob ably th e fact that a

‘

70
e .

ce r t ain sp e ci e s of s h ar k b or e th e name l amia gave r is e to

this ide a which w as th er efor e mer ely d u e to a c onfu si on of
,

nam es .Ne ver th e l e ss w e can e asily u nd e r s t and th at thi s

p opul ar b elief a dd e d to th e r eput e of th e g l os s op e tr ce f or th e ,

m or e d r e ad e d th e obj e ct th e gr e at e r th e p owe r it w as c r e d
ite d wi th p o sse s sing In th e s e vent ee nth c e ntu r y D e L ae t
.

(d . th e Dutch natu r ali s t and g eo g r aph e r r e c e ive d ,

in L eyd e n c e r t ain gl o ss op etr a sent h im by a fr i e nd in B or

d e aux w h o wr o te th at the y w ould cu r e any one s u f f er ing
,

fr om so r ene ss of th e mouth whe th e r thi s wer e th e r e sult ,

o f h aving e at e n impu r e f o o d o r w e r e p r o duc e d by s ome

,

de angeme t t e s e c e ti o s Th e t ongu e s we r e to be
r n o f h r n
“ ”
.

dipp e d in sp r ing wat e r and would cau s e bubbl e s to for m

th er e in ; as so on as th e s e di s app e ar e d th e wate r w as to be ,

u s e d as a gar gl e and th e m outh w as to be w ash e d with it

,

tw o o r th r e e times D e L as t s fr i e nd as su r e d h im th at thi s
’
.

tr e atment would cu r e th e di s o r d er in twe nty fou r h ou r s -

.
71

A s evente enth centu r y amul e t of a fossil sh ar k s t ooth

-
’
,

mo unt e d in s ilv e r and fo und in an exc av ati on at S alzbu r g ,

Au s tr i a w as among th e obj e ct s exhibite d by th e wr iter f or

,

th e New Y o r k b r anch o f th e Am e r ican F o lk L o r e S o ci e ty in -

“9
M u se um Wor mianu m L u g B at 16 5 5 , pp 7 — 9
, . .
, . .

A l d r ovand i M u se um me t al l icu m , B ono nim, 1 648, l ib iv,

, . cap. 1 0, p . 6 00.

71 “
M us eu m Wor m ianu m ” L u g Bat , 1 6 5 5 , p 65
, . . . .
 ON TH E V I RTUE S OF F AB UL OUS STONE S 19 1

th e De p ar tme nt of E thno l o gy
lumbi an E xp osition of th e C o
h e ld in C hic ago in 1 89 3 Th ey ar e fr e qu ently found at L ake
, .

C ons t anc e but a r e f r om th e anci e nt fo s s ilife r ou s f or m ati ons

and no t f r om th e l ak e Th e y ar e o ft en s old as amul e t s
. .

F oss il s wh ose f orm sugge s t e d th at of a mor e o r l es s

acut e ly p oi nt e d s h aft we r e th ought to p osse s s sp e ci al
,

p owe r s s om e tim e s off ensive as ag ainst

,

ene m i e s and again d e f ens ive f o r th e

,

p r o te cti on of th e we ar e r Thu s th e .

b e lemnit e s c onsid e r e d to r e p r e s ent

,
72

th e f o r m of a d ar t wh en di s s o lv e d ,

and taken as a potion w er e s aid ,

to p r e ve nt nightmar e an d to guar d
agai ns t e nch antment s Th ey ar e o ften .

e ith e r as h c o l o r e d or-
whiti sh and ,

s om e tim e s r e ddi s h bl ack All the s e -

.

var i e ti e s w e r e fr e qu e ntly found du r ing

th e s ixt ee nth c e ntu r y in H ild e s h e im ,

and in th e m ar bl e gr o tt o ne ar th e

c as tl e of M a r i e n b u r g calle d th e ,
“
D war f s G r o tt o ’
.
” 73

Th e umbilicu s m ar i nu s a fossil ,

s h e ll which in for m b o r e a g r e at lik e

,

ne ss to th e hu man nav e l w a s c all e d fiiifif iif fiiiifiifi ?q

e ' s d ?
, en ct c 1
m n
by s ail or s Usu ally of a 335? fiiiéiieiti 1 i l
‘

s e a b e an
“ ” ‘ e ' “ ta "
-
. 1 i é

p al e s aff r on h u e s om e sp e cim ens have a r e ddi sh or bl acki sh

,

tinge In th e sixte enth centu r y it w as b e liev e d to have

.

as t r ing ent p r o p er ti es We ar e al so t old that women u s ed

.

it as o ne of th e ingr e di ent s of a c osmetic f or whitening th e

compl exi on “ .

h
T is is th e f o ss i iz e
7’
l
d h orny p a t of th e tail f r o xt inct u ttl efi sh and
an e c

New J er s y a w ll as in
,

u u pc
n mer o s s e im ens a e h v b n f ound in th ma l o f
ee e r e s e

many o th e pl ace s r .

7"
G e sner i, D e flgu r is a i m , l p du Tigu r i, 1 5 65, f ol 89 , . vers 9 0 ect o, , r o.

c t
M e r a i, “
M etal l o th eca V a i tc ana,
”
Ro ma , 1 7 19 , pp 13 8—13 9 Figure
. .

on p . 13 8 .
19 2 TH E M AGI C OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
C er t ain e chinites ( fos sil u r ch ins ) found on th e B altic s e a-

coast ar e call e d by th e p eas ant s A d l er s teine and Km l l en

e agl e s t one s cl aw s inc e th ey be
“ “
s teine (
”
and -

li eve that while th e sub stance w as so ft e agl e s h ad se iz e d

th em with th eir tal ons thu s p r oducing th e p e culiar fo rms ,

and m ar ki ngs Wh o ever h ad a fossil o f thi s d e scr ipti on on

.

his t abl e whil e a thund er s t o r m w as r a ging r an no r i s k of -

b e ing st r uck by lightning .

75

R e ich d e s cr ib e s anoth er v ar i e ty o f e chi nit e which w as ,

p opul ar ly known as a toad s tone th e S p e cimen h e fi g

“ ” -

u r es h aving b e en giv en h im by a c e r t ain J oh annis Kr au s s .

I n thi s app ea r e d some l ar ge c aviti es wh ose p r e s ence R e ich ,

found it ver y diffi cult to expl ain until Kr au ss informe d him ,

th at th e y h ad b een made by a forme r owne r of th e fos sil

w h o h ad s cr ap e d ou t a f ew g r ains of th e sub st anc e e ach y ear
f or me dicinal u se H e w as p er su ad e d th at h is l ong life— h e
.

attai ne d th e age of e ighty w as enti r e ly owi ng to h is em —

pl oyment of thi s r em e dy .
76

Th e tr och ites and entr och us name d R ad e r s te in o r , ,

whe e l st one by th e Germans ar e o th er fo s sil s to which

-
,
”
,

r eme di al or t ali smanic vi r tu e w as acc o r d e d in p opul ar f ancy .

Th e s e “
whe e l stone s whil e d etach abl e fitt e d as cl os ely
” -

, ,

t oge th e r in th e or iginal formati on as th ough the y h ad b een

skilfully adju s t e d by a cl e v e r ar ti san D e L ae t s t at e s th at 77
.

wh en immer s e d in oil th ey gave for th bubbl e s and m ove d

ab out sp ont ane ou sly S till anoth er o f th e se fo s sil s b e li ev e d
.

to be amul e t s w as th e enas tr os which D e B o ot t e r m s th e ,

as te r ia ver a o r genuine as t e r ia s i nc e it not me r e ly s h o we d a

, ,

s t ar sh ap e d m ar king as did th e fossil c or al b e ar i ng th e name

-

75
An dr ee ,
E thnogr ap h i ch e Par all el en u nd V gl eich
s er e,
”
New S er .
, L ei pz ig ,

1889 , p . 33 .

7“
Reich ii, M e dicina Univer sal is [ V r at isl avia: , p . 76 . S e e Fig 4 , .

opp. p .72 .

”7
D e B oo t , G cmmar u m p u
l a id m h is or ia
et ed To t . . ll , L u g Bat . .
, 16 4 7 , p .

4 10; l ib ii, . cap. ccxxv l

ii, a nd a so D e L ae , “ D e gemmis t et l apid ibu s, L ug .

Bat , 164 7 ,
. p . 13 8 .
194
‘

TH E M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
shar p and cl e ar ly de fine d as though th e wo r k of an engr ave r
o r ge m cutter Th ese fo ss il s ar e typ e s of e nc r init e s
- "3 .
.

Th e s e cti ons of th e s t em lik e fo s s il s c all e d entr o chus by

.
-

th e o ld e r w r it e r s hav e b e en name d S t C uthb e r t b e ad s in ’

.

T R O C H IT E S M

E NA S T R O S

T r ochit es F ossil
Fr o m M ercat i M e t all ot h e ca Vaticana R o me
.

C u nard , , . 1 7 19 .

E nast r os St e ms .

lat e r times whil e th e fo ssil c alle d l apis J u d aica s h as b or ne

,

th e name of s t o ne lily b e cau se in f or m it r e sembles th e

“ -
”
,

lily Age s ago th e s t em and flow e r lik e h e ad unit e d c onsti

.
-

bd p
I i .
, . 3 00; l ib . 11, cap. cxlv iii .
 ON TH E V IRTUE S OF F AB UL OUS S TONE S 19 5

tu te d acr ino id ( a mar ine z oophyte ) The s e aqu atic cr e a .

tu r e s h alf plant and h alf animal u su ally twine the i r r oo t s

— - - —

ab out som e s h e ll in th e d e pth s of th e w at er s but s om e time s

,

th ey b e come d et ache d and then m oving th ei r de licat e ten ,

tacl e s th e y c r ee p al ong th e b o tt om of th e s e a
, .

I n old e n times p ar t s o r s e gm ent s of an anim al wer e

, ,

wor n as a p r ot e ction agains t har m fr om th at par ticul ar

c r e atur e o r e l se to endow
,

th e w e ar e r with s om e of its
r e al o r f anci e d qu aliti e s .

In m o d e r n tim e s thi s te n
d eney finds exp r e s si on in
th e w e ar ing o f j e w e l s of
animal f or m wh er e in p r e
,

ciou s s t ones ar e gr oup e d

and ar r ange d s o as to con

stitu te di ff er ent p ar t s of

th e c r e atur e s b o dy S uch
’
.

j e we l s ar e o ft en l oo ke d
up on as masco ts
“
.

A p e culi ar fossil w as
known to th e Ge rmans by
th e nam e of Mu tte r stein,
an d is cal le d h ys te r olith u s
in th e L atin t r e ati s e s Of d mAd M m
B u car ite s t rip l e x Fr o l ro vand i s
’
u se u

Agr icol a De B o Ot etc a m m "

e t al licu , B o no nia . 16 4 8
.

.
, , ,

wor d of Gr ee k d er ivati on s ignifying th e r e sembl ance of

th e obj e ct to an or gan of th e b o dy Th e s e foss il s a r e .

for me d fr om th e content s of ce r tain sh e ll s and r e t ain ,

th e s h ap e of th e encl os ing sh ell which h as b r ok en aw ay ,

.

S ome of th e se fo r mati ons w e r e c all e d enor ch i fr om a

f anci e d r e sembl ance to ano th e r o r gan and w er e r e gar d e d
as ph allic e mbl ems whil e oth er s wer e th ought to figur e
,

th e h e ar t e spe ci ally l ar ge sp e cimens b e i ng name d bu car

,
19 6 TH E M AG I C OF J E W E L S A ND C H ARMS
d ites, or ox - he ar ts Thi s name is
dy employe d a r ea l
by Pliny Th e h ys te r o l z th u s w as u s e d to cu r e var i ou s fem ale
.
'

di se ase s and to th e bu car d ites w as acc or de d am ong o th e r

,

vi r tu e s th at of incr e asing th e we ar e r s c ou r age Th e h ys ’

.
79

te r ol ith u s is b e li e v e d to be th e s ame a s th e au togl yp h u s

menti one d by p seud o Plut ar ch as h aving b e e n f ou nd in th e
-

r iv e r S agar is in A s i a Mi no r ,
I ts p e culi ar sh ap e w as r e .

gar d e d as s ymb o lizing Cyb el e th e moth e r of th e go ds and , ,

th e s t o r y r an th at if one o f th e u nfo r tunat e m al e victim s

o f E as t e r n j e al o u s y s h ould o bt ain a s t one o f thi s kind h e

Ty p e s of Ombria ( F ossil S e a Ur ch ins) F r o m M e r cati

'
s
“
M et al l o th e ca V at icana , Rom e . 1 7 19

would b e come r e concil e d to h is s ad l ot and would ce as e to

r e gr e t h is l o s t m anh oo d .

If w e w e r e incline d to acc o r d th e titl e o f p r e ci ou s st one s

to s t one s g r e atly e s t eeme d f or th e i r t ali smanic vi r tu e s a ,

high pl ace in thi s cat e gor y would be as signe d to th e

sa lagr am a s t one o f th e Hindu s
-
Am ong th e ab o r i ginal in .
80

h abit ant s o f Indi a thi s w as r e gar de d as a symb o l of th e

femal e p r incipl e in natu r e and of its r e p r e sent ativ e th e ,

go dd e ss Pr akr ti and in th e l at e r Hindu b e li e f th e s t one w as

,

l o ok e d up on as th e S p e ci al embl em o f th e god Vi shnu th e ,

“
P r e se r ve r th e se cond p e r sonage of th e H indu Tr imur ti
,
”
.

It is th e r e for e ar d ently r eve r e d by tho se w h o ar e mo r e e s p e

Va lentini , M u se um mu seo r um , o d er V o l l st and ige S ch au Buhn -

e, F r an k
f ut
r a m M ain , 1 7 14 , vo lp 11. ii, . .

S e e , in r e
3°
ga d to th i t n
r s s o e, Opper t , De r S a a r ama S l g -
te in Z e it sch if t
, r

ffir th l g
E no o ie, XXXIV Jahr gang , l
B er in, 19 02, 13 1 13 7 pp .
-
,
19 8 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

be equival ent to cas ting away ever y p r osp e ct of goo d

for tune Ho wever only one w h o b elongs to th e thr e e highes t
.
,

cas te s is entitle d to b ec ome an owner o f th e s acr e d st one ,

in which th e ve r y s pi r it o f Vi shnu is supp os e d to dw el l ;

ne ith er a S udr a nor a P ar i ah enj oys thi s p r ivil e ge whi ch is ,

al s o d eni e d to w omen .

Th e S al agr ama is c ar efully w r app e d in linen cl oth s and ,

mu s t be o ften wash e d and p e r fume d Th e w at er with which .

it h as b een w ash e d b e come s a conse cr ate d dr ink Th e mas .

te r of th e h o u se mu s t ador e th e s t one once e ach d ay e ith er ,

in th e mor ning or in th e ev ening A s th e S al agr ama not only

.

b r ings h appine ss in thi s wor ld but al so insu r e s felicity

in th e futur e w or ld it is h e ld ov er th e dying H indu whil e
,

water is allowe d to tr ickl e thr ough th e or ifice Thi s cer e .

mony app e ar s to have a ce r t ain anal o gy to th e r it e of ex

t r eme uncti on admini s ter e d in th e C atho lic C hu r ch .

I t is st at e d by F inn Magnu s en th at in I c e l and t ow ar d ,

th e b e ginning o f th e l as t c entu r y h e s aw sup er s titi ou s p eas

,

ant s c ar efully gu ar d small s t one s of p e cu li ar app e ar ance in

p r e tty b ags fil l e d with fi ne flour Th e y tr eat e d the se st ones

.

with gr e at r ever ence and either wor e th em on their p er s ons

o r pl ac e d th em in th e i r b e d s or o th er fu r nitu r e
81
.

Th e fo ss il s k nown as br antice ambr ica and ch el onites ,

we r e al l b e li ev e d to be antid ot e s f or p oi s on and al so to make

th e w e ar e r vict or i ou s ov er h is enemi e s H enc e th ey w er e .

som e time s s et in th e p omme l s cf s wo r d s That th e se obj e ct s

.

we r e e qually p ot ent in p eace is sh own by th e fact th at

,

D ani sh p e as ant women pl ace d th em in th e i r milk p ail s to

war d ofi th e efi ects of any s p e ll th at might h ave b een cas t
o v er th e c ow s milk by a m al e vol ent witch ”
’
.

“
1
Magnu sen
, O m e n S t eenr ing m e d Ru n e nind sk r i ”
f t, A nnal er f or Nor d isk
p h g
Ol dkynd igh ed , C o en a en, 183 8- 183 9 , p
13 3 . .

‘3
V l t
a en ini, u u d
M se m mu seor um, o er d ie vol l stli nd ige S a B iih ne
,
ch u -

kut
F r an f r am M ain, 17 14 , vo l ii, . p12 . .
 ON TH E V IRTUE S OF F ABULOUS S TONE S 19 9

David R e ich not e s th e fou r kinds of astr oite s or vic ,

~

tor y sto ne s give n by D e B o ot ; th e fir st m ar k ed with small

,
’
,

s t ar s ; th e s e c ond with r o se lik e figu r e s ; th e thi r d with

,
-
,

w avy lines like th e convoluti ons o f a wo r m ; th e fou r th with

, ,

ob s cu r e and i nd efinit e mar kings To th e s e v ar i e ti e s R e ich .

add s a fifth th e c onve x s id e o f which w as mar k e d with

,

bl ack cr os se s whil e th e o the r flat side sh owe d l ar ger cr osse s

, , ,

s u r r ou nd e d by ci r cl e s ; al l th e s e m ar kings w e r e s o p e r f e ct

th at an ar ti s t cou ld s c ar ce ly imit ate th em ; thi s sp e cimen h e

A S T K O IT E S .

S p e cim e ns o f A s t r o ites ( as t eria) . or f ossil co r al Fro m

.
’

M e r cati s ' “
M e tal l o t h e ca V atica na ,

R o m e . 17 19 .

h ad with o th er p r e ci ou s gems in a silve r cr o ss th e flat

s e t, , ,

s id e of th e fo s sil at th e b ack of th e cr os s b e ing c o ver e d

, ,

by a h e ar t shap ed top az -
Thes e we r e al l sp e cim e ns of
83
.

fos sil cor al .

Th e s aga of D i e tr ich of B e r n r el at e s of King Nidung th at

”
Reich u , Me d ic ina unive r sa l is [ V r atisl aviaa, p . 75 . S ee Fig 3 ,.

opp . p .72 .
200 A
THE M GI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
on th e eve o f ab attl e in which h is for c e s w e r e much infe r i or
to th o s e o f th e e nemy h e w as fill e d with d e sp ai r to fi nd th at
,

h e h ad l e ft h is vict or y st one in his castl e mil e s aw ay

“ ”
,

fr om wh e r e h e h ad pitch e d h is t ent Ov e rm as t e r e d by his .

de sir e to r e gain p o s s e s si on of h is s tone at thi s c r itic al time ,

Nid u ng o f fe r e d a l ar ge s um o f money and h is d aught er s

’

h and to anyone w h o w ould b r ing it to h im b e fo r e th e b attle .

b egan Th e di s t an ce w as so gr e at and th e tim e s o sh o r t

.

that th e task s e eme d utt e r ly imp o ss ible and a yo ung e squi r e , ,

V e l int by nam e w as th e only o ne willi ng to r i s k th e ente r

,

p r i s e H e w as favor e d in h is qu e s t by h aving a h o r se of
.

w onde r ful st r ength and e ndu r anc e by wh ose h elp h e b ar ely ,

succ e e d e d in m ak i ng th e l o ng j ou r ne y to th e c as tl e and

r e tu r ni ng in time Ki ng Nid u ng w e ar ing h is invincibl e

.
,

s t one w as th e victo r in th e b attl e and h e did no t f ail to c ar r y

, ,

ou t his r ath er r as h p r om i s e
84
.

Amul e t s o f fo ssil co r al ar e fr e ely u se d in I t aly e sp e ,

i
c a yl l in t e p ovi c e of Aquil a and ar e c all e d
h r n “
witch,

s t ones ( p ie tr e s tr eg ante ) Th e s e ar e simil ar to one typ e

”
.

a s t e r i as w or n as amu l e t s in anci ent and m e diev al

“ ”
o f th e

time s M any of th e I t al ian amul e t s ar e inci s e d o r e ngr ave d

.

with Chr i s ti an subj e ct s one figu r e d by B e llucci b e ar ing th e

,

h e ad of Ch r i s t on th e obv e r s e and C h r i st on th e cr o s s on th e
,

r e v e r s e s id e ; on o th e r s app e ar s th e im a g e o f th e Vi r in
g
Mar y .
85

C r ys t alline qu ar tz will s om e time s sh ow a s t ar e ith e r at

b ase or ap ex if ou t en caboch on Thi s is d u e to th e p r e se nce
,
.
.

o f acicul ar c r ys t al s o f r util e o r to air s p ac e s Th ose sp e ci .

mens fr om Albany Maine and o th e r pl ac es p r e se nt thi s

,

ph enom enon and S tar ol ite and A str ol ite or st ar st one

,
“ ”

h as b e e n sugge st e d as an app r op r i at e nam e f o r thi s var i e ty .

8‘
Per ingskio l d , Wil k ina S a a e e r is or ia om Konu ng Die r i
g ll h t d ch of B er n,
Stock h ol mis, 17 15 , pp
57, 58
. .

“
Be i,llucc tc
I l f e i ism o in I a ia, Pe r t l
ia, 19 07 , 100—104 ug pp . .
202 TH E M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARM S
so mething gr e at val u e and th e s tone mu s t h ave
r ar e and o f

b e en highly p ri z e d whe n such a p r ice w as p aid f or it .

2

Th e fi r s t menti on of th e b e z oa r s t one is by th e A r abic

and P e r si an w r it e r s Inth e A r abic wor k att r ibut e d to A r i s
.

totl e and which w as ce r t ainly wr i tten as e ar ly a s th e ninth

,

an d p oss ibly in th e s e ve nth c e ntu r y it is e ve n d e s cr ib e d ,

am ong th e p r e ci ou s s t o ne s .

Th e s am e is tr u e o f th e o ld es t
P e r si an w or k on m e dicine ,

name ly th at of Abu M ans u r ,

Mu w af f ak c omp ose d ab out th e ,

middl e o f th e t e nth c entu r y .

A valu able m onogr aph on th e

b e z o ar w as wr itt en in 1 625 by
C as p ar B auhin a l e ar ne d p r o ,

f e ssor and phys ici an of B as e l ;

thi s wo r k c ont ains al l th at w as
th en known o f th e var i ou s
qu alitie s as cr ib e d to thi s sub
s t anc e by th e o ld e r auth o r s .

A ppli cat ion o f im a Th e b e z oar d oe s nOt app e ar

be z o ar t o cu r e s vict
of o is o ningm J d C Fro oh annis e
'
uba s
S m to h av e b e e n u se d me d l cl nal l y
”
r tus a b t atis . S tr as s u r g . 1 4 83 .

in E u r op e b efo r e th e tw e lfth c entu r y wh en th e s o c all e d ,

-

p es til enti al feve r s b e came ve r y p r e val ent In th e i r di st r e s s .

p e opl e tu r ne d to th e l api s b e z oar which w as s o highly r e com ,

me nd e d by th e A r abic phys ici ans wh o s e w o r k s w e r e at that ,

time b e coming mo r e wide ly known thr ough th e int e r cou r se

,

b e tween th e S p ani ar ds and th e Mo or s C asp ar B auhin .

wr it e s “
E v en to d ay p r inc e s and nobl e s p r iz e it v e r y
:
3 -

highly and guar d it in th e ir tr e asu r e s am ong th e i r mo s t

p r e ci ou s gem s ; s o th at th e physici ans ar e for c e d s om e tim e s ,

2
I b d pp
i .
, . 104— 5 .

C a sPar i Bau h ini, D e l apid is bez aar is or tu na tu r a, etc ,

. B as i l ese, 1 6 25 ,
 A
S N KE S TONE S A ND B E Z O RS A 203

a gains t th ei r b e tt e r judgment to empl oy it as a r em e dy , .

S o gr e at ar e its vi r tu e s th at many imit ati ons ar e mad e ” .

Th e nam e b e z o ar d e ri v e d fr om th e P e r si an ad z ah r
, p
( p ad exp e lling ; e ah r p oi s on) or some of its m any var i ant s
, , , ,

w a s o fte n u se d to d es ignat e an antid o t e f or p o i son s o th at

y ,

th e A r ab s would s ay th at s uch o r such a sub s t anc e w as th e

b e z o ar f or a p ar ticular p ois on Thi s sh ould be und er s tood .

to s ignify th at th e s t one r e ce ive d its name b e c au s e it w as .

r e gar d e d as a s p e ci ally p ow e r ful antid o te .

Th e va r i ou s auth or s gi v e m any di f f er ent s ou r ce s f o r th e

be z o ar We h av e alr e ady cit e d Monar d e s and r e p e at e d h is
.

acc ou nt ; o th e r w r it e r s ass e r t e d th at thi s c onc r e ti on c ame

fr om th e h e ad s of cer tain animal s oth e r s again s aid that it ,

w a s t ak e n fr om th e i r liv e r s and s till o th e r s s t at e d th at it ,

w as for me d in th e eye o f th e s t ag Natu r ally concr e ti ons .

,

o f a s im il ar f o r m and qu ality m ay w e ll h ave b e e n obt aine d

fr om any of the s e sou r ce s Inde e d one of th e mos t p ot ent .

,

b e z o ar s w as th at t ak en fr om th e monk ey A sp e cimen of .

thi s kind is de s cr ib e d and figur e d in th e Mu seum B r ittani

cu m
“
with th e foll owi ng d es c ri pti on
A Monkey ver y much r esembl ing one f r om the goat of an
’
s Bez oar , ,

obl ong sh ap e b r oke in tw o w ith a l ong str aw or s ome s uch l ike s ub stanc e in
, ,

its c entr e ; its c o l o ur b r own p ink or d ee p ye ll ow I f ou nd it set as gener

, , .

ally th e y ar e f or p r es er v ation in a l ittl e ch est or c ase o f wh at is c alle d , ,

L ignum L cevis z u num; th e p ith or me dul a o f which ap p ears to r es emble the

'

c ommon elder and may f or wh at I know be as cur ious as the stone its el f
, , , .

Toll qu otes J acob B ontiu s to th e e ff ect th at th e se

5

monke y b e z oar s which w e r e r ound e d and a littl e longe r

,

th an th e finger we r e consider e d th e b e st of al l
,
.

A s th e chi e f qu al ity cl aime d f o r th e b e z oar w as th at it

induce d a p r ofu s e p e r s pi r ati on w e might und e r st and th at ,

it c ould have a b enefici al ef f e ct in som e cases It w as .

M u um B tt i m J h
se d A d w
rl an cu Rym d yk L
, d pp 5 0 5 1
o n an n re van s , on on, .
— .

5
D e Boo t , De l apid ibu s,
”
ed . To ll , Lu g Bat , 1 6 3 6 ,
. . p . 3 67 .
204 TH E MAG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

l
a so r e mar k e d th at luti on of th e st one bl ack ened th e
th e so

t ee th and th os e w h o u s e d it we r e th e r e for e oblige d to t ak e

gr e at car e that th e me dicine sh ould not t ouch th ei r t e e th .

We l ea r n th at a genuine st one w as valu e d at 50 gold

cr owns ( ab out $ 125 ) in C alcutt a ; anoth e r is s aid to h ave
b r ought 1 30 cr owns D e B o o t s t at e s th at a d r achm
o f th e p owd e r e d s t one w as w o r th tw o duc at s in L owe r
G e r m any and fou r in
Upp e r G e r m any ; why h e ,

L p i S im
a s w d o e s no t s ay .

G ar ci a s ab H o r t o a P o r tu ,

gu e s e phy sici an of G o a in ,

Indi a d e s c r ib e s a v ari e ty of,

th e b e z o ar c all e d th e L api s
M al ace ns is u s e d as an anti ,

d ot e f o r p oi sons in Mal acc a .

Thi s w a s found in th e liv e r

o f th e h e dge h o g and th e sub ,

s t anc e w as h e ld in s uch e s

t e em th at of tw o found in th e
gtifiéf fift e e nth c entu r y 0 11 9 w as
l ’ ‘ n
-
r ,
“ mm
s e nt a s a v e r y v alu abl e gi ft
3 “ 1 7 14 '

to th e P or tu gu e s e Vice r oy at G o a Gar ci as d e s c r ib e s thi s as

.

b eing of a light pu r pl e h u e bitt e r to th e t ast e and sm o oth as

,

th e skin of a t oad Th e cu s t om w as to s t e e p th e s t o ne in w at e r
.

f o r s ome tim e and th e n to giv e thi s wat er to th e p ati e nt as a

m e dicinal d r aught A s p e cimen w as b r ought to R ome fr om
.

P or tugal by C ar dinal Al exand r inu s and Me r cat o s t at e s ,

th at h e h ad s e en a t e s t o f its vi r tu e s as an antidot e f o r
p oi s o ns In th e opini on of D e B o ot
. A s an antid o t e f o r “

any p o i s on which m ay h av e b e en admi ni s t e r e d no thi ng ,

m o r e e xc e ll ent th an th e b e z o ar s to ne can be h ad It .
” 6

D e l apid ibu s , Lu g B at 1636 ,. p 3 70

. . S ee a sol M e r cat i, M et all o
th cae tc
V a i ana, R omze , 1 7 19 ,
”
1 79 , i p . w th figu re of t
s one f r om h dgeh g
e o .
206 THE MAGIC OF JE WE L S AND C HARMS

an an tid ote to p oi son r e c or d e d by th e f am ou s F r ench su r

,

geon A mbr oi se Par é ( 151 0

,
w as p er f orme d in P ar i s
with one which h ad b een br ought fr om S p ain to C har les IX
of F r an ce . C lear ly th e only p e r fe ctly sati sf actor y me ans of
as c e r taining wh e ther th e r e put e d vi r tu es of this cu r i ou s

concr e ti on wer e r e ally p r e sent w as to mak e an exp e ri ment

the r ewith up on a living hum an b e ing Now it ch ance d that
.

ju s t at this time ther e w as in th e r oyal pri son a cook w h o

h ad s t ol en tw o silver di s h es fr om hi s mas t er and w h o in , ,

acc o r d with th e pitil es s l aw s of that p e r i od h ad b e en con ,

d emne d to d eath f or thi s ofi ence . H er e w as an e xce ll ent

o pp o r tuni ty ther efor e to mak e a tr i al of th e be z o ar but as
, , ,

th e adjudge d l e g al p enalty c ould not we ll be ar bitr ar ily

change d to some other form of de ath th e matter w as fir s t
,

laid b e for e th e condemne d man himself with th e pr omise ,

that s hould h e not succumb to th e p oi son h e would be give n

h is lib e r ty A s at th e w or st thi s w as t ak ing a ch anc e o f life in
.

e xch ang e f or c e r t ai n d e ath th e c oo k r e adily c ons ent e d

, Th e .

ne ce s s ar y pr e par ations h aving b e en mad e th e p oi son w as

,

admi ni s t er e d and imm edia t e ly th e r e aft er th e man w as giv en

a d o se c omp os e d of a p ar t o f th e b ez o ar r e duc e d to p o wd e r

and di s s o lve d in liquid . Th e e fi e cts of th e po ison wer e s oon

manife s t e d by vi ol ent r e tching and pu r ging and when P ar é ,

w as cal l e d in an h ou r l at e r h e found th e man in gr e at agony

, ,

with blo od i ssuing fr om h is no se e ar s and mouth and fr om

, ,

th e o th er b odily ap er tu r e s .H e pit eou sly c ompl aine d that

he fe lt as though c onsume d by an inwar d fl ame and b e fo r e ,

ano th e r hou r h ad p ass e d h e e xpi r e d c r yi ng ou t th at it w ould

,

h ave bee n much b etter to have die d by h anging F r om his .

r e por t P ar é seems not to h ave b e en p r e s ent wh en th e p o i s on

,

w as given and not to have b een inf ormed of its char acte r ,

as h e me rely state s that fr om th e r e sult s of hi s auto p s y and

fr om th e symptoms h e h ad ob se r ve d h e conclude d th at it
,
 SNAKE S TONE S A ND BE Z OARS 207

was corr osive sublimate P r ob ably cons cienti ou s and tr uly

.
,

r e ligiou s as h e w as h e w as u nwilling to t ak e an active p ar t

,

in s uch an afi air Th e king or d er e d that his disc r e dite d

.

b e z oar should be cas t into th e fi r e and de str oye d As an .

illu s tr ati on of Amb r oi s e P ar é s humility and pie ty w e may ’

cite h is r emar k on th e r e cove ry of one of his p atients : I “

t re t d
a e h im and G o d cu r e d h im
”
It w as P ar é w h o op er
.
9

at e d up on Admi r al C oli gny af t er th e u nsuccessful att empt on

th e l atte r s life mad e a f e w d ays b e for e his as sas s ination on

’

S t B ar th ol omew s D ay Au gu st 24 1 57 2 at th e out se t of
.
’
, , ,

th e d r eadful mas s acr e .

Alludi ng to th e ill succe ss attending th e exp e r iment p er

-

forme d by Ambr oi se P ar é in or der to t e st ef f e ctively th e

,

supp o s e d vi r tu e s of th e s ub s t anc e as an antid o te f or p o i s ons ,

E nge lb er t K aempfer r emar k s th at P ar é s b ez oar ma y h av e

’

b een of infe ri or qu al ity and mor e o ver b e z oar s could not

, , ,

be su cce ss fully u se d to c ount e r act mi ner al p oi sons but w er e ,

onl y u se ful when v e ge t abl e p o i sons h ad b e en t ak en Thi s .

opinion w as p r ob ably d u e to th e fact th at th e b e z oar its e lf is

lar ge ly or in th e main a v e ge t able sub stance That th e in .

te r io r l aye rs of a sp e cimen s h ould be inferi or in qu ality to

th e e xt e rnal l ay e r s w a s not f or K aempfe r a p r oof of its
s pu r i o u s ch ar act e r but mi ght e asily be accou nt e d f or by a
,

change of p astur age in th e cas e of th e cr e atur e in wh os e b ody

th e c onc r e ti on h ad for me d .

This wr it er as s e r ts th at h e cons ider e d those b e z o ar s to

be genuine which w e r e of a p ar tly r e sinou s and p ar tly min
e r al c omp o s iti on so th at when pulver iz e d the y c ould be
,

di s s olv e d in nitri c acid th e s oluti on h aving a r e ddi sh h u e

,
.

Th e P e r s i ans no t only a ttr ibut e d to b ez oar s th e same vir

tue s as did th e E u r op e ans but al s o r e commende d th e ad
,

mini s tr ati on o f th e b e z o ar elixi r to p er sons in h e alth th at ,

th ey might avoid contr acting dise ase and pr olong th eir live s ,

° broise
Am Par e, ( Euvr e s Com plet es , Par is, 1 84 1 vol iii, . pp . 3 41, 342
.
208 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

mor e p e cially if th e d o s e we r e t aken at th e b e ginning of th e

es

ye ar In gene r al h ow eve r h e found th at wh e r e E u r op e ans

.
, ,

u s e d th e b e z o ar as a r eme dy th e P er si ans gav e a d o se of

,

p ear l tinctu r e inst e ad ; but as r ar itie s or p e r h ap s as tali s ,

m ans b e z o ar s w e r e e ve n m o r e highly p ri z e d in P e r s i a th an
,

in E u r op e f or th e r e w as h ar dly a P e r s i an o f not e w h o did

,

no t p r e s er ve o ne of th es e c oncr e ti ons am o ng h is t r e asu r e s .

Th e p ri ce d e p e nd e d up on p e r fe cti on of fo rm and co l o r as ,

well as up on s iz e one we ighing a mish kel ( ab o ut 7 5 gr ains

,

T r o y ) w as comm only v alu e d at one t oman th e e quiva l ent of ,

1 5 ounc e s o f s ilve r ( ab out acc o r ding to K aempf e r s

’

comput ati on but th e pr ic e r o se r apidly with th e s iz e of th e

,

b ez o ar in a p r op or tion s imil ar to th at ob se r v able in th e

cas e of p e ar l s A s P e r si an b ez oar s w er e s o co s tly in P e r si a
.
,

and th e h ome d emand f o r th e m s o gr e at th o s e s o ld by thi s ,

name in E u r op e mu st h av e h a d ano th e r or i gin

10
.

Of se v er al e xp er ime nt s m ad e with cri minal s to wh om

p oi s on w as admini s te r e d and th en a d os e of b ez o ar to t e st
its vi r tu e s a s an an tid o t e one o f th e mo s t int e r e s ting h as
,

to d o with a c r iminal i ncar ce r at e d in th e p r i son at P r a gue ,

in th e r e ign of E mp e r or Rud olph I I T o thi s m an a d r achm .

o f th e d e adly p o i s on aconitu m nap e l l u s w as admi ni st e r e d .

F iv e h ou r s w e r e all ow e d to e l ap se b e fo r e th e b e z o ar w as
given s o th at th e p oi son sh ould h av e full tim e to be ab s o r b e d
,

by th e sys tem Du r ing thi s tim e th e ef f e ct s we r e fully mani

.

f e ste d o pp r e ssi on at th e ch e s t p ain in th e gas t r ic r e gi on

, , ,

dimne s s of vi si on and dizzine ss W h en th e fi ve h ou r s h ad .

expi r e d fi ve gr ai ns o f b e z o ar w er e gi ven to th e m an in a

little wine Afte r t aking th e dose h e felt some r e li e f and

.

vomit e d but th e bad sympt oms soon r e tu rne d and e ven be

,

came aggr avat e d as th ough a sup r eme c onflict f or th e mas

,

ter y be twe e n p oi son and antid o t e we r e in p r o gr e s s Th er e .

E ngel be r t i Kaem f er i, p Am mnit atum ex o ticar u m f as c . V,

”
Lemgovizc,
1 7 12, pp 4 02, 403 .
.
210 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

l ooking as h e h ad al way s b een to ld th at th o s e h aving b e z o ar s

,

wer e invar iably thin and wr etch e d in app e ar ance H owe v e r .

,

th e Afghan w as sh o wn to be c o r r e ct in h is c onj e ctu r e f or ,

when one o f th e go ats w as kille d and th e b ody op ene d fou r

fi ne b e z oar s w er e b r o ught to ligh t .
13

Ab out th e b e ginning o f th e e ight e enth c entu r y Ch ar l e s ,

Ja cqu e s P once t a F r e nch physici an w as c all e d to th e cou r t

, ,

o f th e Aby ss ini an m onar ch o f th at time One o f th e f av o r it e .

r e m e di e s o f thi s F r e nchm an w a s a kind o f art ifici al b e z o ar ,

wh ich h e cl aims to h ave u se d with gr e at succe s s in c ase s of

int e r mittent fev er Thi s s o c al l e d b e z o ar h e admini st er e d
.
-

to th e s ov e r e i gn and to tw o of h is child r en and h e al so ,

r e ve al e d to th e Abys s ini an king th e s e c r e t o f its c om p os iti on .

H e t e ll s u s th at thi s E mp e r o r of E thi opi a ”

as h e t e r ms
“
,

h im sh ow e d gr e at int e r es t in me dic al s ci ence and li st ene d

, ,

e ager ly to e xpl anati ons of th e ch ar act er and o p e r ati on o f th e

v ar i ou s r eme di e s .
14

Th e Indi ans of P e r u h ad th e i r own th eo r y a s to th e

gene si s of th e b e z o ar s tone In r el ati on to this Joseph d e -
.

Acos t a wr ite s 15

Th e I nd ians l t f r om th e tr aditions and te achings of their anc estors

re a e
,

th at in th e p r ovinc e of Kaur a and in other p r ov inc e s of Per u th er e ar e

,

var ious p oisonous her b s and animals which emp ois on th e water s and p as tur es
wher e th ey [the vicufi as etc ] dr ink and eat Of thes e p oisono us h er bs one
,
. .
,

is r i ght w ell known by a natur al inst inct to th e vicufia and to th e oth er

animal s wh ich engend er th e b ez o ar and th e y e at o f th is h er b and thus
pr e ,

s e r ve th ems e lv es f r om th e p oison of th e w ate rs and

p astur es Th e I nd ians .

als o s ay th at th e stone is f or me d in th e st omachs o f th es e anima ls f r om t his

h er b whenc e c omes th e V ir tu e it p os sesse s as an antid ote f or p oisons as we ll

,
,
as its oth er mar v e llo us p r o p er tie s .

Th e Tfi z u k i - -
Jh
a angi r i or m emoir s of J h gi t
e an r r ans . by A le xander
Ro ge r s, don 19 09 p 2 40
L on , , . Or ien t . . u d
Tr ans F n , N S , vo l x ix . . . .

1‘ “
Voyage d E th iopie ’
1n Le tt r es é difi ante s et r ie ses, I V R e cu u cueil , P ar is ,
1 7 13 , p . 103 .

1“
De A costa , t oire
H is Natur e lle et Mo r ale d es Indes , tr . by C aux ois,
Par is, 1600, f . 2 06 r. and v .
 A
S N KE S TONE S A ND B E Z O R S A 21 1

Of th e mine r al b e z o ar which w as al so r e gar de d as an

,

antid ot e agains t p oi s ons M oh amme d ben Mangu r r e l ate s

,

that var i ou s o r nam ent al figu r e s w e r e for me d fr om it such ,

a s s mall i m age s o f th e S h ah or littl e f e mal e figu r e s

; th e se
we r e p er hap s r egar de d as t ali smans Knife h andl e s we r e .
-

al so mad e of thi s m at er i al and h e r e th e u s e m ay h av e b e en

16
,

c onne ct e d with th e b eli e f in th e cu r ative p ow er of th e b ez o ar ,

if b r ought int o dir e ct contact with th e skin as would be th e ,

c as e when th e knife h andl e w as gr asp e d in th e h and

-
.

A mine r al b e z o ar b e ar ing a cl o se lik enes s to th e anim al

concr e ti on w as found in S icily Thi s st one w as u su ally .

r o u nd som e ti m e s obl ong lik e an e gg and s om e tim e s c orri

, ,

p r e s se d ; its u su al siz e w as ab out th at of a pige on s e gg th e ’

,

l ar ge s t s tone not su r p as sing th e siz e of a h en s e gg It w as ’

.

comm only white occ asi onally of a s om ewh at ashy h u e and

, ,

th e su r fac e w as gene r ally smooth th ough now and th en ,

it w as r ough with small p r o tub e r ance s I ts t as te r e s embl e d .

that of th e white bol us ar menus Th e comp ositi on of thi s .

s t o ne w as s im il ar to th at of th e Or i ent al b e z o ar of anim al

o r i gi n h avi ng th e s am e l ay e r s and in th e c ent r e a sm all

, ,

m as s of s and o v e r which natu r e h ad imp o s e d fr om e ight

to ten laye r s ju s t as in th e animal b e z o ar "7
.
,

A p e culi ar b e z o ar is r e p or t e d fr om Ind r apu r a Indi a ,

.

Thi s w a s s aid to h av e b e en found in th e s ku ll o f a r hino c e r o s ,

and w as o f light w e ight and o f a bl ack h u e varying to p al e ,

r e d wh e n h e ld agai ns t th e light ; it w as har d enough to cut

gl ass Th e owne r b eli eve d it to be a p anace a f o r al l ill s

. .

F or bl oo d s pitting it w as h e ld in th e m outh ; f or r h euma

-

tism b r ui se s o r bu r ns it w as r ubb e d ov er th e af f e ct e d p ar t ;
, , ,

and f o r th e bit e s o f v enom ou s c r e atu r e s it w as si mply l aid

V on H amm er , A u sz uge au s d e m
1° “
p e i ch n W ke
rs s e er , B uch
d er E e d l stein e,

vo n M o amm e behn M ans s u rd,

”
in F n u dgr uben d es O ient s r , vol vi, . 134 p . Wien ,

1 8 18 .

Bo ccon
e, Re ch r che s
e et o bs rvations
e tu ell
na r e s, Ams t dam
er , 16 7 4 , pp .

2 3 8, 23 9 .
21 2 TH E MAGI C OF J E WE L S A ND C HARM S

up on th e wo und ; ev en thos e at th e p oint of de ath we r e

r e vive d by it
18
.

A n amul e t s e t with a b e z o ar s t one is s aid to h av e p os

s e s s e d s uch a p o w e r to p r e v e nt bl e e ding th at wh en a M al a cc a

pr ince w as kill e d in a b attl e with h is r eb e lli ou s subj e ct s no ,

blo o d w as flow ing f r om any o f h is num e r ou s wound s On .

s t r ipping th e b o dy a g old en ar ml e t s e t with a b e z o ar c am e to

vie w and th e m ome nt thi s w as r emove d bl oo d b e gan to flow

,

fr e ely fr om th e w ound s ) “ I

M e r c ato wri t e s of a m ar ve ll ou s Occid ent al b e z o ar s ent ,

fr om P e r u to R om e in 1534 as a gift to P o p e G r e gor y XIII

,
.

It w e igh e d no l e s s th an fi f ty s ix o unc e s al th ough it w as -

d e fe ctiv e since a lar ge p or ti on of th e exte r i o r cr us t w as

,

mi s s ing th e se co nd l aye r w as p ar tly b r ok en aw ay and e ven

, ,

th e thi r d l ay e r w as d am age d in s om e pl ace s Thi s w ond e r .

ful concr e ti on h ad b e en d e dicat ed to one of th e P e r uvi an

go d s as a r ar e and p r e ciou s obj e ct and it w as t aken away
, ,

by th e S pani ar d s wh en th e y sp oil e d th e templ e Me r cat o .

s ay s th at thi s b e z o ar w as o f a t r uly mons t r ou s s iz e u n

“
,

he ar d of in al l p r evi ou s centu r i es and it is still th e lar ge st ,

in th e wh ol e r e alm of natu r e ”
.
19

Th e be z o ar s o f th e New Wo r ld se em to h av e di ff e r e d
consid e r ably fr om th ose of Indi a Th ey h ad a r ough su r .

face we r e u su ally o f a gr ay col o r o f var i ou s siz e s and fo r m s

, , ,

and c om p o s e d o f a nu mb e r o f s up e r im p o se d c o al e s cing ,

l aye r s much thicke r th an those o f th e Ori e ntal o r Indian

, , ,

b e z o ar Th ey we r e u su ally o f c onside r abl e siz e e ith e r h ol

.
,

l ow within or containing s e e d s nee dl es and si mil ar su b ,

s t anc e s Th e y c am e fr om th e We s t Indi e s e s p e ci al ly fr om
.
,

P e r u and we r e b r ought thenc e by th e S p ani ar d s and P or tu

,

mF . Nix , in Ti j d sch r rf t v oor Ind . Taa l , L an d en Vo lk , vo l .

v p , . 15 1 .

11“ J u l ii Re ich e l ti, De A mu l e tis , A rge nto r at i, 1 6 7 6 , p . 75 .

Mer cati ,
M et al l oth eca Vaticana , Roma , 1 7 19 , p . 17 5 .
 214 TH E M GI C OF A J E WE L S A ND CH ARMS
an tidot e s and f or th e cu r e o f f e ve r s and othe r di s e as e s it
, ,

h as b een d oubt e d wh e th er th e ab o r igine s of S outh A me ri c a

e ve r valu e d th em in any w ay b e for e th e time o f th e S p ani s h

C onqu e s t What s e ems h oweve r to be a pr o o f that the y

.
, ,

s om e tim e s di d s o is af f o r d e d by th e di s c o v e r y o f a b e z oa r
, ,

p r ob ably t aken fr om th e b o dy o f a ll ama in a t omb at C oji ,

t amb o in th e C afi ar i r e gi on of E cu ad or In spit e of th e
, .

cont r ar y opini on exp r e ss e d by Gar cil asso d e l a Ve ga th e r e ,

is r e ason to b e li e v e th a t s uch anim al concr e ti ons w e r e u se d

by th e s e Indi ans in magic p r actice s Th e Q uichu a name is .

il l a an d H olquin in h is Q uichu a dicti onar y s ay s that th e

,

native s b e li e v e d th at b e z o ar s w e r e luck b ri ngi ng s t one s -

.

Anothe r nam e qu icu is vouch e d f o r by A r r i aga w h o st at es

, , ,

that th e S p ani ar ds found s ome b e z oar s s taine d with th e

blo od of s acri fici al V ictim s thu s sh owing that th ey wer e ,

thought to p o ss e s s a ce r tain r eli gi ou s or mys tic s i gnifican ce .

Anothe r autho r Don Vas co d e C ontr er o s y V ieve d o wri ting

, ,

in 165 0 s ta t e s th at th e m os t highly v al u e d of th e s e concr e

,

ti ons am ong th e native s of S outh Am e ri ca we r e th ose t aken

fr om th e A me r ican t api r which the y calle d d e nts , .
23

Th e c omp ar ativ e valu e of Ori ent al and Occid ent al

b e z o ar s w as still an op en qu e s ti on t ow ar d th e end of th e
s ixt e e nth c entu r y In a l e tt er wr itt en by S ir G e o r ge
.

C ar e w to S ir R o b e r t C e cil on Oct ob e r 1 0 1 5 94 th e f or m e r , , ,

s t at e s th at h e h ad s ubmi tt e d a b e z o ar f r om th e W e s t I ndi e s

to a L ond on j e we l e r nam e d J os e ph o w h o h ad t o ld h im th at ,

h ad th e sub s t anc e c ome fr om th e E as t Indi es h e w ould valu e

it as high as £ 100 but th at nev e r h aving mad e t ri al of We st
,

Indi an b e z oar s h e w ould no t v entu r e on an es tim at e

, ,

al th o ugh h e did not d oubt but th at th ey w e r e quit e as go o d .

z‘
R V er neau and P Ri e ,
.
“
vt th l g
E no o ie an ienne d e l ’E qu ateu r ,
. c Par is ,
19 12 ; vo l v i o f.M i ss io n d u se r i e é o o i e d e l
’
v c g l g qu
ar mé e o r l a me s p u u re d
’
un
d
are d e m er i ie n equ at or ia l en A mé r iqu e d u S u d , 1 89 9 19 06 ,
—
2 3 5, 2 36 pp . figur e
( nat . siz e ) on p . 23 5 .
 A
S N KE S TONE S A ND B E Z O R S A 21 5

Ne ve r the l e s s h e wo uld not c ar e to buy thi s one b efor e h av

ing te s te d its vi r tu es exp e riment ally “ .

Th at go o d Q u e e n B e ss S h ar e d th e b e li e fs of h e r age as to
th e vi r tu es o f s t one s is w e ll known and sh e app e ar s to h av e ,

r e ga r d e d h er b e z o ar s as w or thy o f a pl ac e am ong th e t r e as

u r e s of th e C r own f or in th e inventor y o f th e j ewel s mad e

,

at th e acc e s s i o n o f J am e s I w e r e ad

A ls o one t tt
goulds that w as Queens E liz a
gre ats B ez ar s o ne, se in
b e th s with
’
, c so m i ’
a p ap er ; and o ne oth e r l ar ge
e Un or ne s H or ne , in

B ez ar st one b r ok en in p ee ces d eliv er e d to our o w ns bandes by th e L or d

, , ,

Broo ke th e tw o and tw e ntith d ay of J anu ar ie one tho usand six s hundr e d

, ,

and twe nty and tw o

”5
.

Af te r th e de ath of Rud olph II in 16 1 2 th e Vene ti an , ,

e nvo y Gi r o lamo S o r anz o wr o t e to th e D ogs No o th e r

“
, , ,

m onar ch h as e ve r accumul at e d so m any j e we l s H e al s o .

c omm u nicate s th e fact th at s om e at le as t of th e s e gems we r e

to fo ll o w h im to th e gr ave f or wh e n int e r r e d h is h e ad w as
, ,

cove r e d with a cap ad o r ne d with m any v alu able p r e ci ou s

s t o ne s H owe ve r Rud o lph s f ondne ss f or th e m or e s pl endid ’
.
,

gem s and j ewe ls w as accomp ani e d by a v er y p ar ticular t as t e

f or th e co ll e cti on of Or i e nt al b e z o ar s o f which a l ar g e nu m ,

be r ar e no t e d a s in h is p os se ss i on at th e tim e of hi s d e ath .

Th es e r ange d in w e ight fr om 1 l o th oz T r oy ) to 25 % .

l oth ( a littl e m o r e th an one p ou nd T r oy ) ; mo s t of th em

we r e p r ovid e d with a ri ch go ld s e tting and one e sp e ci ally ,

p r iz e d b e z o ar we ighing ab out 8 ounces r ep o s e d in a silve r

, ,

box d e c or at e d with 3 2 diam ond s and 26 r ubi e s Ano th e r .

o f ve r y s ingul ar s h ap e r e s e mbling fou r t o e s is als o en “ ”

, ,

te r e d on th e li s t B e sid e s th ese th e imp er i al c o ll e cti on in

.

clude d s e ve r al o the r cu r iou s animal c oncr e ti ons p r ob ably ,

His to r ica l M anu scr ipt s C omm ission, MS S . of th e M ar quis of l bu y

S a is r ,

Pt V L on on, 1 89 4 , d 3 p . .

A r ch aeo l ogia, vo l x x i, . p 15 3 Lo ndon 183 7 F m War

.
, , . ro r an t of Indemnity
v
gi e n byKin gJ
am e s I t o t h e gua dians f th c o wn j ewe l
r o e r s .
21 6 TH E M AG I C OF J E W E L S A ND C H A RM S
re gar d e d as h aving the r ap eutic vi r tu es such f or ins t ance , , ,

s t o ne fr om th e b ody of a d oe ; thi s h ad b een found by

“ ”
as a

a c e r t ai n H e l mh ar d t J 5 r ge r and by h im p r e se nt e d to th e e m

p e r o r ; a n o th e r o f th es e t r e a s u r e d c o nc r e ti o ns c am e f r om th e

s t om ach of a s t ag A sp e cimen of th e fame d e agl e s t one

“ -
”
.

is al s o li s t e d ; thi s h ad a d oubl e g o ld s e tting and o n it w e r e ,

i ns cr ib e d th e wor d s Pi e dr a G e od as sh owing th at th e r e al ,

char act e r o f thi s st one as a ge ode w as th en we ll unde r st o od .

26

S ome o f th e go ld mount e d b e z oar s of Rud olph II ar e

-

s till to be s e e n in th e H ofmu s e u m at Vi enna One is su r ,

.

r o u nd e d by a g o ld b and with a s cr o ll p att er n ; ano th e r h as a

capping o f gold and st and s up on a gold en b as e and s till ,

ano th e r c app e d and b e lt e d with go ld is att ach e d by a ch ai n

, ,

to a gold en b owl Thi s w as p r ob ably to be u s e d as a t es t of

.

th e f r e e d om f r om p oi son of any b e ve r ag e in th e v es s e l A .

b ez oar of th e e ight e enth c entu r y is mount e d up on a t r e e o f

gold agains t th e t r unk of which a wild b o ar is l e aning Thi s
, .

m ay be only a d e c o r ativ e adjunct or it might be an indic a ,

ti on of th e p ar ticul ar animal s ou r c e o f th is sp e ci al b e z o ar .
27

Th e b e z o ar s of B o r ne o ar e tak en e ith e r fr om m onk ey s

o r p o r cupi ne s F o r me dicinal u s e th e gr atings ar e d is
.
,

s o lve d in w at e r and th e s o luti on is admi ni s t e r e d as r e qui r e d .

S k e at s r el at e s th a t h e w as onc e ask e d $200 by a nativ e f o r a

s m all s t one e r r o ne ou s ly as s e r t e d to be a b e z o ar
, Thi s s t one .

w a s c ar e fully w r app e d up in c ott on and p r e s e r v e d in a tin

box with s om e gr ains of r ice th e owne r fi r mly b e li e ving th at ,

th e s t one f e d on th e r ice A r e d monke y ( s emnopith e cu s )

.

fu r ni sh e s m any of th e se b e z o ar s but th os e fr om th e p or cu ,

pine ar e supp o s e d to be s o much th e m o r e e ffi c aci ou s th at

th e S ult an of S aik cl aims al l b e z o ar s o f thi s kind found in
”
J h buch d ku th i t i ch S mmlu g d l l h h t K i
a r er ns s or s en a n en es a er oc s en a se r
h u
a ses, vo l xx Pt I I pp lxv xcv ii Wi n 189 9
.
, .
, .
, , e .

Figu d i J w l
,
”
1
re C i cul
n eW kly D
e er s
’
1 7 1 9 13 p 5 3 C h l
r ar ee A , ec. , , .
; ar e s .

B r e ss l er , Go ld Mounte d S p ecimens of B ez o ar .
 A
S N KE S TONE S A ND B E Z O RS A 21 7

his domini ons as h is p e r s onal p r op e rty ; ne v e r th el es s m any ,

ar e s aid to be s u r r e ptiti ou s ly t ak en ou t o f th e c ou nt r y by

M al ayan or C hine se t r ad e r s A r e mar kably fi ne s p e cim en .

in th e p o s s e s s i on of th e S ult an is valu e d at $ 9 00; sm all

o nes m ay be w o r th no mo r e th an $ 40 but th e v alu e in ,

c r e as e s ve r y r apidly with th e s iz e of th e concr eti on Th ough .

it is c onfidently b e li eve d that th e b e z o ar s w o r k wonde r ful

cur e s in di se as e s of th e b owel s and of th e r e spi r at or y o r gans ,

th e nativ e s v alu e th em chi efly as aph r o di s i ac s thi s acti on ,

b e ing s e cu r e d eith e r by we ar ing th em or by taking th em in

s o luti on
28
.

Th e C hine s e w or k entitle d P ing—ch ou k o t an by Ch u ’ -

’ -
’
,

Yu wr itt e n in th e fir s t qu ar te r of th e twe lfth c entu r y men

, ,

ti ons th e mo s o st one ( th e b e z o ar ) and s t ate s th at it w as

-

w o r n in finge r r ings S hould anyone h ave r e as on to su p .

p os e that h e h ad t ak en p oi s on al l h e h ad to d o in or de r to ,

e s c ap e any bad e f f e ct s w as to lick th e b e z o ar s t o ne s e t in h is -

r i ng Th e C hine s e wr ite r add s th at it might thu s be ju s tly

.

calle d a life p r e s e r ve r
“
.
” 29

Th e D ayak s of B or ne o h av e a me th o d f o r p r o ducing
b e z oar s which th ey call gu lig as Thi s is to s h o o t an animal .

with an unp o i s one d ar r ow Wh en th e w ound h eal s the r e is .

,

o ft e n a h ar d e ning o f th e s ki n which finally r e sult s in th e ,

fo r mati on of a gu l iga In some of th es e concr eti ons th e p oint

.

o f th e ar r o w s till r e mai ns Th e gu l ig as of natu r al for mati on .

ar e f r e qu e ntly fou nd b e tw een th e fl e s h and th e skin o f ap e s

and p o r cupi ne s
30
.

I n th e e ight eenth c entu r y Valmont d e B omar c r e p or t s

th at th e b e z o ar s of th e h e dge ho g command e d th e high e st
k at M alay M ag c L ondon 19 00 pp 2 7 4 sqq
S e i ”
.

C h au Ju Ku a
, , , , .

( A D e c iption f Ba ba ou s Pe pl
“
2"
Ch u f an ch i-
,
- -
s r o r r o es

t ans by F i dr ich H i th and W W R ockh ill S t Peter bu g 19 11 p 1 6 and

r . r e r . . , . s r , , .
,

p 9 0 n te 7
.
, o .

V o n D ewa ll A ant k eningen mt nt d e N

, d ostk u st van B neo ;
ee o re oor o or

Tijd sch if t v r I nd Taal L and en Vo lk v l iv p 4 3 6

r oo . .
, o .
, . .
218 TH E MAG IC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

p rice The se w e r e gr e asy and so apy b oth to th e eye and to

.
,

th e t ouch and of a g r eeni s h o r y e ll owi s h c o l o r ; a f ew w e r e

,

r e ddi s h o r bl acki sh Th e y w e r e s o highly v al u e d in H o ll and

.

that a J ew in A m s te r dam aske d 6000 livr e s f or a

f pecimen in h is p os se s si on as l ar ge as a pige on s e gg ; and
’
s

s uch b e z o ar s w e r e e v en r e nt e d in H o ll and and P o r tugal at ,

th e r at e of one duc at a d ay to th ose w h o w e r e ex ,

p ose d to cont agi on and b e li e ve d that th e b e z o ar s if wor n

, ,

as amul e t s w ould p r o t e ct th em f r om th e d ange r

31
.
,

In a l e tt e r to th e M acon G e or gi a J ou r nal and M es s enge r , ,

o f Augu s t 1 854 M aj o r J D W ilke s o f D o o l e y C ou nty r e

, ,
. .
, ,

l at e s that while hunting h e shot d own a fi ne buck He s t ate s .

that on cutting up th e anim al h e found a st one of a dar k

gr e eni s h c ol or ab out wh e r e th e windpip e j oins th e lights
,
.

I t w as fr om an inch and a half to tw o i nch e s l ong and quit e ,

he avy f o r its siz e alth ough it app e ar e d to be p or ou s Maj or

, .

Wilke s s ays that h e h ad h e ar d of simil ar st one s fr om ol d

hunt er s and h ad b een t old that th ey p os se s se d th e p ower o f
,

e xt r acti ng p o i s on but th at th ey w e r e r ar e ly fo u nd
,
Th e .

comm unic ati on p r o ce e d s to r e l at e a cas e whe r e thi s s tone

w as succe ss fully appli e d to a d o g which h ad b e en bitt en by
a r attl esnak e W e hav e h er e one of th e f ew notice s extant
.
-

r e gar ding an Ame r ic an b e z o ar s t one

32
.

A n Am e r ican b e z oar t ak en fr om th e s t omach of a d e e r

kille d in th e Chilho we e M ount ains in Te nne sse e w as r e , ,

p or t e d in 1866 by P r of D avid C hr is ty In ext r acting thi s . .

c oncr e ti on th e hunt er h ad d amage d th e oute r layer but ,

when thi s w as r emove d th er e r emaine d a p e r f e ctly smooth ,

r ou nd b o dy ab out th e s iz e and s h ap e o f a h en s e gg and

’
, ,

o f a light b r own c o l or Wh en P r ofe ssor C h r i s ty obt aine d it

.
,

B1
V al mont d e Bo m ar e , Di ctionnair e r aisonné univ e r se] , Par is , 17 7 5 ,
p . 55 6 .

“
2
E dwa d s
r , H is tory and P et y o r of g
Fin er R in gs , New Y kor , 185 5 , pp . 1 10,
220 TH E M AG I C OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
up on they w er e dr ive n to m ak e u s e of hum an gr ave l and ,

f ound to thei r as toni shm ent th at thi s w as an e ven mo r e e xce l

l ent su d or ifi c th an th e b ez o ar it self .
35

Alth ough ther e is no di r e ct r e l ati on b e tween b e z o ar s and

th e h air b all s s ome times found in th e s t omach o r i nt e stine s
-

C al cul i t a k en f r om t h e bl ad d e r of P p Pi
o e us V . Fro m M ercatl '
s M e t al l o th e ca V ati cana ,

R om a . 17 19 .

of human b eings th e r e is some slight anal o gy as th e anim al

, ,

b e z o ar concr e ti ons s e em to h ave b e en fo r m e d ab out a nucleu s

c onsi sting o f some indigestibl e m at e r i al th at h as b e en sw al
l owe d by an anim al F r om th e r ep or t of h o spital su r geons
.
,

it app e ar s th at the s e hai r b all s wh ich r e sult fr om a l ong-

C r ie se A cnmer k ingen d e r byz o nd er ste Oos en We s

u u t t
9"’ “
S . d e V r ies ,
d che
In is -
”
V e r w ond er ens w ae r d ige D in en, U r e g
2 Pt I I ,
, 1 68 , t cht
9 1 2, 9 13 . pp . .
 A
S N KE S TONE S A ND BE Z O RS A 221

c ontinu e d h abit of s wall owing h ai r ar e almo st exclu sively ,

found in th e b o di e s o f women gener ally o f ver y young gi r l s , .

Th e l ar g e siz e which th ey s ometimes att ain is ve r y su r

p r i sing ; in sever al instance s th ey h ave s o fille d up th e st om
ach th at th ey ar e m ould e d by it int o its ex act s h ap e Al .

though whe n a h ai r b all h as r e ach e d thi s siz e and inde e d

-

long b e fo r e th e mo st alarming sympt oms s et in fr eq u ently

, ,

r e cu r r e nt vomiting b e i ng th e m os t ch ar act er i s tic w e c anno t

,

but w ond er h ow it is p ossibl e f o r any fo o d to ent e r and pass

thr ough th e st omach und er such conditi ons th e only expl ana ,

tion b e ing th e gr e at p ower of dil ati on thi s or gan p o sses ses .

I ts di sp o s iti on to p ati ently t o l e r at e for e ign b o di e s wh er e it

c anno t e xp e l th em r ende r s it often a p o or guide in a di ag
,

nos i s b a se d up on th e p ati ent s p er s onal e xp er i enc e Th e s e

’
.

hai r b all s accumul ate and lodge not only in th e stomach but
-

also in th e i nt e s tine s and in e ith er c ase th e e ventu al r esult

,

is almos t c e r t ain to be fat al u nl e s s th e ob s t acl e is r emov e d

by Op e r ati on V e r y o cc asi onally only d o e s natu r e r e act suffi
.

cientl y to e xp e l th e imp e dim ent with o ut s u r gic al aid Of .

c ou r se al l tr eatment is vain unl e ss th e m or bid h abit o f h ai r

s w all owi ng can be o ve r c ome Thi s d oe s not s eem to be an .

acc omp animent o f a di s ti nctly di s e ase d ment al c onditi on ,

alth o ugh th at is s ome time s c o incid ent but mu s t as s u r edly ,

r e sult f r om s om e d e r ang ement o r ab nor mality of th e ne r v ou s

c entr es inducing a mor bid and unnatu r al cr aving

,
.
36

Th e s er p ent s t one c all e d by Pliny ovu m angu inum or

-
, ,

“ p t
s e r en s e gg
” ’
is s aid to h ave b e en w or n by th e Dr uid
,

p r i e st s as a b adge o f di stincti on Pliny r elates th at h e h ad .

s een one o f th em which w as as l ar g e as a mo d e r at e s iz e d

-

appl e its s h e ll b e i ng a c ar til agi nou s sub s t anc e

,
I t w as su p .

d
S ee Le r a H az l it , M D Hair a s of th e S oma. b ll
and I n es ine s,
-
t ch t t
Juo r A
. M A. , vo l.1x ii, N
. o 2 , 107
.
—11
0, i i . s r a ion ; and G A Moore,
pp . w th llu t t . .

“ t
Hair Cas o f th e S om a i R es e to f a ch w th
C a se ,
”
p ct
Bos on M e i a and t dc l
ugc l
S r i a Ju
o r na , J an 1 , 19 14 l . .
222 TH E M AGIC OF JE WEL S A ND CH ARMS
p ose d to be gener at ed in mi dsummer ou t of th e saliva and
s lime ex uding fr om a kno t o f inte r wine d se r p e nt s Wh e n .

T yp es o f t h e O vu m A nguinu m
. E ch inites ( se a-u r ch ins ) . Fro m Al d rovand i's M u s eu m me t al li
cu m"
, B on o niaa, 164 8 .

th e moi s tu r e h ad coa gul at e d and forme d into a sph er e thi s ,

w as to s se d in th e ai r by th e hi s s ing snak e s and in o r d er to

, ,
224 TH E MAG IC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

l
e eme nt s o f Pliny s ol d r e cit al t ouching th e s e r p ent s e gg
’ “ ’

c ome out in th e acc ount given of it by thi s p ri mitive r ac e ,

in gener al so f ar r emov e d fr om any no ti on of cl as s ical tr a
diti on Anyone in s ear ch of thi s st o ne mu s t r e s or t , accor d
.

ing to th e L apps , to th e p ai r ing plac e o f s nak e s , f o r h e r e

they thr ow th e s to ne , which is small and whit e , b ack and
for th to one ano the r ; h e mu s t s t e al al ong qui e tly until h e
is quit e ne ar to th e snak e s and th e n snatch th e st one as it
fli e s thr ough th e air , and r u n away with it as fas t as h e can
to th e ne ar e s t pi e c e of wat e r S h ould h e r e ach th e w ater
.

b efo r e th e snak e d oes f o r th e r e ptil e pu r su es h im— h e gains

—

th e o wne r s hip of th e s t one ; if h o we ve r th e s nake fi rs t , ,

r e ach e s th e wat e r thi s is ve ry d anger ou s f o r th e man

,
.

H ence h e sh ould c ar e fully s e ar ch ou t th e ne ar es t w at e r

b e for e snatching th e s tone and as th e snak e will not imme d i
,

at e ly kno w wh at h a s b e c ome of it and will hu nt f o r it awhil e ,

b e for e star ting in pur s uit of th e thief th e l att er will h ave ,

time to c ome fir st to th e w at er .
39

Te r tulli an w r it es tha t th e we ar i ng of s tone s tak en fr om

th e h e ad of a d r ag on o r of a ser p ent w as esp e ci ally r e pr e
h ensibl e in th e case of a C h r i s ti an ; f or h ow c ould a C h ri s ti an
be s aid to b r ui s e th e h ead of th e Ol d S er p e nt ( Gen iii
“ ”
.
,

1 5 ) whil e w e ar ing s uch a s t one ab out h is ne ck or on h is

h ead and thu s t es tifying to a kind of ser p ent wo r ship ?
,
4°

Th e Gr e e k p o em Lith ica ”
b e lo nging to th e f our th cen
‘
,

tu r y B C al so ce le b r ate s th e vir tu e s of a snak e st one ”

. .
,
-
,

which is to be p r e s se d clo sely on th e bitt en sp ot ; but b e side s

thi s applicati on th e d r ink ing of undilut ed wine in which th e
,

s t one o s tr ites h ad b e en pulv e r iz e d is r e c omm e nd e d Thi s , .

s h o ws th at th e th e r ap eutic v alu e of a lc oh o l as a s timul ant to

8°
J o h ann T u
Mu ittal u s s amid b ir r a ; en bog om L apper nas l iv
r i, .
text ,
and D anish t r ans by E m il ie D em nant , Kj¢ benh avn, 19 1 1 p 184
.
( p 62 o f , . . t ext ) .

“
Te rtu l l iani Op e r a Omnia, ” Par is iis, 187 9 , vo l i, co l 1 425 , De
, . . onl t u
f eminar u m .
 A
S N KE S TONE S A ND B E Z OAR S 225

re vive th e ne r v e
centr e s p ar alyz e d by th e animal p oi s on
-
, ,

w as r e co gni z e d at thi s ti me A n unu su ally p r e ci s e d e s cr ip .

ti on is given of th e os tr ites ; it w as r ound h ar d bl ack and , ,

r ough and w as m ar k e d by m any w avy li ne s o r v e ins

, S om e .

o ne o f th e many v ar i e ti e s o f b and e d ag at e s ee ms to answ e r

b es t to thi s d e s c r ipti on “ .

Th e l e gend th at S t P at r ick d r o ve ou t al l snak e s fr om.

I r e l and so m e times t ook th e fo r m th at th e saint h ad t r ans

fo rme d th em into s t one s Thi s b elie f is no te d by A nd r ew .

B or d e phy s ici an an d e ccl e s i as tic w h o wr iting in 1 542

, , , ,

me nti ons s om e s t r ange s t one s h e h ad b een s hown on th at

i s land
I h ave sene stone s th e w hich e h ave h ad the f or me and sh ap e of a snake
and oth er venimous w or mes A nd th e p e o p le o f th e c o unt rie s ayth th at s uch
.

stones w ere w or mes and th e y wer e tu rne d into stones by th e p owe r of G od

,

and th e p r ay er s of s aynt Patr ick A nd E ngl ish mer ch au ntes o f E ngl and
.

d o f etch of th e e r th o f Ir l onde to c as te in their gar d en s to k eep e out and ’

,

to kyll venimou s w ormes

42
.

Th e l e gendar y se r p ent s t one is u su ally one t aken fr om -

th e r e ptil e s h e ad but W e l s h t r aditi on t ell s of one e xtr act e d

’
,

fr om th e tail o f a se r p ent by th e her o Per e du r and h aving ,

th e m agic p r o p er ty th at any one h o lding it in one h and would

gr asp a handful of gold in th e other Thi s stone w as ge ner .

ou s l y b e s t o w e d u p on E tl ym by th e find e r w h o o nl y secu r e d ,

it af ter vanqui s hing th e se r p t e n in a d ge ou s co flict

an r n “
.

Th e snak e s t one ( o r ma d in A r abic h aj ar al

“-

h ayyat is d e s c r ib e d by th e A r ab wr i te r Kaz w ini as b e ing

, ,

(if th e s iz e of a sm al l nu t It w a s fou nd in th e h e ad s of .

ce r tain snake s To cu r e th e bit e o f a venomou s cr e atu r e th e

.
'

41 “
L ith ica,l ines 3 36 s qq .

‘2 boke o f th intr duct i n of Knowl edge made by A nd ew Bo d

Th e f yr ste e o o r r e

of P sysy k e D o ct or Ed by Fu r nival Lond on 1 870 p 12 1

c e. . E ar ly E ngl i h , , , . . s

Text S oc E xt r a S e ie s N X
.
,
r o. .

Wit t S ikes B it ish G bl ins We ls h F lk l re Fa r y M yth s L gend

“ “
r o : o -
o ,
i , e s
,

and T a ditions L ondon 1 880 p 3 6 6

”
r , , , . .

15
226 TH E MAGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C HARMS

inju r e d p ar t w as to be imme r s e d in s ou r milk or in h ot ,

water and wh en th e s tone w as th r own into th e liquid it

,

would imme di ately attr act it s e lf to th e bitten p ar t and dr aw

ou t th e p o i s on Th e h ome o p athic id e a pl ays a consid e r
“
.

abl e r 61e in th e s up e r s titi ons o f th e A r ab s of nor th e r n Af r ic a .

To cu r e th e bite or s ting of th e s co r pi on th e c r eatu r e is to ,

be c r u sh e d o ver th e w ound it h a s i nflict ed I f any one is .

bitten by a d og h e sh ould cut off s ome of th e animal s h air

,
’

and l ay thi s on th e bitten p ar t ; if h ow ever th e d o g w as , ,

m ad it mu s t be kill e d its b o dy o p e ne d and th e h e ar t r e

, ,

mo ved Thi s is th en to be b r o ile d and e at en by th e p er son

.

w h o h as been bitten .
45

Many b e autif ul glas s b e ad s of Roman o r p er h ap s of ,

B r iti sh f abr ic ati on h ave be en fo und in G r e at B ri t ain and

,

I r e l and Up on some of th e se ar e b o s s es c omp ose d of white

.

s pi r al s th e b o dy of th e b e ad b e ing blu e r e d ye ll ow or some

, , , ,

o th e r b r illi ant c o l or Th e s e h av e b e en c all e d h oly snak e

“
.

b e ad s ”
Pr ob ably mos t of them ar e mer ely or nament al
.

p r oducti ons and w er e not int ende d to r e p r e s ent ser p ent

s t one s Th e cu r i ou s t e s t of th e g enuinene ss of an ovu m
.

ang uinum menti one d by Pliny nam e ly th at e v en if se t in , ,

gold it would fl oat up a s tr e am agains t th e curr ent indi

, ,

ca t e s a ver y p or ou s str uctur e ; p e r h ap s some of thes e s e r

p ent s e ggs wer e h ollow vitr ifi e d clay b al l s with wavy line s
’
,

on th e su r fac e .

D e B oo t in h is t r e ati se on s t ones and gems

,
figur e s 46
,

th e ovum anguinu m and s ays th at its f orm w as e ithe r ,

h emisphe rical or l enticul ar In h is opini on th e name “ se r .

p ent s egg w as given to th e s t one b e cau s e on its su r face

’ ”

‘4
Juliu Ru k D St i buch d K m g phi d Muh mm d ibn
s s a, as e n au s er os o ra e es a a
M hmud l K wtnt
a a B il g t
-
az th J h b icht f th Obe l chul
, e a e o e a r es er e o e r r ea s e,
He id elber g, 189 5—9 6 , p . 15 .

“
d
E mon D ou tté, d
M agic e t R e i ion, A er , 19 09 , 14 5 ; lg lg p . quoting
L ar g u
ea ,
“
h
La S a ar a a é r ienne , ” 80 lg p . .

“
l p du h t
G emmar u m e t a i m is or ia, L u g B at , 16 3 6, 3 4 7- 3 49 . . pp . .
228 TH E MAGI C OF J E WE L S A ND C HARM S

al l ill e f fects of th e bite will be war d e d off th e w ate r acting

-
,

as a p ow e r ful antid o te to th e p o i s on
48
.

Th e b e li e f that th e snak e s t one o f W e l s h l e ge nd in -

—

r e ality e ith er a fo s s il o r a b e a d w as e v o lv e d f r om th e —

venom o r s aliva e j e cte d by a conc ou r se of hi s sing snake s ,

gave r i s e to a p e culiar p o pul ar s ayi ng among th e We l s h to

th e e f fe ct that p e opl e w h o a r e whi s p e r ing t o ge th e r mys
te r iou sl y and app ar e ntly goss iping o r p e r h ap s h atching
, ,

s om e m i s chi e f ar e blowing th e gem

“ ” 49
.
,

M any o f th e gl ass b e ad s known as snake s t one s o r -

D r uid s gl as s ’
ar e p e r fo r at e d and thi s is f ancifull y ex
”
,

pl aine d as be ing th e wo r k of o ne of th e gr oup of snak e s

which fo rms th e b e ad This p ar ticular snak e thr u s t s its t ail .

th r ough th e vi s cou s mass b e for e it h as b e come h ar d ene d

into a gl as s s ph e r e In var i ou s p ar t s o f S co tland such b e ads
.

ar e t r e a s u r e d up by th e p e as ant s ; ac c o r di ng to th e t e s timony

o f an E ngli s h vi s it or o f 169 9 w h o r e p o r t s th at th e y w er e ,

hung on childr en s ne ck s as p r o te ction fr om wh ooping cough

’ -

and o th er child r e n s di s e ase s and we r e al s o valu e d a s t ali s

’
,

mans p r o ductive of goo d fo r tune and p r o t e ctive ag ai ns t th e

o ns l aught of mal e v o l ent s pi r it s To gu ar d one o f th ese .

p r eci ou s b e ad s fr om th e de p r e dati ons of th e d r e ad e d fair i e s

th e p easan t w ould k e e p it encl o s e d in an i r on box thi s me tal ,

b e ing much fe ar e d by th e fai r i e s .

50

A typ e of snake stone u s e d in A s i a Mino r is d e s cr ib e d

-

as b e ing o f a p e ar ly whi te h u e r ou nd e d on one s id e and flat , .

o n th e o th e r Tow ar d th e e dge of th e flat s id e r uns a fi ne

.
,

w avy blui sh line th e u ndul ati ons of which ar e fanci e d to

, ,

figu r e a se r p ent Th e victim of a snak e bite fi r s t h ad th e

. -

s p o t r u bb e d with s ome ki nd o f s i r up
; th en th e s t one w as

J h B d Ob v ti n th P pul A tiqu iti f G t B it in

o n r an , se r a o s on e o ar n es o r ea r a
Lon d o n, 1 84 9 , vol
iii, 371 . p . .
,

”
Wit t S i es, Br i is G o ins : We s Fo
k t h bl lh lk L -
or e, F a ir y M yth s, L egend s
and T ar i i n
o s,
”
dt
L ond on, 1 880, 3 60 p . .

5"
J
G Fr az er ,
. . Ba e r th e B e a if , ” L on ld ut ul d o n, 1 9 13 , vo l . i, p . 16 .
 A
S N KE S TONE S A ND B E Z O R S A 229

a ppli e d to th e bitten sp o t and it would adh e r e to th e in ,

flam e d su r face f o r e ight d ays ; at th e e xpir ation of thi s time

it would fall of f Th e bite would be enti r e ly he al e d and
.

w ould not be foll owe d by ill e f fe ct s of any kind .

51

A nov e l theo r y in r e gar d to th e fo rmati on of a typ e of

snake s t o ne s is giv e n by an ol d C hi nese w r it e r
-
Thi s is th at .

snak es b e f o r e th ey b e gin to hib e r nat e s w al l ow som e ye ll ow

, ,

e ar th and r e t ai n thi s in th e gull e t until th e y c om e f or th ag ain

in th e sp r ingtim e wh en th e y c as t it for th By thi s time th e

, .

e ar th h as acqui r e d th e c onsi s t ency o f a s t one th e su r fac e ,

r e m ai ning y e ll ow whil e th e i nt e r i or is bl ack , If picked up .

dur ing th e s e cond ph ase of th e moon thi s c onc r etion w as

thought to be a cu r e f or childr en s c onvul si ons and f or ’
,

gr av e l and w as p o wd er e d and giv en in infu si on Th e in

, .

fu si on could al so be appli e d with advant age exte rnally to

e nve nom e d s w e lli ng s
52
.

A n ol d manu s c r ipt f ound in a manor h ou s e in E sse x ,

E ngland c o nt ains a t r ans l ati on mad e in 17 32 by an Oxfor d

, ,

s tud e nt E S w int on o f some d e tail s on th e snak e st one

, .
,
-
,

tak en fr om a wo r k publi sh e d in th e s ame ye ar at B ol ogna by

Nico l o C ampite l l i Aft e r noting th at the se s t ones cam e
.

fr om th e p r ovinc e of Kwang sh i in China and fr om dif fe r ent -

plac e s in Indi a th ei r app e ar ance and qu aliti e s ar e d e s cr ib e d

,
.

I n c ol or th e y w e r e almos t bl ack s ome h aving p al e g r ay o r ,

ash c o l or s p o t s
-
Th e t es t o f th e g enuinene s s o f such a s t one
.

w as to apply it to th e lip s ; if no t a s pu r i ou s one it would ,

cling so closely to th e memb r ane th at c onside r abl e f or ce

mu s t be e x e r t e d to se p ar at e it th e r e fr om Th e u su al dir e c .

ti ons ar e given f or its empl oyme nt in th e cu r e of snak e

bit es but its u s e fulne ss by no me ans end e d h e r e ; its cu r ative
,

p ower w as al s o exhibite d in th e case of S cr oph u l ou s E ru p

“1
A r ake l , Li v
ch ap liii ; in C ll ect ion d h isto i ns ar menien
re i
d h isto r e,
’ ”
. o
’
r e s,

Fr ench t r ans l by M B -et S t Pet er sbu r g 1 87 4 vol i p 54 5

. . ro s , .
, , . , . .

”2
F d e M ely L e l ap idair es d e l antiqu ité et d u moyen age
’
.
, s vol i Le s , .
,
lap idai es chinois Par is 1896 pp 23 7 23 8
r ,
”
, , .
-
.
23 0 TH E M AG I C OF J E W E L S A ND C H ARMS
ti ons and P e s tilential Bub o s and it could be u s e d in th e ,

tr e atme nt of m al ignant tr emo r s vene r e al di s o r d e r s etc , ,

.

With th e manu s cr ipt w as found a sp e cimen snak e s t one — .

Thi s w a s d e s c r ib e d as b e ing a thin o v al b o dy ab o ut an inch ,

in l ength and thr e e qu ar te r s o f an inch b r o ad ; th e c o l o r w as

-

gr ay with light s t r e ak s and th e su r fac e w as b r ight and ,

p oli s h e d I t w as o f th e cons i s t ency o f ho r n and th e w r it er

.
,

o f th e no t e in th e L anc e t b e li e ve s th at it w a s p ar t of a
“ ”

s t ag s antl e r o r s o m e s imil ar s ub s t anc e fr om which th e

’
,

anim al m att e r h ad b e en r em ov e d by th e acti o n o f h e at

m any o f th e Or i ent al s nak e s t one s ar e o f thi s typ e but a s -

, ,

w e h av e al r e a dy se en a g r e at v ar i e ty o f m o r e o r l e s s p o r ou s
,

m a t e r ial s h ave b een and ar e s till u s e d in thi s w ay in di f fe r ent

p ar t s of th e wo r ld A p r actical exp e r im ent w as m ade in
.

1 867 by D r J o hn S ch r o tt w h o e xcit e d six c ob r as to bit e a

.
,

numb e r o f p ar i ah d o g s With out de l ay th e snak e s t one s

.
-

we r e appli e d to th e wound s but th ey p r ove d ab solut e fail ,

u r e s de ath r e sulting as sp e e dily as th ough no thing h ad b e en

,

d one .
53

J e an B apti s te Tave r ni e r th e gr e at Or i ent al tr ave ll e r of ,

th e sev ent e e nth c e ntu r y giv e s th e fo ll owing d e s cr ipti on of

,

th e snak e s t one s found in I ndi a

-
:
54

F inally , I will mention th e s nake s tone which is ab o ut th e siz e of a -

,

do ubl oon some ap p r oximating to an ov al f o r m b eing thick e r in th e middle

, ,

and t ap e r ing t o w ar d th e e d ges Th e I nd ians s ay th at it f or ms on th e h ea d

.

of c e rt ain s nak es bu t I r ath er b e l ie v e th at th e p r ie s ts o f th es e id o l at or s mak e

,

them think th is and that this sto ne is a c omp os ition of c ert ain d r ugs H ow
, .

e v er th is may be it h as gr e at v ir tu e to d r aw o u t al l th e p o is on wh e n any one

, ,

h as b ee n b itt en by a ve nomo u s c r eatur e I f th e p ar t th at h as b ee n b itt en .

h as no t b ee n punctur e d an inc is ion mus t be mad e s o th at th e bl o o d can

, ,

flow o u t and wh e n th e st one h as b een ap pl ie d it d oes not f all o ff u nt il it

, ,

h as abs or b e d al l th e p oison wh ich g ath er s ab o ut it To cl e an it woman s .

,
’

mil k is u se d or sh ould th is be l ac king c ow s mil k and af t er te n or twelv e

, ,
’
,

A cc u nt f th S nak S t n in L anc et vol 1 7 7 L nd n J uly D ec

53 “
o o e e o e, . o o -
, , , .

19 09 p 14 7 8
, . .

M
L s i v oyage d Jean B aptis te Tave ni
e s x s e Pt I I P a i 16 7 8 pp 4 1 0 r er , . r s,
, , .

4 11 ; Bk II ch xxiv
,
. . .
,
 2 32 TH E M AGIC ARM S OF JE WEL S A ND C H

b eli e f in the ir magi cal p r op e ti e s r K a e m pf e r w r i ti ng ?

I “ .
,

1 7 1 2 info r m s u s th at th e se s t one s s h ould alw ays be u s e d 1n

, .

a i r s nd ppli d s ucc s s iv e ly to th e w o u nd T h e be h e f 56
p a a ,
e e .

in th e e fi cacy o f s uch s t one s is s till ge ne r al in I ndi a and one ,

o f th e v ar i e ti e s is supp o s e d to be f o u nd in th e h e ad o f th e

a djut ant bi r d
57
.

F r anci s co R e di d e s cr ib e s th e extr ao r dinar y h e al ing

58

p ower attr ibut e d to s tones obt aine d fr om th e h e ad s of cer

”
t ain s e r p ent s call e d by th e P o r tugu e s e cobr a s d c cap el l o
, ,

fo und th r ough o ut Hindos tan and F ar th e r Indi a Th es e .

s t o ne s ar e cl aim e d to be an i nf allibl e r eme dy f o r th e bit e s

and s ti ngs o f al l kind s o f v e nom ou s r e ptil e s or animal s and ,

likewi s e f o r w ound s mad e by p oi so ne d ar r ow s etc H e r e ,

.

p e at s th e u su al t al e s of th e i r adh e r ing p ower fully wh en

appli e d to th e bit e o r w ou nd and clinging to it lik e a cup ,

ping gl as s u ntil th e y h ad ab s or b e d al l th e p oi son when

-

th ey would fall o f f sp o ntaneo u sly l e aving th e m an o r animal ,

sou nd and fr e e Th e n fo ll o ws th e accou nt o f s t ee ping th e

.

s t one s in m ilk to r e m o v e th e p o i son th e milk as su ming a ,

c ol o r b e twe en ye llo w and gr e en Th e s e w ond e r ful st one s .

and th e nar r ati o ns c o nc e r ni ng th em h ad b e e n b r o ught to

I t al y by C ath o lic m i s s i onar i e s w h o s e e m e d to h ave enti r e ,

f aith in th ei r p owe r s ; s o th at Re di s ay s th ey of fe r e d to p r ove

th e acc o unt s by any numb e r of e xp e r im e nt s such as w ould ,

s ati s fy th e mos t i nc r e dul o u s and p r o v e to me dic al m e n th at ,

G al e n w as c o r r e ct wh en h e wr o t e ( C h apt e r XI V B o ok I ) ,

that c e r tain m e dicine s attr act p oi s on as th e magne t d oe s

ir on F or thi s pur p o s e a s e ar ch f or vip e r s e tc w as r e com
.
, .
,

mend e d ; but o wing to th e s e as on b ei ng l at e r and c o lde r

,

th an u su al none c ould at th at tim e be obt ai ne d as th e y h ad

, ,
“
Da ,
“
vy ly
A n A na sis o f th e S na e - s one , ” A sia i R ese ar k t
es , vo l tc ch x iii
Yul u ll A
.

, p 3 18 ; Kae m f e r ,
.
“
p
A moen E it , 3 9 5— 3 9 7 ; i e in
. x pp
e -B r ne .
ct d “

l y
G os sar o f A n o I n ian C o o gl ia Wo r s and O e r P r ase s ” L on o n
-
d ll qu l d th h d 1886
,

pp .

m Jungl eLif e in I n ia, 83 d p . .

“
Re d i, E xp
e r im en a ,
”
t
A m ste l o d am i, 1 6 7 5 , pp . 4 —8 .
 FR AN C i s m R ED ] ,

N obi/a A ‘
r ct/ m '

E X PE R IM E N T A
ar m re;dw arf .“ M il / min ,

[pccmt l m
Q ir ex l nd f
us ad e runtnr .

E r I l a/mo L 4

A MST '
ELO DA M I,
Sumpubus A N D R E IB Fat s ” .

a: p c L X \V.

Fr ancnf a vul go
ui ex i l h fi r e io
‘
q g l

C im o f i s ad f c r e n

at ) int e rramcad cre nr ,

A 3 fe

p p g
F r o nti s i e ce a nd ti tl e a e of F r ance s co Re d i s E x p e n m e nt a n at u r al ia . A m s t e r
' ’

p p g g
d am , 1 6 7 5 , and t w o s e ci m e n a e s o f t h is t r e a ti se . r e f e r r i n t o t h e s na e s t o nes k
k
be l ie ve d to be t a e n f r o m t h e I nd i an C o br a s d e C ap el l a. o r h o o d e d s na e s k
 A
S N KE S TONE S A ND BE Z O R S A 23 3

not e me r ge d fr om th eir winte r qu ar te r s A n exp e r iment .

w as th e r e fo r e s ub s titut e d aft e r much c onsultati on among

,

th e l e ar ne d me n of th e Ac ad emy o f Pi s a wh e r eby oil of ,

tob acc o w as intr oduce d into th e l e g of a r oost er Thi s w as .

r e g ar d e d as o ne o f th e mos t f at al o f such s u bs t anc e s and ,

w as adminis t e r e d by imp r e gnating a th r e ad wi th it to th e

width of fou r finge r s and d r awing it thr ough th e punctu r e d
wo und One of th e m onk s for thwith applie d th e s tone which
.
,

b e h ave d in th e r e gul ar m anne r d e s cr ib e d Th e bi r d did .

not r e cov e r but it s u r viv e d e ight h ou r s to th e admi r ati on

, ,

of th e m onk s and o the r s p e ct at o r s o f th e e xp er i m e nt .

R e di s t at e s th at h e himse lf p o s s e s s e d s om e of th e se
s t one s ,
a s did al s o Vinc ent S and r inu s one o f th e mos t ,

l e ar ne d h e r b ali s t s o f Pi s a R e di d es cr ib e s th em as alway s
.
“

l enticul ar in form var ying s om ewh at in s iz e but in gener al

, ,

ab o ut a s l ar g e as a f ar thing m or e or l e s s ,
I n c ol or som e .

ar e bl ack o th er s whit e o th e r s bl ack with an a s hy h u e on

, , ,

one s id e o r b o th
”
e tc
,
.

Up to th e p r e s ent time no one h as app ar ently id e ntifi e d

what Tave r ni e r r e fe r r e d to in sp e aking of snake s tone s -
.

I t h ow e v e r o ccu r r e d to th e w r it e r af t er r e c e iving a qu an
, , ,

tity of t ab as h e e r fr om Dr F H Malle t of th e G e olo gical

. . .

S u r ve y o f Indi a w h o obtai ne d it at th e b az aar of th e C al

,

outt a F a i r in No v emb er o f 1 888 th at m any if not m os t of , ,

th e H indu snake s t one s mu s t h ave b e e n t ab ash ee r

-
Tab a .

s h e e r is a v ar i e ty o f o p al th at is fo u nd in th e j oi nt s o f

ce r tain sp e ci es of b amb oo in Hindos tan Bu r mah and S outh , ,

Ame r ic a ; it is or iginally a juic e which by e vap o r ati on ,

change s int o a mucil aginou s s tat e th en b e com e s a s olid ,

s ub s t anc e I t r anges fr om t r ans lucent to Op aqu e in c ol o r

. ,

and is e ith e r whit e o r blui s h whit e by r efl e ct e d light and

-

p ale ye llow o r slight s he r r y r e d by t r ansmitt e d light Up on .

fr actu r e it b r e ak s into i r r e gul ar pi e ce s like st ar ch A s in .

Tav er ni er s a cc ount of its clingi ng to th e p al at e and c au sing

’
23 4 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
wate r to b o il when imm e r se d it actu al ly h as th e pr Ope r tY ,

o f s t r o ngly ad h e r i ng to th e t ongu e and wh e n put int o w at e r

,

e mit s r apid s t r e am s o f minut e bubbl es o f air I t h as a .

s t r ong s ilic e ou s o d o r but aft e r ab so r bing an e qu al bulk o f

,

wate r b e c ome s tr ans p ar ent like a C ol or ado hyd r o ph ane d e

s c r ib e d by th e w r it e r s e ve r al y e ar s a go b e f or e th e Ne w

Yo r k Acad e my of S ci e nc e s .

Alth ough t ab ash e e r is m e nti one d in ne ar ly al l th e te xt

b ook s v e r y little o f it h as r e ache d th e Unit e d S t at e s I t is
,
.

highl y int e r es ting s ince w e h ave h e r e an o r gan ic p r o duct

,

s c ar c e ly to be di s ti ngui sh e d f r om a s i mil ar o p al like b o dy -

found by Mr A r no ld H agu e in th e gey se r s of th e Y e llow

.

s t one P ar k B o th t ab as h e e r and th e hyd r o ph ane w e r e p r ob

.

ably wh at w as c all e d Oculu s B e li Oculu s Mu ndi

“ “ ” ”
and , ,
“
L api s mut abili s ”
by Th omas Nicol Rob e r t B oyl e and , ,

o th e r w r it e r s o f t e s e ve t e e th c e tu r y and
h n n n
“
Weltauge ,

by th e G e rm ans .

Th e gr e at c ap acity o f thi s s ub s t anc e f or ab s or bing a fluid

would undoubte dly r end er it as e ff icaci ou s f o r th e pu rp os e
o f ab s o r bing p o i s on as any o th e r kno wn s t o ne p r oviding ,

th e w ou nd we r e o p e n e nough ; and its int e r nal u s e to d ay as —

a me dicine is p o s s ibly al so d u e to thi s p r o p e r ty .

T ab as h e e r a s known am o ng mine r al o gi s t s is a c o r r up
, ,

ti on of th e wo r d tabix ir a nam e which w as u se d e v en in th e

,

time of Avicenna th e G r and Vizi e r and b ody su r ge on of th e

,

S ult an of P e r s i a in th e t e nth c e ntu r y I t pl ay e d a v e r y .

imp or t ant p ar t in me dicine du ri ng th e Middl e Ages A s to .

its o r i gin S ir David B r ews t e r

, s ay s th at t ab as h e e r is only
59

for m e d in dis e as e d o r inju r e d b amb o o j oint s o r s t al ks .

Gu ibou r t dif fe r s fr om B r e ws t e r inasmuch as h e att r ib

6°
,

ut e s th e di f fe r ent r at es o f gr owth to th e fact th at wh en

E d i bu g Ph il
5°

h n J
r u l N 1 p 14 7 Ph il
os . o Tr na
i, p 2 83
o.
d ; o s. r ans c x, an
1 828 E d inbu gh J u
.
, , .

Th N tu l H t y nd P p ti
e a ra i s or f T b ah ro er es o l a er s eer ,
”
; r o r na
v iii p 2 88
,
. .

”
J u d Ph m ci xvii pp 81 16 1 25 2 nd Phil M g x p 229
o r. e ar a es, x , .
, , ; a . a , , . .
 A
S N KE STONE S A ND B E Z O RS A 235

ther e up e r abund an ce o f sap th e t ab ash e er is for med

is a s

fr om th e r es iduum Mor e r e c ently H e nry C e cil

. s ays ,
61
,

I n th e onr u s h o f t r opica l gr owth in th e young s ho ot

‘
,

natu r e aft er fl o or ing th e k not h as p ou r e d in as it we r e

, , , ,

sap and s ilic a s uffici ent f or a norm al l engt h and width o f

s t e m to th e kno t ne xt ab ov e it Bu t by some ch e ck to th e .

impul se or by i r r e gul ar ity of c onditions th e p or tion of

, ,

s t em thu s p r o vid e d f o r is sho r t e r or nar r owe r than i nt end e d ,

and th e u nu se d s ilic a is l e ft b ehi nd as a se di m ent com ,

p acte d by th e d r ying r e s idu um s ap .

Thi s l att e r vi e w is su s taine d by Dr E r ns t H uth w h o .

,

di s cu ss e s th e name hi s t or y o ri gin and r epute d vi r tu e s of

, , ,

thi s sub s tance with much fulne ss In r e gar d to its u s e .

62

in m e dicine d u r ing th e Middl e Ag e s h e qu o t e s a r e mar k abl e ,

li s t of applicati o ns to th e ill s th at fle s h is h eir to .

H e r e it is cit e d as a r emedy f o r afi e ctions of th e eye s ,

th e ch es t and o f th e s t omach f or c ough s fe ver s and bili ar y

, , , ,

complaint s and e sp ecial ly f or melancholia ar i sing fr om s ol i

,

tude d r e ad o f th e p as t and fe ar s f or th e futu r e Oth er

, ,
.

wr iter s sp e ak of its u s e in bili ou s fever s and dysent e r y ,

inte r nal and exte rnal he at and inju r i e s and maladies , .

Th e wri te r h as e x amine d a l ar ge nu mb e r of s o c all e d -

mad stone s and th ey h ave al l p r ove d to be an al uminou S

,
'

sh al e o r o th er ab s or ptive sub s t an ce Bu t tab as h e e r p os .

s e ss es ab s o r ptive p r op e r ti es to a g r e at er d e gr e e th an any

o th e r of th e mi ne r al s ub s t anc e s ex am ine d and it is s t r ange ,

th at it h as never b een menti one d as b eing u se d as an anti

d ot e It may be confid ently r e c ommende d to th e cr e dence of
.

any p e r s on w h o m ay d e s i r e to b e li e ve in a mad s t one .

Th e w r it er b eli ev e s th at Tav er ni e r s snak e st one s may

’ -

al l h ave b e en t ab as h ee r o r again whil e some of th em w er e of

, ,

thi s sub st ance o the r s may have b een ar tifici ally comp ounde d
,

“1
Natur e, x xxv p , . 43 7 .

‘2
Der Tabix ir in seiner Be e d utu
ng f ur d ie Bo ani , M iner a o i e , t k lg u nd

Physik X S amm n Natu r w issensch af tl ich er Vor tr i ge, Ber in, 1887
. lu g . l .
236 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

by th e auth or iz e d d eal er s of th e B r ahmin cas t e Th e in .

s t anc e h e give s of th e succ e ss ful u s e of such a s t one is no t

alt o ge th e r incr e dibl e as sh ould one o f th e l ess active p o i sons

, ,

be suck e d ou t of a w ound sh or tly after thi s w er e inflicte d a ,

cu r e might well be e fi ected In vi e w of th e gr eat dif f e r ence .

i another Stone pS e wit h t he hood This

’
There s , w h ich i s ca l l
’
d t h e S e r en t s- ton .

k i d f S n h h a a k i nd of a hood hanging d dwn beh ind the h ead , as

is a n o er e t t at s

it is reprefentc inthe Fi ure’ And it is behind th is hood that the Ston f

e is ound
‘

d
.

l
many t imes as big as 3 Pa et s-egg There are f o me Serpents bath inAfia an
.

A mm o4 of a monitrous bignersfl ; ’f oot ong ; as w as t ha ,

- l t the skinwhereof is

ke pt i nB ata v ia w h ich h a d f w a l l o w d a M aid o f 1 8 years of age. T er

'

e Stones h
are n ot f o u nd
,

i n a ny o f t ho re S er e n t s p
t hat are not at l eaii t wo f oot on g,
Th is l
b time , wh ich be
S tone eing rubbd a ainit another Stone , yiel ds a eem m
’
_

w by t has t h e po iionInin sh ody, powerf u yd rives ll

’ .

ig
n d ra nk in at e r e
p e rf on t h a
h p — b f n d b nthe C oaits of M d n de
it out T . ere S er en ts a re n o w h e re to e ou u t upo i
bnt f or the Stones onmay buy t hem of the Pontflgncu Mariners and Soul e
di r
that come f rom 076 3 55591162

C obr a de Ca p el l o . Fr om T a v er nier
'
s v
T r a el s , E ng ish l t rans l ation by J oh n Phil i p s.
L o nd on. 1 6 8 4 .

in th e vi r ul e nce of p oi sons and th e v ar ying d egr ees of th e s en

s ibil ity to t oxic e fi ects , it is not s t r ang e th at th e snake s t one s -

s houl d some times seem to giv e goo d r e sult s Tav e r ni e r s t at e s .

th at the s e stone s w er e b r ought to In di a by P or tuguese sol ~

“
Ta v e r nier ,
“
Voyage s en Tu r quie , en Per se . et aux In d e s, Par is, 1 7 1 8,
vol . 11 , p . 3 9 2 ; l iv ii, . chap 24
. .
23 8 THE MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

Dutch natu r al i st , Rumphiu s Afte r noting th e ol d tale th at

.

th e natur al snak e s t one s c am e fr om th e cobr a d c cap el l o

“ ” -

( S er p ens p il osus ) , h e p r oce ed s to r elat e th e informati on h e

h ad b e en abl e to gath er r e gar ding th e “
spu i u
r o s
”
st one s

of thi s typ e Th es e w er e fab r ic ate d by th e Br ahmins , th e

.

p r o ce ss b eing kept a p r ofound se cr et ; indeed ther e we r e ,

th o se w h o asse r te d that th e B r ah mins themselves h ad lo st

th e ar t as thi s h ad b een p os se sse d by but a s ingl e f amil y
,

which h ad die d ou t l eaving th e s e cr et unr eveal e d Rumph iu s

, .

des cr ib e s these ar tificial s tones as u su all y r ound and flat ,

th e s iz e var ying fr om that of a h al f shill ing pi e ce to th at

-

o f a tw o shilling pi e c e
-
S ome wer e of lenticul ar for m and
.

a f ew w e r e obl ong ; al l h ad a whit e s p o t in th e middl e In .

maki ng th e applic ati on th e bitt en s p o t w as fi r s t p r icke d until

,

it ble d wh er eup on th e s tone w as immedi at ely l aid on and

,

all o w e d to r emain u ntil it d r o pp e d o ff of it self ju st as a

“

l ee ch w ould d o ”
S o int ense w as its ab sor b ent activity
.

that it would s ometime s b r e ak in which case a sub s titute

,

h ad to be quickly appli e d Th e s atu r at e d s tone w as pl ac ed

.

in milk and th e ab sor b e d v enom w as thu s d r awn out tu r n ,

ing th e milk blu e 66

.

One of th e t al es of th e G e st a Romanor um tr eats of a

s e r p ent s t one of s ingul ar m e dicinal vi r tu e
- Accor d ing to
.

th e s t or y— which is of cou r s e a mer e l e gend— a ce r t ain

, ,

Th eo dosiu s w h o r ei gne d in a Roman city w as a m o s t

“ ”
, ,

p r udent r ul er but w as afflicte d with blindnes s In hi s car e

,
.

f o r th e welfar e of h is subj e ct s h e h ad decr ee d th at wh e n

anyone w h o d esir e d ju s tic e r ang th e b ell at th e p al ace g at e ,

a judge mu s t f o r thwith app e ar and tr y h is c as e Now it .

h appene d that a s er p ent h ad its ne st ne ar th e b ell r op e and -

,

one d ay whil e th e r e ptil e w as ab sent

, a t oad t oo k p o s
,

s es s i on o f th e ne s t Re tu r ning and finding th e nes t occupi ed

.
,

Ru mph iu s , D 'Ambo insch e Ra r it e itk amer , Amster dam, 1 74 1, pp . 3 03

 A
S N KE S TONE S AN D B E Z O RS A 239

th e ser p t vidently a wor thy des cendant of th e o riginal

en ,
— e

s e r p ent o f P ar adi s e mo r e subtl e than any b e a s t of th e

,

fi el wound its tail ab out th e b ell r op e and pulle d th e

— -

b e ll Wh en th e judge app e ar e d as in duty b ound h e w as

.
, ,

s t r u ck by thi s s t r ang e sp ect a cl e and r e p o r te d it to th e ,

emp e r or w h o t o ld h im to r ight th e w r o ng which h ad b e e n

,

done di r e cting h im to exp e l and kill th e t o ad Not long

, .

aft e r th e se r p ent mad e its w a

, y int o th e p al ac e and e nt e r e d
th e emp e r o r s r oom be ari ng in its m outh a small s t one
’
, .

Pr o c e e ding to th e emp e r or s c ouch it c r awl e d up r ai se d its

’
, ,

he ad above th e em p e r or s face and dr opp e d th e s tone up on

’

his e ye s A s s oon as th e s t one t ouch e d th e e ye s th e e m

.
,

p e r or s s ight w as r e s t or e d Th e se r p e nt di s app e ar e d and

’
.

w as ne ve r s e e n agai n .
67

A r e p r e se nt ative typ e of m ad st one is a co ncr e tionar y

“

c alcu lu s o ccasi onally but ver y r ar ely found in th e gulle t

, ,

o f m al e d ee r I n fo rm it b e ar s a r es e mbl anc e to a wate r

.

wo r n p ebble and is u sually of obl ong sh ape th e lar ge s t ,

s p e cime ns b e i ng 3 i nch e s in l ength and inch e s in width .

Th e ch emic al anal y s i s of Dr H C Wh it e sh ow e d that th e . . .

chi e f comp onent w as t ri calcic pho sphat e His exp e ri ment s .

d emons tr ate d th at whil e such a concr e ti on would ab sor b

wate r to th e amount of 5 p er cent of its own weight th e .
,

qu an tity of bl o o d or o th e r fluid it w as abl e to ab sor b only

amou nt e d to p e r c ent o f its we ight Wh en imm er s ed in
. .

w at er af t er h avi ng b e en pl ac e d on a wou nd cau se d by th e

,

bite of a venomou s cr e atu r e th e liquid ab s or b e d w as give n ,

ou t so as to di s c o l o r th e w at er and th e mat e rial e xud e d ,

w as fo und to be of t oxic qu ality H owe ver e xp e r iment s .

,

with animal s that h ad b een bitten by snakes or o th er r e ptile s ,

fail e d to show th at th e s tone ex er ci se d any cu r ative eff ect .

Dr Whit e st at es th at h e h as n h s p o s se s si on a mad
“
.
i i

Die G e s ta Ro m
anor u m, ” ed . Wilh elm Di ck
, Er langen
, 189 0, p . 12 7 .
240 TH E M AG IC OF J E WE L S A ND C H AR MS
t
s o ne dating fr om 1 654 but th i s is of a d ifi er ent type b eing
”
, ,

a p o r ou s s and s t one
68
.

E v en in S outh Afr ic a snake s t one s ar e known but it -

app e ar s th at th e f ew sp e cim e ns r e p o r t e d h ad b e e n b r ought

thith e r fr om th e Dutch E as t Indi e s ; one such s tone h ad

b e e n h and e d d own f o r gene r ati ons in a Dutch s e ttl e r s ’

family F r om th eir app e ar anc e s ome of the s e snake st one s

.
-

we r e judge d to be pi e c e s of bu r nt h ar t sh or n A B oe r far m e r .

o wne d an amul e t o f thi s ki nd th at h e w ould l o an f r om tim e

to time to neighb or s w h o mi ght h ave ne e d of it On o ne .

occas i on wh en th e d aught e r of an E ngli sh hunte r h a d b e e n

,

bitt en by a snak e th e fath e r s ent o ff a m an on h o r s e b ack to

,

b or r ow this snak e st one Ow ing to th e u nav oidabl e d el ay

-
.
,

s om e h ou r s e l ap se d b e for e it c ould be appli e d to th e w ou nd .

Th e gi r l r e c ove r e d af t er its u s e but th e w o und did not h eal

s ati s f ac to r ily and thi s w as att ri but ed to th e l ength o f tim e
,

that h ad inte r vened b e tw e en th e attack of th e snak e and th e

u se o f th e r em e di al s t o ne
69
.

I n D e c emb er th e wr it er d e s cr ib ed a white Op aqu e

,

vari e ty of hyd r oph ane with a whit e ch alky o r gl az ed ,

co ating which h ad r e cently b e en br ought fr om a C o l or ado

,

l o cal ity Th e ab s or b ent qu ality of thi s st one is quit e r e

.

mar kabl e and wh en w at er is all ow e d to d r op on it it fi r s t

, ,

b e c om e s v e r y whit e and chalky and th en gr adu ally p e r fe ctly ,

t r ans p ar e nt Thi s p r op er ty is de ve l op ed so s tr ikingly th at

.

th e find e r p r op o s e d th e nam e Magic S t one f o r th e mine r al ’

an d sugge s t e d its u s e in r ings lo cke t s char ms e tc to , , .

, ,

conce al ph o to gr aph s h air and other obj e ct s which th e , , ,

we ar e r wi sh e s to r eve al o nly as capr ice dictate s .

Dr H C. . . Wh ite
Th e C e m i a and P , h c l hysical Ch a act s o f t h S call ed r er e o-
-
t
Mad S one s,
’
t h
Br i is A s so ia ion f o r th e A c t dvancement f S cience 7 3 d Re p t o , or ,

t g
M ee in o f 19 03 at S mith fi e l d , Lo n on, 1904 , d p 6 05
Ju
. .

W
ct
L an e , vo l 16 4, J am— ne , 19 03 ,
. p 343 .

Junl
.

7°
A me r ican o r a of S c i nc e v l xxx iv D ec
e , o . 1 887 S ee a l so Kun .
z

N w Yo k 189 2 p 1 4 4
, , .
,

G ems and c
Pre ious S tones of Nor th A mer ic a ,
”
e r , , . .
242 THE MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND CH ARMS
J ewi sh ti on th at w as dep or te d and th e su ff er ings and
na ,

humili ati ons to which the y we r e subj e cte d in a fo r e ign l and

o nly s e r v e d to s t r e ngth e n th ei r f aith in Y ahve h and in h is

L aw H enc e it is th at whe n thi s t r i e d and pu ri fi e d r emnant

.
,

r e tu r ne d to Judaea r ebuilt th e f all en t empl e and r eo r an

, g
iz e d th e s t ate th e l att er b e came a th e o c r acy in a much
,

s t r ict er sens e th an e v e r b e f or e and f r o m thi s tim e w e can

,

r e ally s p e ak o f Jud ai sm a s th e r e ligi o n o f th e wh o l e p e o pl e .

B u t th e ine vit abl e t end ency to split up th e unity of th e

divine for ce a t endency th at mak e s it self fe lt in al l r eligi ons
,

and am ong al l p e o pl es so o n as s e r t e d it s e lf ane w and

,

in a d ifi e r e nt di r e cti on A s th e p e o pl e w er e no l onge r
.

all o w e d w e may ev e n s ay w e r e no l onge r i ncline d to go

, ,

aft e r fo r e ign g o d s th ey p r o c e e d e d to d eve l o p th e id e a o f

,

divine m e ss enge r s or inte rm e di ar i e s which h ad always

f or m e d p ar t of th e nati onal fai th but h ad nev e r b e e n fully ,

evo lve d Wh il e I s aiah and E z eki e l b oth knew of a divisi on

.

o f th e an ge l s int o c e r t ai n c at e g o r ie s as f o r e x ampl e ch e r u , ,

bim s er aphim h ayyot ( living cr e atu r e s ) o f anim ( wh ee l s )

, , ,

and ar e l im th e r e is no att empt at i ndividu al iz ati on and th e

, ,

fi r s t menti on of an ange l s name o ccur s in th e B ook of ’

D anie l which l at e r cr itics ar e di sp ose d to as s ign to th e

,

s e c ond c entu r y I t is mos t natu r al to supp os e th at such

nam e s w e r e known and w e r e f amili ar to th e p eo pl e l ong be
for e th at time Wh en w e r e ad in th e B o ok of D ani e l xii 1
.
, ,
“
A nd at th at time sh all Mich ae l s tand up th e g r e at p r inc e ,

which st and e th f or th e child r en of I sr ae l it is e asy to s e e

”
,

th at th e id e a th at ce r t ain s p e cial qu aliti e s w e r e attri but e d

to thi s ange l w as de e ply r oot e d in th e p opul ar mind In .

a p r evi ou s v er se x 1 3 w e r e ad Mich ael one of th e chi ef

“
, , ,
: ,

p rince s came to h elp m e

,
a c onclu siv e p r oo f th at a hi e r
,
”—

ar chy o f ange l s h ad al r e ady b e e n th ought ou t .

Th e g r e at s ou r c e of info r m ati on in r e gar d to ange l ol ogy

is th e R abbinic al liter atu r e which h ad its ri se ab out th e
 ANGE L S AND MINI S TE RS OF GR C E A 243

fir s t centu r y and culminat e d in th e T almud s of B abyl on

and J er u s al em in th e fifth c e ntu r y A D A s th e s e c ompil a . .

ti ons al though nominal ly commentar i es on th e b o ok s of th e

,

Ol d Te s t am ent ar e al mo s t encycl op e dic in th e i r ch ar act e r

, ,

th ey thr ow much light on thi s subj e ct In a monogr aph of .

K ohut entitl e d “ Jiid isch e Ange l ol o gi e ” many extr a ct s

, ,
1
,

b e l onging to an e ar ly pe r i od ar e given S even p ri nce s of , .

h e av en we r e r e co gniz e d and among th es e fou r we r e e sp e

cial l y fav o r e d T h e y o ccupi e d a pl ace ne ar to th e Th r one
.

o f L ight and w e r e b ath e d in its r adi ance We ar e told that .

“
G o d su r r o und e d h is Th r one of L ight with fou r ange l s
Mich ae l Wh o is like G od ? at th e ri ght ; Gab r i el Might of
,
‘ ’
,
‘

G o d at th e l e ft ; Ur i e l S ple nd or of G od b efor e it ; and

’ ‘ ’
, , ,

Rapha e l S alvati on of G od at th e w e s t
,
‘ ”
( Num e r i R abb a ,
’

c. The y r e p r e s e nt e d v ario u s att r ibut e s o f th e divine

Mich ae l goodne s s and m e r cy ; Gab ri e l punitiv e ju stice ;
, ,

Ur i e l th e m aj e s ty of G o d and Raph ael h is pr ovide nce

, , , .

Mich ae l and G abr i e l ar e p ar ticular ly p r ominent and ar e

calle d Ro yal Angel s ( N’DRBET ll fll fiz fi ) ; th ey h av e e s '

p ecial c ar e o f I s r ae l A s w e have seen Mich ae l w as singl e d

.
,

ou t by D ani e l and h e w as c omm only r e gar d e d as chi e f p ri nce .

G ab r i e l w as l o ok e d up on as th e av e nger and th e ex e cut or o f

divine judgment s an d occupie d th e next place while Uri el ,

and R aph ae l ar e l e s s fr e qu ently al lud e d to alth ough th e ,

l atte r app e ar s p r omine ntly in th e B ook of Tobit .

In th e New Te s t am ent al s o Mich ae l and G ab r i el ar e , ,

e vid e ntly r e g ar d e d a s th e chi e f ange l s and R e ve l ati o n ,

place s Mich ael at th e h e ad o f th e h os t s of th e goo d angel s

in th ei r conflict with S at an and h is follo we r s W e can se e .

in th e G os p e l s h ow wid e s p r e ad w as th e b e li e f in d emoni acal

p osse s si on and in th e exi stenc e of evil spi rit s ; it w as al mo s t
,

inevitabl e th at th e aid of go od S pi ri t s sh ould be invok ed to

p sic 1 866
Le i ,
.

2
Kohut l oc cit p,
. .
, . 25 .
244 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

counte r act th em and although b oth Chr i sti anity and Ju d a

,

ism st e r nl y r ebuk e d any di r e ct wor s hip of ange l s th e y we r e ,

r e g ar d e d as mi ni s t e ri ng s pi r it s and it w as only natu r al

,

th at th e mas se s sh ould be l ed to u se th eir nam es on amule ts

and tali sman s an d littl e by littl e to ar ri ve at th e b e li ef that
,

a p ar ticul ar ange l w as ent r u s t e d with th e w elf ar e o f each

individu al Th e s am e tend enci e s we r e at wor k in b oth

. .

r e li gi ons but a new d e ve l opment w as initi at e d f o r th e C hr i s

, ,

tian chu r ch by th e gr owing v ene r ati on of th e e ar ly mar tyr s

and of th e i r r e lic s When thi s b e cam e mor e pr onounc e d
.
,

th e s ai nt s to a gr e at e xt ent t ook th e pl ac e of th e ange l s ;

a p ass ag e fr om th e w r iti ng s of S t Amb r o s e c om p ose d in.

3 77 A D s h o w s u s th at thi s t r ansfo r m ati on of b e li e f h ad

. .

al r e ady b e gun to mak e it se lf f e lt at th at ti m e S t A mb r os e . .

wri te s : We s h ould addr e ss ou r supplicati ons to th e ange l s

“

w h o ar e app oint e d to gu ar d u s ; w e sh ould al s o ad dr ess th e m

to th e m ar tyr s wh o s e p at r o nage s e ems ass u r ed to u s by a
,

physical pl e dge ( the ir r elic s )

”
.

Th e d ang e r th at th e wor sh ipping of ange l s might le ad

Ch r i s ti ans aw ay fr om th e C hu r ch i nto magic p r a ctice s and
b e li efs w as cl e ar ly r e co gnize d in th e e ar ly centu r i e s and at ,

th e C ouncil of L aodic ea in 3 63 A D it w as p r o cl ai me d th at
,
. .
,

C hr i sti ans sh ould no t r end er w or ship to ange l s o ut s ide th e

chu r ch or in p r iv ate assembli e s or ass o ci ati ons Wh oever
,
.

w as f ound guilty of such p r actice s ( of such id ol at ry as it ,

w as c all e d ) w as p r onou nc e d anath ema as h e w as c onsid e r e d,

to hav e tu r ne d away fr om th e L or d J e su s C h r i st and w or

shipp e d id o l s Th e fir s t C ou ncil o f R om e h e ld in 4 92 A D
.
, . .
,

exp r e ss ly f o r bid s th e w e ar i ng o f t ali sm ans i ns c ri b e d with

th e name s not of ange l s as th ey p r e t end but r ath er with

“
,

th o se of d emons ”
Ind e e d th e r e is abund an t e vid ence th at
.
,

in thi s age and ev en e ar li e r th o s e a ddict e d to angel ol atr y

, ,

we r e not sati sfie d with th e f ew angel s name d in th e H oly

S cr iptu r e s but addr es s e d th e i r p etiti ons to a multitud e of
,
246 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

we mu s t b elieve th at th e accomp anying ins cr iption w as

add e d at a l at er d at e f or it e xp r es s ly name s th e Annunci a
,

ti t A g l G b l a d th e Vi gin Mothe r of Go d )
o n h,
e n e a ri e n r ,
” ‘
.
5

Another inter es ting gem fr om ab out th e same p e r i o d , ,

is a squ ar e am e thyst me a su r i ng ab out 3 cm in each d ir e c

, .

ti on Thi s b e ar s engr av e d in int aglio a st anding figur e

.
, ,

o f C h r i s t with out a h al o ; b ehind h is h e ad is th e mono gr am

,
£2 ,

and in his l eft h and h e h o ld s a s c r oll with th e w or d s ( in

Gr e ek ) “
I n th e b e ginning w as th e Wor d ; h is r ight h and
”

is s tr e tch e d for th in b ene diction and al ong sid e th e figu r e ar e ,

th e f oll owing ange l s names in G r ee k char act er s : Raph ael

’
,

Pe ne l C u r i el I chthys Mich ael G ab r i el A z aél

, , , Th e fou r th , , ,

and middl e name I chthy s ( fi sh ) is th e we ll kno wn anagr am

,
-

of th e G r e ek w o r d s signifying J e su s C hr i st th e S o n of “
,

G o d t h
,
e S a vi ou r
”
and th e u s e o f thi s as th e nam e of an
,

ang e l is th ought to h av e b e en sugge s t e d by a p a ss ag e in

I s ai ah ( ix 6 ) ,

A p r im e émer aude am ong th e Gor la—zu s gems is en

“ ”

gr ave d with a d esign sho wing tw o s oul s b r ought b e for e G od

by th e tw o guar di an ange ls ? S omewh at th e s ame b e li ef in
th e guiding or conducting o f soul s aft er d eath is f ound in
Plato s Ph aed on whe r e it is said that th e d aim on which
“’ ”
,

h ad guide d a p e r son du r ing life l ed h is spi r it to th e pl ace

in H ad e s wh er e judgment w as to be r end er ed .

Th e foll owing li st f r om L odge s

“
Wit s Mi ser i e ’ ’
,

p r int e d in 159 6 give s th e s even good ange ls and s e t s over

,

ag ains t th em th e s ev en bad ang e l s e ach o f wh om r e p r es ent s ,

one o f th e s eve n d e adly s ins

5 Di ctionnaire ’
d A rch éol ogie C r é ienne, e d D om Fernan h t . by d Ga b l
ro and

Dom H L ecl er cq, vol i, Pt II, Pa r is, 19 07 , o s 2089 , 209 0

.
. . cl . .

ct ’
D i ionnair e d A r ch éol ogie C r é ie nne , ed Do m Fernan h t . by d C abr o l and

Dom H Lecl er cq, vol i, Pt II , Par is, 19 07, o s 2088, 2089

. . . c l . .

M acar iu s ( L He
’
u r eu x ) Ab r ax u s se u A is
”
p topistu s, An twe p r , 16 5 7 , P lat e

XI X, No 7 8 ( Gor l aaus,
.
1 69 5 , Pl C C I I'
I , No . XV .
 TA URUS
A RIES

CA NC ER
G EMINI

V IRG O

SCO RPIO
LIBRA

C A PRIC O RNUS
S A GITT A RIUS

PISC ES
A Q UA RIU
S

By co u rt e s y o f th e Am e r i can Nu mis mati c So cre ty . Ne w Yor k .

16 2 8
ZO D IA C M O H U R S , C O I N E D B Y T H E M O G UL S OV E R E IG N S H A H E H A N . A B O U T
J
 ANGE L S A ND M INI S TE RS OF GRAC E 249

t d up on B ene ath thi s r uby r o ck we r e succe ssive ly a

s an .
-
, ,

huge bull an immens e fi sh a mass of water and l astly dar k

, , ,

ne s s Thu s th e gr and vi s i on o f
.
12 “
th e f ace of th e d e ep ”

o ve r which ho ve r e d th e S pi r it o f G o d b e for e th e c r e ativ e ,

wor d s wer e sp ok en giving form to th e e ar th is not alto , ,

~

ge ther los t sight of in thi s M ohamme d an fancy .

L uth e r w as a fi rm b e lie v e r in th e e xi s tence of gu ar di an

ange l s and h e e v e n goe s s o f ar as to ass e r t that th e ange l s
,

a ss igne d to m e n diff e r e d in r ank and ability as did th e m e n

themse lv e s Of thi s h e s ays .

Ju t m ng m n n i l g
s as a nd n th o m ll nd n i t ng e , o e s ar e a a o er s a
,
a o e s s ro

and ano th er weak g l is l ar ger str onger and wiser th an another

, so one an e , , .

Th er e f or e a p ri nc e h as a much l ar ger and str onger ange l one w h o is al so

, ,

s h r ewd e r and wiser th an th at of a c ou nt and th e ange l of a c o u nt is l ar g er

, ,

and s tr onger th an th at of a c ommon man Th e high er th e r ank and th e mor e .

imp or t ant th e v o c at ion o f a man th e l ar ger and str onge r is th e ang el w h o ,

gu ar ds him and h o l ds th e D e vil al oof

”
.

Ou r id e a of a gu ar di an ange l is s o spi r itu al and s o pu r e

th at it is diffi cult f or u s to unde r st and th e cu riou s r esult s
thi s b e li ef h as o ccasi onally p r o duc e d among th e p ri mitive
p e opl es A we i r d t al e is told o f a C ongo ne gr o w h o kill e d
.

h is m oth e r s o as to g ai n an e sp e ci ally p owe r ful gu ar di an

s pi r it Th e d r e adful d e e d w as p e r p e tr at e d in th e full
14
.

c onvicti on th at th e moth e r s l ove would r emain unshaken ’

,

while h e r p ower f or good would be incr e ase d S uch fer o .

ciou s e g oi sm d o e s no t fi nd an ex act p ar all e l among civiliz e d

p e opl e s but th e under lying pr incipl e is unfo r tunat e ly too

,

o ft en illu s t r at e d in ou r mid s t at th e p r e sent d ay .

Th e b e li e f in gu ar di an ange l s h as th e b es t of S cr iptu r e
war r ant as o f fe r e d by th e t ext Matth ew ch apt er xviii v 10 , ,
.
,

”
L ane, A r a ian S o ie b c ty in th e M i ddl e A g
e s, ed . by S tanl y e L ane -Poo le
,

L ond o n, 1883 , p . 106 .

ch dle
1”
S in b r gl aube d es Mitte lalt r s Br es l au 185 8 p 4
r, D er A e e , . .

ch l V 6 1k k u nd e Le ip ig 1885 p 27 2 Quo te d f r om Winwoo d

, ,
”
Pes e ,
er ,
z , , . .

B e ad vag A f r ica
’ ”
e s Sa e .
25 0 TH E M AGI C OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
Wh er e Ch r i st sp e aking of littl e child r en s ays : Th ei r ang el s “

”
d o always b e h old th e fac e of my F ath er w h o is in H e av en .

Anoth e r New Te s t ament p ass age t e s tifying di stinctly to th e

e xi s t e nc e o f thi s b e li e f in th e Ap o s t o lic A ge is in th e A ct s ,

o f th e Ap os tl e s ( xii wh e r e w e r e ad th at after th e
,

mi r acul ou s r e s cu e of P e t er fr om h is i mp r i s onm ent his ,

fri end s could not b e lie ve th e r ep or t that h e h ad b e en s e en

s t anding at th e d oo r o f th e i r dw e lling and e xcl aim e d
“
It is , :

h is ange l ” .

Th at not only i ndividu al s but nati ons al so h ad S p e ci al

g u ar di an an g e l s w as a s w e ha v e a,
l r e ady no t e d a b e li e f h e ld ,

to a c er t ain e xt ent among th e J e w s afte r th e B abyl oni an

C aptivity To th e t r ac e o f thi s in th e t enth ch apt e r of
.

Dani e l ( vs 13 . wh e r e Mich ae l s t and s f o r I sr ael may be

, ,

a dd e d th e evid ence af f o r d e d by th e Gr e e k S e ptu agint v er s i o n

of D eut e r onomy xxxii 8 p ar t o f th e S ong of M o s e s

“ ”
.
, ,

H e r e th e Revi sed ve r si on b as e d on ou r H eb r ew t ext r e ad s

He se t th e b ounds of th e p eop les ,

A cc or d ing to th e numb er of th e ch ild r e n of I sr ae l .

Th e S eptu agint tr ansl ator s h oweve r mu s t h ave h ad a , ,

s lightly d ifi e r e nt t e xt b e fo r e th em f o r th e y r end e r th e l as t

w or d s Accor di g to t e u b er o f Go d s ange l s
“
: n h n m ”
It ’
.

the r efor e s e ems p r ob abl e th at th ey r e ad in H ebr ew beh é

E l oh im inst e ad of bené Yis m e l
. Of th e h em? E l oh im or .

S ons of Go d w e r ead in G ene si s ch apt er vi ve r s e 2 th at

”
, , ,

the y w e dd e d w ith th e D aught e r s of M en Thi s h as b e en

“ ”
.

giv en a p oe tic form by Th omas M oor e in h is L o ve s of th e

“

Ange ls Th e B o ok of J ob al so in its P r o l o gu e in H e av en
.
,

(i 6 intr oduc e s th e S ons of God am ong whom ap

“ ”
,

pe ar e d S at an th e Adve r s ar y Of ange l nam e s a s h as b e e n

“
.
, ,

no te d th er e is B iblical w ar r ant o nly f o r G ab r i e l M ich ae l

, , ,

and Raph ae l th e l ast me nti one d in th e Ap o c r yp h al B o o k of

,
-
,
 ANGEL S A ND MINI S TE RS OF GR A CE 25 1

Tobit ; to th e se I V E s d r as
c anonical book ) adds ( not a

J er emiel and Ur i el name s not admitte d by th e C hu r ch

, .

Th er e h as b een p r e s e r ve d f or u s a mo st int er esting cal en

d ar f or th e city of Rome w r itten by Furiu s Di ony siu s F il o ,

cal u s in 3 54 A D and c o nt ai ning a se r i e s of d r awings by his

. .
, _

h and showing th e symb o lic al figur e s of th e months of th e

year Th ough th e or iginal manus cr ipt is lost s eve r al app a
.
,

r e ntl y faithful c0pie s e xi s t one o f which is in th e Imp e r i al ,

L ib r ar y in Vi enna M uch o f thi s wo r k d e al s with matt er s

.

r e fe r r ing to th e Ro m an ca l end ar but p e r h ap s its mo s t ,

valu able par t is a lis t of th e e ar ly Chr i s tian s aint s and

mar tyr s A s th i s is th e e ar li e s t li s t of th e kind of e ven
.
,

e ar li e r d at e th an th e r e s t o f th e w o r k w e give it h er e un ,

ab r idge d as a mo s t i nt e r es ting d o cument ar y p r oof of th e

,

vene r ati on in which th e saint s we r e h eld in th e four th or , ,

w e sh oul d pr ob ably s ay in th e thi r d centur y , .

ITE M D EP OS ITIO MA R TI RUM “

5

V III kal . J an .tus Ch ris tum in B etl eem

na J ud ew .

mense J anu ar io .

X I II kal . Feb F ab iani in C all isti

.

et S eb astiani in Cat acumb as .

XI I k al . Feb A gnetis in Nomentana

. .

mense Febr uar io .

V III kal . Martias natal e Pe tri d e c athe dr a .

mense Mar tio .

non Matt ias

. Per p etuaa et F elicitatis , A f ri c an
. .

mense Maio .

XIIII k al J un . .Par theni e t C al ocer i in Cal lis ti ,

Diocl etiano V II II et M aximiano VI I I

mense Juni o.

III k al . J ul P t i in C t cumb
. e r a a as

et P auli Ostense , Tusco et Basso c ons .

mense J uli o.

‘5
A ch el is, Die M ar tyr ol ogien, p . 8 .
252 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

V I idu s F e licis et Fil ip p i in Pr is cil l ae

et in J or d anor um Mar tial is Vit alis A le x andri
et in Maximi S il ani . hune S il anum mar tir em
Nou ati f ur ati s unt .

et in Pr aetex tatae , J anu ar i .

I II k al . A ug . A bd os et S emnes in Pontiani, quo d est

ad ur sum p il iatum .

mense A u gu st o .

V II I idus A ug . Xysti in C allisti

et in Pr ae tex tati A gap iti et F e lic iss imi .

VI idu s A ug S ecu ndi C ar p of ori V ictor ini, e t S e u er iani

.

A lb ano .

etOst ense V II bal l ister ia Cyr iaci

Lar gi Cr es centiani Memmia: ul ianetis J
et Ix mar acdi .

IIII idus A u g . Laur enti in Tibur tina .

idu s A ug . Yp ol iti in Ti bur tina .

et Pontiani in C allisti .

XI k al . S ep temb . Timo tei, Os tens e

V k al . S e pt . H er metis in B as il l as S al ar ia u eter e .

mense S e pt emb r e .

non . S e pt . A conti, in P ort o, et Nonni et H er cu l ani

et Taur ini .

V idus S e pt . G or g oni in L au icana .

III idus S e pt . Pr oti et J acinti, in B asil l ae .

X V III k al . Octob . Cyp r iani, A f ri c as . R omae cel ebr atu r

in Ca is i ll t .

X k al . Octob . B asil l aa, S al ar ia ueter e Diocl e tiano ,

I X e t Max imiano V III c ons ul ( 304 ) .

me nse Oct ob r e .

pr i i
. dus Octob . Call is t i in via A ure l ia mil iar io III . .

mense No uembr e .

V idus Nou C l em entis S emp r oniani Cl au i Nicos tr ati

.

in comitatum .

III kal . D ec . S atur nini in Tr asonis .

m ense D e c emb r e .

idus D e c em . A r ist on in p ontum .

Thi s li st which b e gins with th e gr e at Chr i sti an fe s tival

,

of C h r i stmas e nume r at e s th e d ay s on which Roman mar ty r s

,
254 TH E M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
so me wonde r ful cu r e s ar e s aid to h ave b e en accomplis h e d
by its aid S ce ptic s will be incline d to attr ibute such cu r e s
.

to th e influ e nce of sugge s ti on whil e C ath olic s will s e e in

,

them a p r oof of th e p ow e r of th e s aint s inter c e s s i on on be ’

h alf of thos e w h o r e p o se th e ir t r u s t in h e r S t Anthony is . .

u su ally app e al e d to f o r succe ss in diffi cult ente r p r i s e s and ,

mo r e p ar ticul ar ly f o r th e di s c o ve r y o f l os t ar ticl e s H er e .

th e b e li e f in th e s ucc e s s ful int e r ve nti on o f th e r e s p e ctive

s ai nt s is m o r e g e ne r aliz e d an d app e ar s to h av e gr o wn up

inde p endently of any e vent ch r onicle d in th e l e gend s but ,

the se ins t an c e s ar e quit e e xc epti onal .

A n e xce e dingly b e autiful j ew e ll e d m e dalli on s aid to h av e

b een give n by P op e P aul V in 1614 to th e A r chbi sh op of
, ,

L i sb on D on M igu e l d e C as t r o s h ow s in th e ce nt r e th e figur e s
, ,

o f th e Vi r gi n and C hild s u r r o u nd e d by a s e tti ng of ol d

,

Indi an t abl e cut di amond s Th e ar chbi s h op d onat e d thi s to

,
-
.

th e C hu r ch of S t Ant oni a d a se s om e tim e s c all e d th e

. i
,
‘
R oyal H ou se of S t Ant oni o . f or thi s chu r ch w as built on
,
”

th e sit e of th e h ou s e in which dw e lt th e p ar ent s of S t .

Anth ony D on M ar tin d e B ulh oe s and D ona Ter e sa d e

,

A z ave d o and in which th e saint w as b or n on F e b r u ar y 6

, ,

1 19 5 At h is b apti sm h e w as giv en th e name F e rnand o but

.
,

l at er h e ch ange d thi s to Ant oni o Th e gr e at L i sb on e ar th

.

qu ak e of 17 55 c ompl e t e ly w r e ck e d thi s chu r ch but th e high ,

alt ar wh e r e in th e m e d alli on h ad b e en pl ac e d e s c ap e d com

p ar ativel y u nh ar me d and th e j e w e l w as f ou nd by som e

,

p e as ant s w h o l ater sold it to th e family o f Mach ad os e S ilvas

, ,

in wh o s e p r iv at e ch ap e l it r e p o s e d u ntil within a f e w ye ar s .

Th e sh r i ne of S t A nne d e B e aup r é m ay be s een in th e

.

B asilic a of B eaup r é ab out 20 mil e s di s t ant fr om Q u e b e c

, .

I t s tand s on th e s ite of a small w oo d e n s anctu ar y e r e ct e d

ab o ut th e m iddl e o f th e s ev e nt e enth c entu r y by s om e B r e t on

m ar iner s w h o wh en in immine nt d anger of shipwr e ck whil e

,

navigati ng th e S t L aw r e nce mad e a vo w to build a ch ap e l to

.
,
25 6 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND CHARM S

late Car dinal Tas cher e au Thi s is a b one fr om S t Anne s

. .
’

wr i st me asu r ing fou r inche s in l ength It is encl os e d in a .

r e liqu ar y mad e of mass iv e gold and s tudd e d w ith p r e ci ou s

s t one s th e gift s o f th o s e wh os e p r aye r s to th e s ai nt h ad

,

b een ans wer e d In th e ornam entation app e ar e ight d ia

.

mond s fou r am e thys t s a fi re op al e tc At th e b o tt om of th e

, , , .

r e liqu ar y th er e is a go ld plat e with th e ins c r ipti on

“
Ex :

b r achi o S Annae and a gold r ing set with twenty eight

.
”
,
-

di am ond s Thi s j e al ou sly guar d e d tr easu r e is exhibite d in

.
-

th e sh r ine but onc e a ye ar fr om July 26 to Augus t 2 a , ,

p er i od comp ri sing S t A nne s D ay and th e we ek foll owing it ;

.
’

at o th e r times th e r e liqu ar y is ke pt in th e S ac r i s ty but may ,

be s e en on s p e ci al r e qu e st .

A r emar kabl e j ewe l in th e t r easu r y of th e B asilica is th e

se al o f S ant a A nna el e ct e d p r es id ent o f Mexic o in 1 83 2
, .

A gold en e agl e with eye s forme d of tw o rubi e s stands on a

, ,

r o ck o f l api s l az uli and b e ar s th e s t am p of th e s e al ; r e sti ng

o n h is s p r e ad wings is a s ph e r e of l api s l azuli in which th e

wo d s Diaz Mexic o ar e inl ai d in l ett e r s of gold Th e

r
“
,
”
,
.

se al is engr ave d with th e i niti al s o f th e p r e sid ent s name

’
,

s u r r ou nd e d by a d es i gn emb o dying th e i nsi gni a o f h is o ffi c e .

At th e fe ast of S t Bl ai se B i sh op of S eb ast e in A rme ni a

.
, ,

( d ci r ca
. which occu r s on F eb r u ary 3d in th e Roman
C hu r ch th e wick of a c andl e is some time s dipp e d in a v es s e l
,

contai ning conse cr at e d oil th e th r oat s of th e faithful b eing

,

then t ouch e d with thi s wick to p r e s e r ve th em fr om di se ases

,

of th e th r o at At othe r time s th e cer emony is p er form e d

.

in a di f f er ent w ay Th e p r i e st h old s tw o c an dl e s adju s t e d

.
,

so as to fo rm a c r oss ab ove th e h e ad s of th o s e w h o c ome to

,

se e k th e s ai nt s ai d and th e foll owi ng p r ay er is r e cit e d

’
, :
“
Th r ough th e int er c e ssi on of St B l ai s e may G od f r e e th ee
.

fr om di sease s of th e throat and fr om every oth er di se as e

, .

( Pe r inter ce ssionem S Bl asii l iber et te Deu s a mal o gutte r is

.

et a qu ovis ali o mal o ) .

 ANGE L S A ND MINI S TE R S OF GR AC E 257

I t is r e a te l
d that thi s s aint in h is t r avel s once mee ting ,

a p o o r w om an wh o s e o nly child h ad sw all ow e d a fi sh b one -

,

r e li e v e d th e child o f its t r oubl e by ofi e r ing up a p r ayer and

l aying h is h and up on its th r o at In th e pr aye r h e adju r e s .

al l w h o m ay s u ff er f r om a lik e t r oubl e to s eek h is inte r ce s

s i on with G o d .

S t Ap o ll oni a of Al e x and r i a ( F e b r u ar y 9 ) is s ai d to
.

cu r e t ooth ach e and al l di s e ase s of th e t ee th th e r eason f o r ,

thi s b e ing that at h er mar tyr dom al l h e r b e autiful t e e th we r e

pull e d ou t In a s imil ar w ay S t Agath a of C at ani a o r
. .
,

P al e r m o in S icily is end ow e d with th e p owe r to cu r e d is

, ,

e as e s o f th e b r e as t b e cau s e it is r e l at e d tha t b e fo r e h e r m ar
,

tyr d om h e r b r e as t s w e r e cr u e lly t or n and mutilat e d .

T o r e cite th e fo r mul a of S t Ap oll oni a w as consid e r e d .

by th e S p ani ar d s of thr ee centu r i es ago to be a cu r e f or to oth

ach e . Thi s fa ct is b r ought ou t by a p ass age in D o n Q uix ot e ,

when th e knight s h ou s e kee p e r is u r ge d to r e cit e it f o r h er

’

mas t e r s b enefit wh e n h e is ailing

’
T o thi s r e qu e s t th e .

wom an quickly answer s Th at might d o some thing if my

“
:

m as t e r s di s t emp e r l ay in h is t e e th but alas ! it li e s in

’
, ,

h is b r ain Thi s form ul a w as p r ob ably u se d b e for e th e

”
.

age o f C er v ant e s and h as p e r si s t e d to ou r own tim e

, It is .

in v e r se and h as b een lite r ally t r ans l at e d int o E ngli s h as

fo ll ows 16

A p oll onia w as te of Heaven and the V ir gin Mar y passed that

at th e ga
w ay . S ay A p o llonia wh at ar e you ab o ut ?
,
My Lady I neithe r s lee p
, ,

nor watch I am dying w th a p y t th By th e star of V enus

”
,
i a in in m e e .

and th e setting s un by th e M ost H oly S ac r ame nt wh ich I b or e in my

, ,

womb may no p ain in yo ur tooth neither f r ont nor b ack afflict you f r om
, , ,

this time henc ef or war d ” .

Of S anta L uci a ( D e cemb e r b or n in S yr acu se on th e

i sl and of S icily, a str ange l egend is t old A young man fell .

Par me le , To the —Lo r e, re pr int f r om th e I n ter national l

D enta J our nal ,
J nu y
a ar , 189 9 , p . 14 .

17
258 THE M AGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
p assionately in l ove with h er and wr ote to h e r th at h er w on
,

d e r f u l ey es pu r su e d h im even in his dr eams Moved by th e .

S cr iptu r e text ,
“
If thine eye o ff end th ee plu ck it ou t ”
and , ,

l onging to save th e youth fr om sensual p as s ion Lucia cut ,

ou t h er be au tiful e yes pl ac e d th em on a di s h and s ent them

, ,

to h e r l ov e r with th e foll owi ng message : “ H er e th ou h as t

what thou so ar d ently de sir e st ; I b e see ch thee l e ave me in
p e ace . Ver y natu r ally thi s s ai nt is b e lie ve d to cu r e al l
,

diseases of th e eye .

F or pr o te cti on agains t highway r obb e r s and thie ves ,

S t Nich ol as ( D ecemb er
. B i sh op of Myr a in L yci a w as , ,

inv ok ed Legend r elates of thi s saint th at h e r e stor e d to

.

life th r e e boys w h o h ad be en mur d er e d at an inn by th e

wi ck e d innk ee p e r a wr e tch w h o w as in th e habit of making
,

away w ith h is gue s ts and then utilizing th e i r b o di es to enr ich

his me nu .This t al e account s f or th e fact th at und e r th e ,

fami li ar name of S anta Clau s S t Nicho las is th e p at r on , .

saint o f child r en .

S t B ar b ar a ( D e c emb er
. b orn in H el i op olis is app e al e d ,

to f o r p r ote ction against lightning and inju r y by fir e ar m s .

F o r thi s r e as on th e gun r o om on a shi p is cal l e d in F r ench

-

th e s am te bar be
-
.Th e l e gend as u su al give s u s th e or igin
, ,

o f th e b e li e f in th e s aint s s p e ci al p owe r s f or h e r h e ath e n

’
,

fath e r is said to hav e b e en kill e d by a s tr ok e o f lightning be ,

cau s e of h is h aving denounce d h is daughte r as a Chr i s tian , ,

to th e R oman author iti e s and then e x e cut e d jud gment up on

,

h e r with h is own h and s: Of S t B ar b ar a th e l e gend say s .

S h e w as a f ai r fr uit fr om an evil tr e e .
” 17

B eneath p or tr ait s or image s of S t C h r i st o ph er ( July 25 ) .

the re o ften app ear s a Latin ver s e to th e e ff ect that whoeve r

gaz es on th e image will not su f fe r fr omfaintne ss or exh au s .

ti on on that d ay A s th e s aint is s aid to h ave b een of gr e at

.

Symeonis L o o eg th tes , cognom e nto M etaph r as taz, O per a Omnia,

M igne, Par isiis, 186 4 , vol . iii, col . 3 15 .
 A N G E L S A ND M I NI S TE R S OF G R AC E 9

s iz e and s r e n t gth
wo r shipp e r at h is shr ine w as b e li e ve d
,
th e
to a cqui r e s o m e o f h is phys ical p o w e r .

Th e cu r e o f di s e as e s of th e t o ngue w a s th e p r vi c
o n e of
S t C ath e r i ne o f Al e x and r i a ( No ve m b e r
.
w h o w as f ame d
f or h e r e l o qu ence a s w e ll as f or h e r d e v o ti on to th e s tudy o f
th e S c r iptu r e s .

S t Ro ch w h o w a s b or n in M ontp e li e r t ow ar d th e e nd o f
.
,

th e thi r t e enth c e ntu r y ( d Augu s t 16 is r e ga r de d as

.
,

th e s p eci al gu ar di an of th o se afflict e d with pla gu e or p e s ti

l ence I n hi s life time h e went fr om pl ace to plac e mini s te r
.

ing to th os e w h o suf f e r e d fr om th e pl agu e until finally h e

himse lf succumb e d to thi s mal ady S o gr e at w as th e r e put e .

of S t R o ch s cu r ativ e p o w er s th at th e V e ne ti ans ar e s aid to

’
.

h ave s tol e n h is b o dy fr om Montp e li e r whe r e it w as inte r r e d , ,

and t r ans p o r t e d it to V e nice th at th e y might hav e e ve r ,

p r e s ent h e lp in th e num e r ou s p e s til ence s fr om which thi s city

su fi e r e d b e cau s e of th e constant comme r cial int e r c ou r se
,

with th e E a s t .

A no th e r s aint w h o w as invok e d f o r h e lp in pl agu e and

p e s til ence w as S t S e b as ti an ( J anu ar y . b or n in Nar
b onne in Gaul In thi s cas e th e s tor y of th e s aint s m ar tyr
.
’

d om gav e r i s e to th e b e li e f in h is cu r ative p ow er s f or th e ,

l e gend t e ll s u s th at h e w as t r ansfixe d with ar r o ws and th es e ,

mi ss il e s w e r e r e gar d e d as sym bo l s of th e pl a gu e We h ave .

an illu s t r ati on of thi s o l d b e li e f in th e fi r s t b o o k o f H o me r s

’

I li ad wh e r e th e p e s til enc e th at vi s ite d th e ar my o f th e

,

G r e ek s is r e p r e s ent e d as d u e to th e s h aft s s p ed fr om Ap o llo s

’

s ilv e r bow .

Alth ough no cu r ative p owe r s ar e attribute d to them no ,

one o f E ngli s h s p e ch s h uld f

e o or g e t S S C r i s pi n and C r i s .

pi an on who s e d ay th e b attl e of A gincou rt w as fought in

,
,

1 4 1 5 T.
h e o l d f eud b e twe e n F r anc e and E ngl and h as b e e n

l ong fo r go tten th e ri val r y b e twe en the s e nati ons h as give n

,

pl ace to a cl o s e fr i end ship and th e r e is no tr ac e of animo sity

,
260 TH E M AGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
in th e gl ow th a t war ms an E ngli shman s h e ar t wh en h e r e ad s ’

th e r inging w or d s put by S hak e sp e ar e int o th e mouth of

H enr y V
And Cris p in Cr isp ian sh al l ne’er go by
Fr om this d ay to th e e nding o f th e wor ld,
B ut w e in it sh all be r ememb er e d .

It is l t d by Metaph r astu s th at wh en S t Ge or ge w as
re a e .

condemne d to d e ath by burning his e x e cuti one r s ( fe ar ing

,

th at th e fl am es o f th e pyr e might be extinguish e d b ecau s e of

hi s vi r tu e ) c ove r e d h is b o dy with a gar ment of ami antos
( asb e st o s ) ; f o r it w as b e li e ve d that wh en thi s mate r i al
b e gan to bu rn th e fl ame could not be extingui she d But al l .

p r e cauti ons we r e vain f or as s o on as th e saint w as plac e d

,

in th e fl am e s th e fi r e w ent ou t c ontr ar y to th e law s of ,

natu r e and not a h ai r of h is h e ad w a s inju r e d

,
Thi s t al e .

illu s tr ate s a cu r i ou s but not unnatu r al mi sunde r s tanding

of th e nam e asb e s t o s which r e al ly s ignifi e s inex tinguis h
,

abl e but w as int end e d to me an th at th e s ub s tance w ould not

,

bur n and hence that no fl ame could be extingui sh e d in it

,
18
.

I n an u npubli sh e d manu s c ri pt wr itten by Aub r e y ar e

qu ote d th e foll owing cu r i ou s line s on th e l e gend of S t Geo r ge .

and th e Dr ag on
19

To v mayd St George th e Dr agon s lew

sa e a , .
,

A p r etty tal e if all is t old be t r ue ;

Mos t s ay ther e ar e no Dr agons and tis sayd,
’
,

Th er e w as no Geor ge ; p r ay G od th er e w as a mayd .

Th e S t G e or ge
th al e r s coined by th e count s of M ansfeld
.
,

( Th iir ingen) enj oye d in bygone time s a r eput ati on as am u

,

l e ts f or s oldi er s Thi s b elie f is said to h ave or iginate d fr om

.

th e actu al p r e ser vati o n o f a s oldi e r s life by one of th e s e

’

coins which h e h ad sew e d up in th e lining of his co at ju s t

,

A l d rovand i, u
Mu s e m met al l icu m , Bononise , 16 4 8, p 6 53 . .

h
T orns , cd t dt
A ne o es and Tr a i ions , L on on, 1 83 9 , d p 103 ( Camden S oc
. .

Pu b.
)
2 62 TH E MAGIC OF J E WEL S A ND C HARMS

ne te— t constr ucte d of wood c over e d with gold pl ate s is stif f —

and c onv enti onal but it is not unimp r essive and give s
,

e vid ence o f conside r able skill on th e p ar t of th e ar ti s t .

Ne v e r th e l e s s it ce r t ainly h as no thing of th e youthful gr ace

,

w e w ould as s o ci at e with a vi r gin mar tyr .

20

Th e of fe ri ng of p r eci ou s s t one s to att r a ct th e favor of

god s o r s ai nts is r e al ly a t ali smanic u s e of such gems and
is i ntim at e ly c onnecte d with th e w e ar ing o f gem s f or th e i r
t al i smanic or th e r apeutic e f fe ct Th e gift e stablish e d a s o r t .

of r el ati on b e twee n th e b e ing who se h e lp w a s d e s i r e d and

th e p etiti one r and th e gem w as th e me dium th r o ugh which

,

th e fav or w as b e s towe d .

Th e l e g end of th e r oyal p r ince ss w h o w as c anoniz e d

by th e Chur ch as S t E nimi e ( d 628 or 63 0 A D ) c ontains an
. . . .

a cc ou nt of a m i r acul ou s s p r i ng and al s o e nsh r i ne s th e p opu

l ar vi e w of th e cau se o f th e s t r ange outline s o f an e xtensiv e

mass of he ap e d u p b ould e r s Thi s s aint w as a d aughte r of
-
.

th e F r ench king C l otair e I I ( d 628) Her m ost ar d ent wi s h .

w as to d e v ot e h er se lf exclu siv e ly to th e s er vic e of C h r i s t ,

but h e r r oyal p ar ent insi st e d u p on a mar r i age with one of

th e gr e at nobl e s Th e p r i nces s w h o w as th e f air e s t of th e
.
,

f ai r put u p an e ar ne st p r ayer th at th e L or d w ould d e st r oy

,

h e r b e auty e v en at th e e xp e nse of som e d r e adful mal ady

, ,

so th at sh e might c e as e to be an obj ec t o f d e s i r e f o r m e n .

H e r p r aye r w as h e ar d and sh e w as s tr ick e n with l e p r osy

which enti r e ly bl otte d ou t h er ch arms No t l o ng af te r thi s .

an ang e l app e ar e d to h e r in a d r eam and d i r e ct e d h er to

b ath e in th e F ount ain of B oul e in th e r e gi on of Gévau d an , .

On d oing s o sh e w a s imm e di at ely cu r e d of h e r l ep r o sy but ,

as s o on a s sh e w ent aw ay fr om th e sp r ing to r e tu r n to th e

r oyal r e sid e nc e th e m al ady r e tu r ne d

, A se cond att empt .

h ad th e s ame f av or abl e and u nfav or abl e r e s ult s and sh e ,

S ee pl ate in th e p r e s en t w it r er s
’
C u r io u s L or e of Pr e c ous S ton
i es ,

J . B L ipp m co tt C o
. mpany , 19 13 , o pp . p . 35 6 .
 ANGEL S A ND MINI S TE RS OF GR AC E 263

now r eco gniz e d that sh e mu st r emain ne ar th e Sp r ing S o .

aft e r b athi ng th e r e a thi r d time and b e ing again c ompl e t e ly

cu r e d sh e e r e cte d a m onaste r y on th e sp o t and be cam e th e

,

p r i o r e ss Th e institution fl ou r i sh e d but a f ew ye ar s later

.
,

th e s ai ntly p r i o r es s w as h or r ifi e d to s ee th at th e D e vil w as
bu sy w i th h e r nuns Once mor e sh e s ought f or divine aid
.
,

an d s h e w as given auth o r ity to imp r i s o n th e E vil One s h o uld

s h e c atch h im in th e monas t er y Thi s sh e did but th e D evil

.
,

w as c r afty e nough to mak e h is es cap e Nea r th e sp o t wh er e

.

th e m onas te r y s to o d w as a m as s o f h e ap e d u p b ould e r s -
,

th r ough which l e d a w ay call e d th e C h asm Ro ad which l e d

to a r o cky ap e r tu r e of unkno wn d e pth Thi s w a s fable d .

to aff o r d e gr e ss and ingr e s s to th e D evil in h is p as sag e ou t

of and b ack to th e i nfe r nal r e gi ons Along thi s r o ad h e
.

fle d wh e n h e e scap e d fr om th e monas te r y ; S t E nimi e fe ar .

l e ss ly pur su e d but th e agile demon w as on th e p oint of slip

,

ping b ack again into h is ow n r e alm when th e s aint m ade a ,

s up r eme app e al and c all e d up on th e r o ck s to h e lp h e r As .

sh e r ai se d h e r ar m s in s upplic ati on o ne of th e l ar ge s t ,

b oulde r s call e d L a So u r de move d of its ow n accor d

,
“
,
”

an d f e ll up o n th e D e vil pinni ng h im f as t to th e gr ound

,

b e ne ath its p onde r ou s we ight In h is r age and de sp air

. :

h e mad e fr antic e f for t s to fr ee him s e lf and h is bl o o dy cl aw s

l eft an imp r int on th e r ock Thi s mar k still ob se r vabl e
.
,

a h al f centu r y ago th ough it h as now di s app e ar e d w as p r o

-
, ,

s aical l y e xpl ai ne d by s ci enti s t s as a s t ain o f i r o n oxid e -

.

Th e oth e r b ould e r s we r e in mo ti on to as si s t in th e good w or k ,

but when th e D evil h ad b een c aught th ey s topp e d sh or t in

th ei r downwar d c ou r s e and thi s is supp ose d to account f or
,

th e s t r ange angl es at which th e y s t and It w ould be .

21

pl e asant to fancy th at H is S atanic Maj e sty e ventu ally fail e d

M lle M ar ie Konig,
. Po upé es et légende s d e Fr an ce ,
Par is, 11 . d .
, pp .
264 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE LS A ND CHARM S

to mak e his c p e but unfor tunately th e ever r e cu r r ing in

es a ,
-

s tanc e s o f his ac tivity f r om th e age o f S t E nimi e d own t o .

ou r o w n tim e p r e clud e this b e li e f .

A n he i r l oom in th e f amily of D om P e dr o o f Br azil is

said to have b e en l oane d to o ne of th e pi one er avi at or s ,

S anto s Dum ont by Dom P e dr o s d aughte r th e C omt e s s e ’

-
, ,

d E u This w as a me d al of S t B ene dict and h ad b een l ong

’
. .

r e gar d e d a s a p ow e r ful t ali sm an in th e B r ag anz a f am ily .

One o f its p r inc e ly memb e r s h ad a s tr iking p r oo f of thi s

vir tu e in 1 705 wh en afte r having wo r n th e me dal but tw o
, ,

wee k s h e w as s ave d fr om d e adly p e r il by th e time ly d is cov

,

e r y and c ons e qu ent d e f e at of a pl o t S ant os D um ont h ad .

-

ju s t exp e r i ence d a te r r ibl e fall whil e e xp er imenting with h is

new ai r ship in th e Ro th s child p ar k ne ar P ar i s and thi s it ,

w a s th at induce d th e C omt e s s e d E u to l oan him th e tali s

’

manic me dal with th e injuncti on that h e s ho uld al ways

, .

w e ar it on h is p er son and th e as su r an ce th at if h e did so

,

no fu r th e r h arm c ould b e fall him Th e t ali sman s e e me d .

to d o its wo r k we ll f or although th e avi at o r h ad m any

,

nar r ow e s cap es h e w as always s ave d fr om s e r i ou s inju r y

, .

Unfor tunat ely h owe v e r a thi e f pick e d it fr om th e p o ck e t

, ,

of h is c o at whil e h e w as bu s ily e ng age d in w o r k on an air

s hip in a P ar i s machine s h o p -
22
.

While it w as cu st omar y to cl ose th e shop s of th e gold

s mith s on S u nd ays and f e as t d ay s a s p e ci al e xc e pti on p e r -

mitte d th e Confr ér i e d e S t E l oi th e gold smith s guild

“ ”
.
-
,
’
,

to op en a s ingl e sh op ( not always th e s ame one ) on e ach

S und ay and fe ast d ay th e p r ofit s of th e s al e s b e ing d ev o t e d
-
,

to p r ovi ding a dinner on E as ter Day f or th e p oor of th e

H 6t e l Di e u Thi s c ombinati o n of comm e r ci ali sm and phi
.
23

l anth r opy h a s illu s t r ati ons in ou r ow n d ay and wh at e ver , ,

”
2
St Loui s D emo r a , 1 9 05
. c t .

“
3
D e L es inas se, p
L es m éticr s et c po ation
or r s de l a v ill e d e Par is, Pa r is,
189 2, p 11. .
2 66 TH E M A GI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
A no tabl e ins t ance of th e u se of a saint s nam e to facili ’

t at e th e p e r p etr ation of a cr ime is aff o r d e d in th e c as e of th e

p oi s on known as Aqu a To fana Thi s app e ar s to h av e b e e n
.

a p r e p ar ati on o f ar s e nic and w a s c o nc o ct e d by a w o man

name d To fana a native o f P al er m o in S icily w h o e v e ntu al ly

, , ,

to ok up h e r ab ode in Naple s and d evot e d h e r s elf to th e

p r ep ar ati on and s al e o f h e r p oi so n in Napl e s R ome and ,

e l s e whe r e. T o div e r t s u spici on sh e u s e d vi al s ma r k e d

“
M anna of S t Nicho l as of B ar i
.
”
and b e ar ing th e im ag e
,

of thi s s aint M o s t of h e r cli ent s ar e s ai d to h ave b e e n

.

wom en w h o we r e anx i ou s to r id them s e lve s of th e ir h u s

b and s and sh e mu st have h ad a l ar ge p r actic e in thi s s pe
'

cial ty f o r so many hu s b and s di e d in R om e in a my s t e r i ou s

,

manne r that in 16 5 9 th e auth o r iti e s final ly t o ok co gniz anc e

o f th e m att e r and i ns titut e d a s e ar ching i nve s tigati on Thi s .

r ev e al e d th e f act th at th e r e e xi s t e d in R om e a s e c r e t s o ci e ty

e nti r e ly c om p o se d o f w om en w h o wi s h e d to r e mo v e th e i r
“ ”

hu sb and s by p o i s on Th e leader of thi s so ci ety and many

.

o f th e m e mb e r s w e r e duly ex e cut e d but To f ana d o e s no t ,

s e em to h av e b e e n m o le s t e d .

M any st r ange s up er stiti ons as to th e s aint s p r e v ail

among th e S p ani sh sp e aki ng i nh abit ant s o f New M e xic o
-
.

If a s aint wh o se aid h as b e e n i nvoke d f ail s to r e sp ond to th e

app e al h is i mage is s hut up in s o m e r e c e pt acl e u ntil h e
,

vouch safes to r e nd e r th e s e r vic e d e s i r e d On th e o th e r hand .

,

if th e image of a s ai nt fall s to th e gr ound thi s is int er p r e t e d ,

as a s i gn th at th e s ai nt h as p e r f or me d a mi r acl e One m e ans .

o f for cing a s ai nt to p e r f o r m a mi r acl e w a s to h ang th e

image head downwar d ; thi s w as e sp e cially r e c omm e nd e d in

th e c ase o f S t Anthony All s t r ange r s w h o p r e s e nt e d th em
. .

s e lve s o n S t A nth o ny s d ay or S t J o s e ph s d ay w e r e to be
’ ’
. .

h os pitably r e ce ive d and ente r taine d f o r one of th em might ,

be th e s aint himse lf Th ose w h o wi s h e d to r e ad th e futu r e

.

w e r e instr ucte d to put th e white of an e gg in a glass o f W ate r

268 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

When w e consid er h ow many b e autiful and sy m b o lic r ite s

b vance s hav e mar k e d th e ce l eb r ation of saint s day s
and O se r
’

and h olid ays in th e Ol d Wo r ld and h ow f ew o f th e s e h av e ,

b een p r e ser ve d by th e inh abit ant s of ou r own c ountr y w e ,

mu s t fi nd thi s mos t r e gr e tt abl e Of l ate ye ar s th e r e h as .

b e en a m ar k e d t end ency to incr e ase th e numb e r of h oli

days and in a f ew c as e s to r evive th e ce l eb r ation of ol d
,

ho lid ays but th e p opul ar id e a of th e b e s t w ay to ce l eb r at e

,

th e se o cc asi ons s e em s to be confine d to m ak ing th em c ar ni

val s of noi s e and di sor de r Thi s is l ar ge ly owing to a l ack
.

of int e lligent guid anc e f or it is to o m uch to e xp e c t th at any

,

p e opl e ab ove al l those so p r actical a s ou r Ame rican p e opl e

, ,

can s p ont aneou s ly ev o lve at s h or t no tic e

,
an embl em atic ,

e xp r e s s i on o f th e id e a und e r lyi ng th e f e s tival If h owe v er .

, ,

a b e autiful and ad e qu at e sym b o li sm w e r e p r e s ent e d in a con

cr e te for m th e m asses of th e p e opl e w ould gr as p its signifi

,

cance quickly enough and would thu s gai n a high e r and be t

,

te r c onc e pti on of th e hi s t oric annive r s ar y o r th e time

h onor e d f e s tival th ey we r e call e d up on to cel eb r at e .

Th e s aint s d ay s on whi ch th e summ e r and wint e r s ol

’

s tices f ell w e r e m em o r iz e d by di s tich s F or ins tance .

S t B ar naby
. b right ! S t B ar naby
. b r ight !
Th e longest d ay and th e s h or t est night .

S t Th omas gr ay ! S t Thomas gr ay !
. .

Th e l ongest night and th e sh or t est d ay .

Th e forme r of th e v er se s
p r ob ably th e ear li er as S t
is .

B arnab as D ay is June 1 1 th e d ay on which th e su mm e r

’
,

so l s tice f e ll in E ngl and f o r som e ti me b e fo r e th e r e f o r m o f

th e Ol d S tyl e calendar in 1 7 52 r e pl ac e d thi s d ate ; whil e

“ ” “

, ,

S t Th omas Day is De c emb e r 21 th e d ate of th e wint er

’
.
,

s ol s tic e in ou r mo d er n c al e nd ar
27
.

Wr iting of th e o r i gin o f th e r u r al sup e r s titi ons in r e

N t d Qu i
o e s an 2d S i l viii L d
er e s, 1859 p 24 2
e r e s , vo .
, on on, , . .
 ANGE L S A ND MINI S TE RS OF GR A CE 269

gar d to th e we athe r on ce r t ain i t

sa n
’
s d ays Weh r enf el s,

qu ote s th e di stich
If Paul ’
s Day be f air and cl ear
It f ores ow s anh h ap py Year .

and continu es
Th e t
con r ar y hap pened a thousand Times but however this cannot
h as ,

d estr oy th e Rule It onc e hap p ene d ; ce r t ainly s ay the y these Rules o f th e

.
, ,

H u sb andme n ar e not to be d es p ise d ; s ee h ow ex actly they ar e made goo d by

E x p erienc e Thus a gr e at P art of Mankind re asons ; wh ich if one c onsid er
.
,

h e will ne ith er d e p end much up on th e Content of th e common Pe o p le in

these Things nor wonder at so great a Numb er of most sill y Op inions
,
”
.

N
V RSES O S
E AI NTS D A YS A T
’
VARI OUS SEA S ONS
OF TH E Y EA R .
”

J nu y 25
a ar . S aint P aul s Day ’

If th e cloud s make d ar k th e sky ,

G r e at s tor e o f p eo pl e then wil l d ie ;

If ther e be eith er snow or r ain ,

The n will be d ear al l kinds o f gr ain .

b
( Ro in o F r by V o c abul
,
ar y of E as t A ng a London
li ”
, ,

S omewh at diff erent in a Latin f orm

C l ar a d ies P aul i multas segetes nitant amni,
S i f uerint ne bul ae, aut v ent i, cr unt p roel ia genti .

Februar y 2 Candl emas Day

.

I f Candl emas day be f air and br ight,

Winter will h av e anoth er flight ;
I f on Candl emas d ay it be sh ow er and r ain,
Winter is gone and wil l not come again .

( J oh n Ray, A Coll c E ngl ish Pr o ver bs,” 2d Cam

“
e tion of

bridge,

Febru ary 12 S t E ul al ia s
Day : ’
. .

I f th e sun sh ines on St E ul l s day,

’
a ie .

I t is goo d f or ap ples and c ider they s ay .

Weh r enf el s , A Disser ta ion on S t

er s i ion, 36 ; re up tt
ed to p . p fix Oc
cas ional T oh ught s on th e P o er o f C r in w
t h e K ing
'
s E vu
il ,
”
g
Lon on, 17 4 8 d .

” Co ll ct anea, vol i, Br is o , 1 9 02, tl

3 7 3— 3 84 pp
’
Le an s e . . .
27 0 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

F e b r u ary 14 V al e ntine s Day

. St .
’

On S t V al ent ine s d ay
.
’

C as t b eans in cl ay
But on S t Ch ad .

S ow goo d or bad .

( See d time of this Lenten c r o p limite d b etwe en F eb r u ar y

Mar ch

F eb r u ary 24 . tthias Day

St . Ma ’

S ai nt Matth e w ( S ep t 21 )
-

Get c andl estic ks new ;

S t Matth eg
.

Lay candl es i c s t k by

M ar ch 1 . S t D avid ’s Day
.

Q uoth S aint David , I ’l l h ave a floo d .

S aith ou r Lady [ Mch . 25 ] I ll

’
h ave as goo d .

( Ref er r ing to s p r ing tide s in Wal es , f ro m Poor R o b in s A lmanac k,

’

J une 15 . St V itus Day

.
’

I f S aint Vitu s d ay be r ainy we ath er

’
,

It w ill r ai n f or thir ty d ays togeth er .

( M A D enh am Pr over b s and

. .
, Popul ar S ayings Re l ating to
th e S e as ons
”
Per cy ,

S t S with in’s D ay
.

S t S with in s d ay, if thou d ost r ain

’
.
,

F or f or ty d ay s it will r emai n ;
S t S within s d ay if th o u be f air
.
’
, ,

F or f or ty d ays t will r ain nae mair ’

.

( M A Denh am Pr over bs and

. .
, Po pul ar S ay ings Re l ating
th e S easons ” P er cy S oc , .
,

J uly 1 5 : A l l th e
tear s th at St S within can cry .

A ug 24 : S aint B ar th ol omew s dus ty mantl e wip es

.
’
d ry .

( R I nw ar ds .
“
W e ath er L or e
”
,L ond on , ,

J uly 20 . St . Margar et’s D ay

Mar gar et’s floo d s ( h eavy r ains ) .
27 2 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

A d ditional ver ses C andl emas D ay ( Pur ifi c ation of th e Bl esse d

on V i r gi n)
I f th e sun sh ines b r ight on C andl emas D ay,

Th e hal f of th e winter s not yet away

’
.

I n L atin
Si sol sp l end escat Mar ia p ur ifi cante,
Maj or er it gl acies p os t f estum qu am an e . t
S AINTS ’
DA YS
AD RIAN . S e ptemb er 8 wif e Nat al ia A nniver sar y of. As a so l of h is , . .

tr ansl ation of his r el ics to Rome ; anciently h is f estival on d ay o f h is

mar tyr d om Mar ch 4 3 06 Patr on of soldier s in F l ander s G er many
, , .
, ,

and nor th er n Fr anc e al s o against th e pl agu e Re lics in A bb ey of S t . .

A d rian Ge ar sbu r g B elgi um ; and e lse wh er e

, ,
.

A FRA . A ugust 5 E s p e cially c e l e b r ate d in Augs bur g of wh ich c ity ( h er

.
,

native one ) s h e is p atr oness Marty r e d A u g 7 3 04 . .

, .

A GAT H A F eb r u ary 5 Patr oness o f Malta and Cat ania Sicily Die d F eb
. .
, , .

r uar y 5 , 251 .

A GN E S . J anu ary 21 . S up p ose d v

anni er sar y of
m ar tyr dom in 304 .

AL BAN . J une 22
Firs t E ngl ish saint . and m ar tyr , die d une 22, 303 J .

Pr esent t o wn of S t A lb ans up on s ite . of mar tyr d om .

AM ABLE . J un e 11 . Patr on of Riom, Fr an ce . D ie d 4 75 .

A M BROSE . D e c emb er 7 . Patr on o f Mil an . Die d A p r il 4, 39 7 . F ou nd er of

chu r ch now S ant A mb r ogi o b asilic a M aggi or e Mil an in 3 87 One

’
, , , .

o f f o ur L at in F ath ers .

A NDRE W Nov emb er 30 A p os tle p atr on of S c otl and and Russia

. .
, .

A NNE J uly 26
. S up p ose d anniver sar y of h er d eath
. Mothe r of th e .

V ir gin Mar y Patr one ss of Canada . .

A N SE L M A p r il 21 A r chbish o p of C ant er bur y ( 1 033

. .

A N TH ON Y J anuar y 17 H ermit ( 251

. .

A N TH ON Y OF PADUA J une 13 Die d J une 13 1 23 1 . .

,
.

A POLL ON IA F e b r u ar y 9 Mar t yr e d F e br u ar y 9 25 0 Patr o ness of th os e

. .
, .

s u fi er ing f r om t ooth ach e .

A TH A NA SI US M ay 2 One o f f ou r Gr ee k F ath ers Die d M ay 2 373

. . .
, .

A U GUSTI N E A ugus t 28 Die d 430 Patr on of theo logi ans and l e ar ning
. . . .

B is h o p o f H ip p o in A f r ic a One of f our L at in F ath er s . .

A UGU S TIN E May 26 A p ostle to E ngl and in 59 6 Die d M ay 26 604

. . .
, .

BA RY LA S S e pt ember 1 ( 14 ) in E as t er n Chur ch ; J anu ar y 24 in West er n

.

C hur ch ( 237 Bis h o p o f A ntio ch Re lics said to h av e sil enc e d .

th e r evive d or acl e of A p ollo at Del p hi during r eign of J ulian th e , .

A p ost ate .
 ANGE L S A ND M INISTER S OF GR AC E 27 3

BARBARA . De c emb er 4 . Patr ones s of F er r ar a, Mantua and G uas t all a,

I taly ur er s and gunsmiths Die d Decemb er 4 235 ( i )
,
and o f ar mo .
, .

BAR NABA S J une 11 H is birthd ay One of the p atr ons of Milan A p ostle
. . . . .

BART H OL OM E W A ugust 24 A p ostl e . . .

BA S IL T H E GREAT J anuary 1 E aster n Chur ch ; J une 14 Western Chur ch

.
, ,

( 328
BATH ILDA . J nua ary 3 0 in F r an ce ; J nu y a ar 26 in Roman Mar tyr o l ogy
( d ie d ca .

BA YO OR BAVON . Octob er 1 . Patr on o f G h ent ( 589

BE N EDI CT . M ar ch 21
u der of Bene dictine Or der ( 480 . Fo n
BERN ARD OF CLAI RVA Ux A ugust 20 F o under o f A bb ey of C l air vaux . .
,

o ne of th e F ath er s of th e C hu r ch ( 1 09 1

B ERN ARD OF M E N T H ON J une 15 Founder of hosp ices in th e A lp s Gr eat. .

,

S t B er nar d ” and
. Littl e S t B er nar d ( 923 1 008 i ) .
—
.

BLAI SE . F e b r u ar y 3 Patr on of Ragus a and of th os e afflicte d with thr o at

.
,

dise as es Bisho p of S e b as te C ap p ado cia ( die d

.
,

B ON I FA CE J une 5 A p ostle of Germany ( 680

. . .

B RIDGET OR BRIDE F e b r u ar y 1 Patr ones s o f Ir el and

. .

BRUN O . Oct ob er 6 F o und er of C ar th u sian p r d er ( 1035

.

CA T H ERI N E Novemb er 25 Patr oness of V enic e and ap p eale d to against

. .

d is e as es of th e tongue .

CA T H ERI N E OF S I E N A Patroness of S iena ; live d in f o ur t eenth ce ntur y

. .

CE CILIA Nov emb er 22 Patr oness of s acr e d m us ic ( d ie d

. .

C LE M E N T No vemb er 23 Pat r on of f arr ier s and bl acksmiths ( d ie d

. .

COL UM BA N No ve mb er 21 Ir is h s aint ( 543

. .

CRI S P I N A N D C RIS P I N IAN Oct ob er 25 P atr ons o f s hoemak er s ( died . .

CUT H B ERT Mar ch 20 Patr on s aint of Dur h am E ngland ( die d

. .
,

DAVID . Mar ch 1 Patr on s aint of W ale s ( 446—549 )

.

DE CLAN J uly 24 F ir st bish op of A r dmor e Ir e land

. .
, .

DEN IS . O ct o b er 9 Patr on o f Fr anc e Liv ing in 250

. . .

D OM E N I C A ug us t 4 F o under of D ominic an Or d er ( 1 17 0
. .

EDM UN D No vembe r 20 King o f E ast A nglia and martyr ( die d

. .

E DW ARD Mar ch 1 8 King o f E ngl and and martyr ( 9 62—978 )

. .

E DW ARD TH E CON FE S S OR Octo b er 1 3 King o f Engl and ( 1 004 . .

E LIZA BETH or H UN GARY Nov emb er 19 Daught er of A lex and er II King . .

,

of H ungar y ( 1207

E L M O ( E RA S M US ) J une 2 ( die d .

E L OY ( E LIGIU S ) De c ember 1 P atr on of gol d smith s ( 588

. .

E M ERI C Nov emb er 4 E ld est s on of St S t eph en of H u ngar y

. . . .

E N GRA CIA .

18
274 TH E MAGI C OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
E RI C ( OR HEN RY ) May 18 P atr on of S we d en ( d ie d
. .

E TH ELREDA ( A UDRE Y ) Octo b er 1 7 Pri nc ess of E as t A ngl ia ( die d

. .

E U P H E M IA S ep t emb er 1 6 Patr ones s of C h al c e d on ( die d ca

. . .

F EL I CITA S Nov emb er 23 P atr one ss o f m al e heir s ( d ie d

. .

F I L L AN J anu ar y 9 S cotch saint ( d ie d ca

. . .

F IL OM E NA ( F IL U M INA, PH IL OM E N A ) A ugust 1 0 S up p osititio u s s aint . . .

F RA N C I S OF A S S I SI Oct ob er 4 F ound er of F r anc is can Or d er ( 1 1 82

. .

FRA N CI S X AVIER . D e c emb e r 3 . Patr on and A p o stl e of Ind ia ( 15 06

FRIDE SW IDE . O ctob er 19
tr oness of c ity and u niv ers ity o f Ox f or d . Pa ,

d aughter o f S id an Pr ince o f Ox f or d ( d ie d ca ,
.

GE N EV IEVE J anuary 3 Patr oness of Par is

. . .

G E ORGE A p r l 23
. Patr on o f E ngl and o f Ge rmany and V enic e of so l
i .
, ,

dier s and ar mour er s ( b or n thir d ce ntu ry ) .

GI LE S S ep t emb er 1
. P atr on o f E d inbur gh ( ca 640 . .

GRE GORY TH E GRE A T Mar ch 12 ( b or n .

GUDU L A J anu ar y 8 P atr on of Br us sels ( b or n middle of se venth cen

. .

tur y ) .

H ELE N A A u gus t 18
. W if e of Const antiu s moth er of C onstantine th e
.
,

Gr e at ( die d
H E NRY OF B AVAR IA J uly 15 P atr on of Bav ar ia E mp er or ( H enry II )
. . .

of G er many ( 9 7 2
H IL AR Y J an u ar y 14 ( d ie d
.

H ON ORAT US Bish o p of A r l es D ie d J anu ar y 6 429

. .
,
.

H ON ORATU S ( H ON ORE) M ay 1 6 Patr on o f b ak er s Bis h o p of Am iens. . . .

( Die d
H UBERT OF LIEGE Nov emb er 3 Patr on of th e ch as e and of d ogs ( die d
. .

I GNATIU S LOYOL A . J uly 3 . F o und er of J uit O d

es r er ( 149 1
I SIDORE TH E PL OU GH M A N ( Is idr o el La br ador ) . M ay 1 5 . Patr on of M ad r id
and of f ar mer s ( b or n ca . 1 11 0
J A M E S TH E GREAT . J uly 25 . A p ostl e ; p atr on of S p ain and of p ilgrims to
J u l
er sa e m ( d ie d
J A N UAR IU S . S e pt emb er 19 . Patr on of Napl es ( d ie d
J EROM E . S e pt em b er 30 . P atr on of s cho l ars . One of th e f our Latin
F ath e r s ( 342
JOH N H T E BA PTI ST . J un e 24, or Mids u mme r D ay .

JOH N H T E E VA N GE L I ST . D e c embe r 27 ( d ie d
J PHOSE . Mar ch 1 9 .

J ULIA N H OSPITA TOR . J nu y 9a ar . Patr on of h os p it al s ( d ie d

27 6 TH E M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
P ETER . J un e 29 ; a so l A ugust 1 , S t Peter ’s C h ains , . and J nu y 18 Ch
a ar , air

of S t Peter . .

PH IL I P . May 1 . Patr on o f Br ab ant and Lux embur g .

PH ILI P NERI . May 26 . F o under of Or ator ian Or d er ( 15 1 5

POL Y CAR P . J nu y 26
a ar . BLS h Op of S myr na ( d ie d
Q UIE TUS ( No d ay ) . . B ones in chur ch of Our L ady of Gr au , H o b oken,
e ns h r ine d J une 1 , chb is h o p B ailey of fi c iating 185 6, A r .

R OCH E ( ROCH ROQ UE ) A ugu st 1 6 ,

Pat r o n of p r i soner s and th e sic k
. .
,

es p e cial ly th e pl agu e str i ck e n ( bor n ca 1 280 -

.

ROM A IN Octo b er 23
. Patr on of R ouen ( die d .

ROM UA LD F e br uar y 7 ( 9 56
.

ROS A L IA S e pt em b er 4
. P at r oness of Pal er mo ( d ie d .

RUM A LD ( RUM BALD ) Nov emb er 3 Patr on of Br ackl ey and B uc kingh am

. .
,

E ngl and S on of K ing of Nor th umbr ia

. .

S CH OLA STI CA F e b r u ar y 10 S ist er of S t B ene dict ( d ie d ca

. . . .

S EB AL D S on of a D anish king ( eighth centu r y )

. .

SE BA S TIA N J anuar y 20 Patr on of Chiems ee Mannheim Oetting Pal ma

. .
, , , ,

R ome S oiss ons and of ar chers ( f o ur t h c e ntur y )

, ,
.

S E C UNDUS M ar ch 3 0 Patr on o f A sti ( die d

. .

S TE PH E N D e m be r 26
. Patr on of h ors es
ce . .

S W IT H I N ( S W ITH UN ) J uly 15 Patr on of Winchester ( die d . .

S YM PH OROSA J uly 1 8 Only in Gr eek C hur ch A J ewi sh mar tyr th e

. . .
,

mother of th e Macc ab ee s ( se c ond c entur y

TH ERE SA Oct o b er 1 5 Patr on of S p ain ( 1 515
. .

TH OM A S A BE CK ET J uly 7 ( 11 1 7 .

TH OM A S DIDY M US D e c emb er 21 A p os tl e p atr on of P or tug al and Palma

. .
,
.

URBAN May 25 Pop e and mar ty r ( d ie d

. .

UR S ULA Oct o b er 21
. Patr oness of y o ung gir ls and of e duc ati onal in
.
,

s titutions ( d ie d

VAL E NTI NE F ebr uar y 14 ( first c entur y )

. .

VERON I CA S hr ove Tues d ay ( fir st centur y)

. .

VI CTOR Patr on of Mar seill es ( f o urth c entury )

. .

V IN CE NT J anuar y 22 P atr on of L is bo n V al e nc ia S ar agossa Mil an and

. .
, , , ,

C h al ons .

V I N CE NT DE PAUL J uly 1 9 F o und er of Or der of th e S ister s of Ch ari ty

. . .

V ITUS J une 1 5 Patr on of Bo hemia S ax ony S icily and of d ancers and

. .
, , ,

acto r s ( th ir d c entu r y ) .

WAL BURGA Feb r uary 25 ( d ie d ca . .

WILLIA M J anuar y 1 0 P atr on of Br uges ( d ie d

. .

WINIFRED Novemb er 3 British mai d en o f se v enth century

. . .
 V II
a mthe R eligious was of Iaat ious é touea

W HE p r e ci ou s s tone m enti one d in th e e ar lie s t biblical

r e f e r e nc e G en ii 1 2 and th er e t r ansl at e d onyx
, .
, ,
is ,

r end e r e d chr y so p r a se in th e S e ptu agi nt v e r s i on and is by

,

o th e r s r e fe r r e d to th e e m e r ald on th e gr ou nd th at th e l and

o f H avil ah wh e r e it is th e r e s ai d to o ccu r is th ought to

, ,

have be en a p ar t of what w as l ate r call e d S cythi a and as ,

s uch w ould includ e th e e m e r al d r e gi on o f th e U r al s Bu t th e

.

anci e nt eme r ald s ar e now known to h ave c om e l ar ge ly f r om

Upp e r E gypt and s uch vagu e conj e ctu r e s ar e o f littl e u s e

,

in de t e r mini ng wh at s tone w as r e al ly me ant in thi s mo s t

an ci e nt allu s i o n .Pr o fe s so r H au p t h as e ven s ugge s te d th at
w e might t r ansl ate th e H e b r e w w or d s h oh am u s e d in thi s
p as s age by p e ar
“
s inc e h e c onj e ctu r e s that one o f th e
,
”

fou r ri ve r s s u r r ounding th e l and of H avil ah w as th e

P e r si an Gulf .

F o r al l att e mpt e d id e ntific ati o ns o f th e s tones menti one d

in th e Ol d T e s tam e nt w e ar e p r incip ally d e p e nd ent up on th e
,

Gr e e k v e r si on o f th e S ev enty A S thi s w as mad e in th e

.

Al exand ri an p e r i od not f ar fr om th e time o f Theo phr as tu s

, ,

who se wo r k on gem s w e S h all p r e sently m enti o n th e nam es ,

at th at ti m e ad o pt e d by th e Gr e e k t r ans l at o r s m ay be r e

gar d e d as fai r ly c or r e ct e quival ents o f th e H eb r e w Th e .

difficulty li e s m or e in th e tr ansl ati on of th e cl ass ical name s

into th e E ngli sh and aris e s lar ge ly fr om th e uns ci entific
,

nomencl atu r e of th e anci ent s ; th e s ame name b e ing e m

ploye d f or s t one s th at r es embl e e ach oth e r to th e eye but ,

which ar e now we ll dis tingui sh e d by chemical and physi

cal di f f e r enc e s f or me r ly u nk nown .
27 8 THE M AGI C OF J E W E L S A ND C H ARMS
Ther e ar e s otr ac es in th e Bible of th e u s e of p r e ci ou s
me
s t one s as amul e t s In P r ov er b s xvii 8 w e r e ad that a gift
“
.
, ,

is lik e a p r e ci ou s st one in th e e ye s of th e own e r ; whith er s o

e v er h e tu r ne th h e p r o sp e r e th Thi s p as sage is r e nd er e d
-
.

s om e wh at dif fe r ently in th e Auth o r iz e d V e r si on but th e ,

ab o ve t r ans l ati on is e vid ently m or e c o r r e ct Th e s t one s of .

th e b r e as tpl at e w e r e of c o u r se amul e t s in a cer t ain s ens e ,

and p o s s ibly o r acl e s al s o and it is th e r e f or e quit e p r o b abl e

,

that th e H eb r ews S h ar e d in th e b eli e f common to al l th e

p eople s ar ound them alth ough opp ositi on o f th e o r th odox
,

to al l magic al p r actice s p r e v ent e d th em fr om g oing int o p ar

ticu l ar s in r e gar d to s uch sup e r s titi ou s fanci e s .

In supp or t of h is th e o r y th at th e Ur im and T hummim of

th e H e b r e w high p r i e s t s ignifi e d th e st one s of th e b r eas t
-

pl at e w or n on th e s acr e d e ph od and S h ould be r ender e d

'

p er fe ctly b r illi ant B el l e r mann cit e s th e p assage in

,
”

E z eki e l ( ch ap xxviii v e se. r wh e e wri t e s of fi er y

e r h ,
“

s t one s in tr e ating of th e r oy al s pl end o r s of th e r uler of th e

”
’

gr e at c omm e r ci al city of Tyr e A S to th e or acular utt er .

ance s o f th e high p r i e s t wh en cl ad in th e e ph o d and w ear ing

-

th e glitt er ing b r eas tpl at e h e sought f o r th e c ounse l o f th e,

Almighty thi s auth or r e j e ct s th e ide a that th e divine will

,

w a s r e v e al e d by ch ang e s in th e b r illi ancy of th e s t one s by ,

c as ting of l o t s o r by a myst eri ou s u se o f th e inef f abl e name

, ,

th e T e t r agr amm at on J h W h ( J ah w eh ) but b e li e ve s th at

, ,

th e ans w e r to th e qu e sti ons w as c ommu nic at e d to th e high

p r i e st by an inne r voic e an ins pi r ation simil ar to th at ,

vouch s afe d to th e gr eat p r ophe t s of I sr ae l .

1

A cu ri ou s analogy to th e u s e by C hr i s ti ans of fr agment s

supp ose d to h ave c ome f r om th e T r ue C r o s s as amul e t s ,

w as th e em pl oym ent by th e T almudic J e w s of chip s fr om an

1
J h nn J ch im B l l m
o a oa Di U im e d Thumm im d i
er ann, lt t n e r un , e a es e
l
G e mmen, B er in, 1824 ,
”
2 1 , 22 pp
For a f a
. . ull cc unt of th br astpl ate e
o e e se
p
th e r e sen tw t’
r i er s Th e C r io s L or e of Pr e io u u c u s S tones Ph ilade lphia and
,
”

d
Lon on, 1 9 13 , ch p v
a iii, 2 7 5—3 06
. pp . .
280 TH E M AGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
tomb s S h ould thi s vi ew be co r r e ct pr e ci ou s S tone s we r e
.
,

imitat e d in gl as s at a ve r y r em o t e p e r i od .
1a

A n e xc e e dingly fi ne s p e ci me n o f anci ent E gypti an gold

smith s w o r k no w in th e L o uv r e Mu s e u m P ar i s is a p e n
’
, , ,

dant terminating in a bull s he ad e ach of th e h or ns b eing ’

,

tippe d with a little b all Ab ove th e doubl e r e ins ar e fou r .

r o nd e ll e s one of go ld tw o o f a m at e r i al s till und e t e r m ine d ,

,

and one o f l api s l azuli ; th e di f fe r e nt p ar t s o f th e p e nd ant ar e

c onne cte d by gold wi r e I ts mos t inte r e s ting and att r activ e

.

f e atu r e how eve r is a p oli s he d h ex agonal ame thys t eu

, , ,

gr ave d on b o th faces In e ach cas e th e fo r m o f a p r i e s t is

.

figur e d ; in one h e app e ar s with h is offi ci al st af f or wand ,

and in th e o th er h e is r e p r e sent e d as b e ar i ng an i nc e ns e

bu r ne r and o f f e r ing th e mine r al and ve ge t abl e s ac r ific e s ; an

Or i ent al p e ar l is s e t ab ov e th e engr ave d am e thys t Th e r e .

l igi ou s and s a crifi ci al s i gnific anc e of thi s or nam e nt c oupl e d ,

with th e cos tline s s of th e mat e r i al s and th e sup e r i o r e xc e l

l ence of th e wor kmanship make it like ly th at w e h av e h er e ,

an amul e t o r t ali sman mad e f o r some E gy pti an o f v e r y high

r ank
2
.

St . Je r ome ( 34 6 c omment ar y on I s ai ah
—4 20 in h is
( liv 1 1
, allud e s to th e v e r se s of E z e ki e l d e s c r ibing th e
,

gl or i e s o f th e K ing of Tyr e and th e p r e ci ou s s t one s with

which h e w as ador ne d E vidently J e r ome b e lie ve d th at thi s
.

p ass age w as to be t aken sym b olically f or h e asks ,

Wh o coul d h ave so little judgment think th at any and int elligence as to

Princ e of Tyr e wh atever s hould be set in th e Par adise of Go d and have h is ,

plac e among the C herubim or could f ancy th at h e dwelt with th e glowing

,

st ones wh ich w e s h oul d w ith o ut d oubt und ers t and as th e an e l s and th e

, g
c elestial V ir tues "
.

Wall ac e -
u l op
D n , G l ass in th e Ol d Wor ld London n . d . p 6 .

Jew ll e s
, , , .

F r om C ir cula We ekly N v 12 1 9 13
2 ’
e r r , o .
, .

H ie onymi Op e a Omnia M igne

“
S anct ii E u s ebii r ed
r , .
,
vol . iv, Par is u s,
186 5 , c ol s 54 3 , 5 4 4 .
 ON TH E RE LIGI OUS US E OF VARIOUS S TONE S 281

It would be b oth cu r i ou s and i nt er e sting if w e could

tr ace a connecti on b e twe en th e signific ance of th e name s of
th e H e b r ew t r ib e s and th o se of th e b r e astpl at e gems as si gne d
to th e t r ib e s In anci e nt tim e s nam e s wer e much mor e
.

s ignific ant th an th ey ar e to d ay and th e t r ib al nam es in p ar

-

ticul ar p oss e s s e d f or th e H eb r e w s a symb olic me aning but ,

thi s d oe s no t app ear to have induc e d any mar ke d t end ency

to c onne ct th e c ol or s o r th e sym b o lic meaning s of th e d ifi er
.

e nt s t ones with th e f am e o r with th e char act e r i s tic s or

,

fo r tune s of th e s ever al tr ibe s On th e o ther hand th e foun

.
,

dati on s tone s as symb ols of th e Apo s tles b e came a favor ite

, ,

th eme with th e ear ly C hr i s tian wr ite r s Possibly th e ne gle ct

.

o f anci ent H e b r e w w r it e r s to p e r f o r m a s i mil ar t ask in con

ne ction with th e b r e astpl at e s t one s might s till be mad e good ,

e v e n at thi s l at e d at e and an e f f o r t in thi s di r e cti on might

,

r e s ult in gi ving a wid e r r ange to th e s ymb olic valu e of ce r

t ain we ll known gems

-
.

Th e name R eub en si gnifie s B e h old a S on and thi s h as

“ ’
,

b e en given a Me ssi anic m e aning by some comment ator s .

I n J ac ob s e ni gm atic bl es sing e xc e ll e ncy of dignity

’ “ ”
, and
“
e xc ll
e en cy o f p o w e r
”
ar e att r ibut e d to R eub en but thi s ,

birthr ight is tak en fr om h im b e cau se of a heinou s sin h e h as

c ommitte d S till w e might se e in th e car ne lian th e gem o f
.
,

R eub en a symb o l of dignity and power

“ ” “ ”
.
,

S imeon h as b een var i ou s ly r end er e d He ar ing

“
or

H ear k ene r Th e bl e ss ing accu se s h im of an act of c r u e lty

.

in which h e w as aid e d by h is b r o th e r L evi To th e p e ri d o t.

,

o r ch r y solit e d e dic at e d to S im e o n c ould be app r op ri at e ly

, ,

as signe d th e me ani ng g d tidi gs ”

oo n .

Th e p r i es tly functi ons o f th e t r ib e of L evi ar e exp r e s sed

by th e name it se lf which me ans attach ed or j oined
“ ” “
,

th at is to th e alt ar H ence in th e emer ald w e sh ould see th e

,
.

s ymb o l of d e dicati on or mini st r ati on in additi on to its

“ ” “
,
282 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S AND C HARMS

o the r and b e tte r know n me anings s uch as h o p e faith,

‘
,
’ “
,

r e s u r r e cti on
“ ”
and .

F or th e tr ib e of J udah w e h av e th e r uby and h e r e th e ,

me ani ng of th e nam e p r ai s e d fi ts in w e ll with th e di gnity

,
‘
,
’

o f th e r ar e and gl ow i ng r uby Thi s nobl e ge m h a s al way s

.

b e en a favo r it e ad or nm ent f o r r oyal c r owns and fr om Jud ah

s p r ang th e r o yalty o f I s r ae l Th e bl e s s ing giv en to thi s
.

t r ib e d e cl ar e s th at th e s cept r e s hall not de p ar t fr om Judah

‘

nor a l awgive r f r om b e tw e e n h is f e e t u ntil S hil o h c om e ,

.

Thi s is oft e n t ak en to s i gnify th e c o ns umm ati on o f th e

Kingdom of I s r ae l in th e K i ngd om o f H e av en .

I s s ach ar S ignifying r e war d th e r e w ar d e d

” “
“ ”
,
or ,
su g ,

ge st s as symb o lic m e anings of th e tr ib al s t one l api s l azuli ,

s ucc e s s fr uiti on Thi s s t one th e s apphi r e o f th e

” “
and .
,

anci ent s ,
w as typical of h e av en p r ob ably o wi ng to th e ,

app e ar ance o f th e S p e cim ens m o s t highly valu e d in o ld en

time s th ose in which a numb e r of golde n sp o ts ar e s c at

,

te r e d ov e r th e blu e su r fac e o f th e s t one which thu s figu r e ,

b oth th e blu e of h e aven and th e h os t s of th e s t ar s .

Th e t r ib al name Z ebul s gnifi s e x al t ati on

“
o n i e and to ,

thi s tri b e is as signe d a dwe lling pl ac e by th e s e a b o r d e r ing

-

o n th e d omai ns o f th e r ich Ph e nici an s e ap o r t S id on We , .

c oul d thu s see in th e gem of Z ebul on th e onyx a symb ol o f , ,

d omini on and auth or ity This c ould s e r ve to of fs e t s ome o f

.

th e ol d s up e r s titi ons r e g ar di ng th e o nyx which w as s ome ,

times ch ar ge d with b r ingi ng di s cor d and di ss ens i on .

Of th e t r ib e J o s e ph w e ar e t old th at it w as to be in
,

cr e ase d and thi s me aning is contained in th e nam e it s e lf

, ,

which is r end e r e d May Go d ad d

:
“
To J o s e ph w e r e pr om .

i se d ble s si gs of h e av en ab ove and bl e s s ings of th e

“
n
“
“
,
”

d e ep th at li e th und e r Th e s apphi r e p r o b ably th e t r ib al

.
”
,

s t one o f J o s e ph w as kno wn in anci e nt ti m e s by th e name

,

hyacinth and w as a s tone of go o d om e n b r inging inc r e as e ,

 ON TH E R ELI GI OUS USE OF V ARI OUS S TONE S 283

of h e al th and w e alth ; th e r e for e its significance as a tr ib al

gem d o e s not d i f fe r e s s e nti ally fr om th e t r aditi onal one .

B enj ami n s ignifie s “

so n o f th e r ight hand
”
hence thi s ,

nam e d e no t e s s t r e ngth and p ow er Thi s me aning acco r d s

.

we ll with what is said in Jacob s bl essing B enj amin sh all

’
:
“

r av en a s a w o lf ; in th e mo r ni ng h e sh all d e v o u r th e p r e y and

at night h e s h all divid e th e sp o il Th e b ande d agate sym

”
.

bo l iz ing thi s t r ib e would h ave th e me aning s t r ength and “ ”

“
mas t e r y ; i nd e e d acc o r ding to o th e r s ou r c e s th e agat e
”
,

w as r e put e d to b r i ng vict or y to th e w ear e r .

D an is th e “
judge among th e tr ib es acc or ding to th e
”
,

me aning of th e name In J ac ob s bl e ss ing D an is s ai d to be

.
’

a s e r p e nt by th e w ay an add e r in th e p ath The s e

“
and
,
.

m e t aph o r s which m ay no t st r ike u s as c ommend at or y of

,

th e t r ib e p r ob ably indicat e d th e c r aft and c ou r age of th e

,

t r ib e sme n in attacking and de fe ating th e ir foe s and enr ich ,

ing th ems e lve s with th e s p oil s of w ar Th e ame thys t as

.
,

th e t r ib al s t one o f D an c o uld thu s s i gn ify b oth judgment ” ‘

,

and
“
cr aft ”
.

To th e t rib e of Gad w a s giv en th e b er yl and th e fact th at ,

s ph e r e s mad e fr om thi s s t one w er e be li e v e d to be b e s t

ad apt e d f o r u se in c r y s t al gazing m ak e s it an es p e ci ally

-

app r o p r i at e ge m f o r th e t r ib e o f good for tune thi s b eing

“ ”
,

th e m o s t p r ob abl e signific ati on of th e name G ad alth ough

”
,

in th e B ible th e inte r p r e t ati on a t r oop is give n Th e

, .

b e r yl would ther e for e signify good luck and p e r h ap s al s o

“ ”

co bp e r ation.

Th e twe lfth and last tr ib e A sh er h as th e j asp er f or its

, ,

g em . T hi s w o uld al s o gain an au s pici o u s s i gnific ance fr om

its as so ci ati on with A sh e r which me ans h appy

“ ”
,
To th e .

o th e r me ani ngs as s igne d to j as p e r might be add e d that o f

“ h pp
a ine s s ”
A s w e h av e e l s ewh e r e r emar k e d th e r e s eems
. ,

good r e ason to supp o se th at j ade w as fr eq u ently de signate d

284 TH E M AG I C OF JE WEL S A ND C H ARMS
j as p er in anci e nt
time s and thi s s tone w as e ve r ywhe r e be
,

l ieve d to p o ss e s s w ond e r ful m agic p ow e r s .

Th e j as p e r “ as an e mbl em of s t r e ngth and for titud e is

no t e d by S t J e r om e in h is c omm e nt ar y on I s ai ah ( liv 1 1
.
, ,

wh e r e h e wr ite s th at th e bulwar k s o r wall s of th e H oly

C ity we r e s t r e ngth e ne d by j a sp e r Th ese bulwar k s s erve d
. .

to ove r th r o w an d r e fut e ev e ry p r o ud att ack ag ains t th e

knowl e dge of God and to subj e ct fal s eh oo d to t ru th Wh o
,
.

e v e r th e r e fo r e is m o s t c o nvi ncing in d e b at e and b e s t f o r ti

, ,

fi e d wi th t ext s o f H o ly S c r iptu r e is a bulw ar k o f th e

C hu r ch J e r om e al so allud e s to th e var i e ty o f j asp e r
.

cal l e d g r ammatias b e c au s e of th e p e culi ar mar kings su g

, ,

ge s ting l e tt er s of th e alph ab e t Thi s w a s b e li ev e d to p o s s e s s .

gr e at tali smanic vi r tu e e sp e ci ally in putting to flight ph an

,

toms and app ar itions sinc e th e m ar kings we r e thought to

,

s ignify s om e p o t e nt s p e ll w r itt e n on th e s t one by natu r e s

’
,

hand Of ano th e r kind of j asp e r whit e as snow or s e a

.
,
“

fo am and h avi ng r e ddi s h s t ai ns w e ar e t o ld th at it sym

,
” 6
,

bol iz e s th e s pi r itu al gr ac e s which p r e s e r ve th o s e end owe d

,

with th em fr om vain t e r r o r s ; and th e l e ar ne d F athe r quo t e s

a s d e s c r iptiv e o f thi s s t o ne th e w o r d s o f S o l omon s S ong
’

( v 1 0)
, My b el oved is whit e and r uddy .
7

W ri ting of th e s apphi r e ( l api s l azuli ) one of th e foun ,

d ati on st one s of th e H oly C ity S t J e r ome lik ens it to h eave n , .

and to th e ai r ab ove u s addi ng somewh at fancifully th at , , ,

w e might apply to th e s apphi r e th e w or d s of S o c r at e s in th e

C l oud s of A r i s t oph anes : I walk up on air and l ook d ow n
”
“ ‘

up on th e Su n ”
Tu r ning th en to H o ly S c r iptu r e J e r om e
.
,

no t e s th e w e ll know n p as s age in E z eki el ( i 26 ) wh e r e th e

-
,

t
S ome ime s e ie e t o be bl vd ro ck c y st al
r .

5
ct
S an i E u sebii H ier onymi Op a Omnia
er , ed . M igne , vo l . iv, Par ie me , 1 86 5 ,
coL 544 .

“
A t d r col o d massiv qua t
s aine o re e r z .

Sanct i E u scbii H ie onymi Op er a Omnia

r , ed . M igne , vol . iv, Par is u s , 1 86 5 ,
co l . 54 5 .
286 TH E MAG IC OF J E WE L S A ND C HARMS

F r id ay, and thi s d ay al so w e h ave a singul ar ly app r o

f or
r i t
p ate s o e th e a e
n v
,
r i ty o f j a s p e r kn o w n a s th e bl o o d s t on e .

H e r e th e r e d m ar kings can be r e gar d e d as symb o lical of th e

bl o o d of Ou r L o r d s he d f or th e s alvation o f mankind in th e
,

s up r eme s a c r ific e o f th e P a s s i o n W h e n th e h.e a d o f th e

C h ri s t is cut i n thi s s t on e it is o ft e n p o s s ibl e to utiliz e th e r ed

s p o t s to fi gu r e th e d r o p s o f bl oo d fl o wi ng f r om th e w o u nd s

inflict e d by th e C r o wn o f Th or ns .

With th e gl ad tidings of C h r i s tmas D ay is intimate ly

as so ci at e d th e m e m o r y o f th e S t ar o f B e thl e h e m . which ,

s e r ve d as a b e a c on light to guid e th e th r e e wi s e m en o f th e

E a s t to th e humbl e m ange r wh e r e i n r e p os e d th e ne wly b o r n —

S avi ou r o f th e Wor ld H e nce f or thi s gr e at C h ri s ti an

.

fe s tival no gem can e qu al th e s tar s apphi r e combining as it -

d oe s th e pu r e s apphi r e h u e always l ook e d up o n as symb olic

-
,

o f th e high e s t m o r al s pi r itu al
,
and r e li gi o u s sentiment s
, ,

and th e my s t e r i o u s m o vi ng s t ar which S hifti ng its app ar e nt

, ,

pl ac e with th e s light e s t movement of th e s t one s e em s en ,

d owed with a wond er ful ind ep e nd ent life ju s t as th e ph e ,

nome nal s t ar o f B e thl e h em u nlik e th e fi x e d and ch ange

,

le s s s t ar s of th e fi rm ame nt glid e d th r ough th e h e avenly e x

,

p anse by a mi r aculou s moti on d u e ind ee d to some s up e r

, ,

natu r al l aw but di ff e r i ng in ki nd and d e g r e e fr om al l th e

,

u su al e ve r y d ay asp e ct s of natu r e
,
-
.

Th e s ymb o li sm of p r e ci ou s s t one s p r es ent e d in so many

difi er ent w ay s by th e e ar ly e ccl e sias tic al wr it e r s app e ar s
in th e p r ayer o ffe r e d by th e A r chbi s h op of C ant e r bu r y at
th e cor onati on of th e kings and qu e e ns of E ngl and While .

th e kin g k ne e l s up on a f oo t s t ool th e ar chbi s h o p t ak e s S t , .

E dwar d s C r own and l ay s it up on th e alt ar ; wh e r e up o n h e

’

p r onounc es th e foll owing wo r d s

0 , Go d , th e cr own of the f aith f ul w h o on th e h e ads of Thy saints p l ac e d
,

cr own s o f glor y bless and s anctif y this c r own that as th e s ame is ador ne d
, ,
288 TH E MAGI C OF J E WE L S A ND C HARMS

One ve r y cu r i ou s c ase s of th e empl oyment of a

of th e
pu r e ly s e cular R om an gem f or e ccl e siastical u s e s is o f fe r e d
by th e exc ee dingly b e autiful conve x blu e aqu am ar ine e n
gr av e d with th e h e ad o f Ju l i a daught e r of Titu s a fi ne wor k , ,

of th e Augu s t an A ge now in th e F r ench C abine t d e s ,

Méd aill e s in P ar i s Thi s w as d onat e d in th e ninth c entu r y by

.

th e C ar o lingi an e m p e r o r Ch a r l e s th e B ald to th e Tr e a su r y, ,

o f S t D eni s aft e r it h ad b e e n gi v e n a s e tting o f p e ar l s and

.
,

p r e ci ou s stone S In S t Deni s it w as pl ace d at th e ap e x o f a

. .

r e liqu ar y which b e c am e kno wn as th e Or at o r ium o f C h ar l e

,

m agne and th e h e ad of th e v ain and w or ldly p r ince ss is s aid

,

to h av e b e en v ene r at e d by th e pi ou s m onk s and p r i e s ts as th at

o f th e Vi r gi n M ar y A s a w o r k o f p or t r ait ar t thi s gem is
.

o ne o f th e fi ne s t ex am pl e s f r om cl as sic time s
13
.

Th e s tr ange d e ca d e nc e and th e c onventi onaliz e d but p r o

f ou nd l y e a r ne s t qu ality o f E ar ly C hr is ti an ar t is sh o wn
in an intagli o gem of th e R oy al Numi sm atic M u s eum in
Muni ch Thi s is a d ar k hu e d s ar d onyx o f tw o l aye r s and
.
-
,

th e e ng r aving d e pict s a b e ar d e d C h r i s t e nth r one d and ao ,

comp ani e d by th e twe lve ap ostl e s six on e ith e r side fou r , ,

o f th em b e ar dl e ss whil e th e r em ai nd e r ar e r e p r e s e nt e d with

b e ar d s ; th ey ar e al l gazing r eve r ently up o n th e c entr al

figur e b e hind whose h e ad app e ar th e ar ms of th e cr os s and
,

ab o ve th em th e l e tt e r s 7 Anothe r s ome
’
“
'

7 D TC y g s
I a é ao ar g.

what s imil ar E ar ly C hr i stian gem is a came o cut in a s ar

d onyx o f th r e e l aye r s th e gr oundwor k b e ing a b r owni sh
,

bl ack and th e figu r e s of a light blui sh h u e th e upp er p art s

,
-
,

yell owi sh b r ow n H e r e al so w e h ave an enshr ine d C hri st ;

-
.

ab o v e h is h e ad tw o ange l s h o ld a di ad em Thi s is of sup e r i or .

wor kmanship to th e int agli o gem ju s t des cr ib e d Th e r e is .

15

a s ar d onyx c am eo sh ow ing a r ud e figu r e o f th e P r o ph e t

”
bd
I i vo l
i, P a e L V I II,
. . 8; l t
es r i e X
in vol ii, fig . d c bd p 307
X
, . . .

1‘
Op cit , vol i, P a e L VI I , in No 7 ;
. . . l t
es r i e in vo l . d c bd ii, p 3 07
X
. . .

‘5
. . . l t
Op cit , vol i, P a e L V II , No 3 ; e s r i e in vo l ii, . d c bd . p . 3 07
.
 ON TH E R E L IGI OUS US E OF V ARI OUS S TONE S 289

D ani e l , lion on e ither s ide of h im and ins cri b e d with h is

a ,

name in Gr e ek l e tt e r s Thi s is of B yz antine wo r kmanship

. .
16

Th e r el iqu ar iu m of Witt ekind now in th e Ku ns tgewer b e ,

Mu s eum at B e r lin is c ons ider e d to be p r ob ably th e mos t

,

imp or tant S p ecim en of e ar ly F r anki sh gold smith wor k th at -

h as b e en p r eser v e d and is r ichl y s e t with p r e ci ou s s t one s

, ,

some o f th e se b e ing anci e nt gem s Thi s is one of a numb e r .

of c as e s wh er e engr ave d s t one s of P agan time s w e r e u se d

in th e ad or nment of or nament al obj e ct s d e s ti ne d f or C h r i s

tian r eligi ou s u se Th e upp er e dge sh ows a r ow of en
.

twine d anim al figur e s and th e fr ont sid e h as me dalli ons with

,

p r imitive bi r d fo rm s in cl oi s onné ename l ; on th e r e ve r s e

s id e ar e v e r y r ud e ly e x e cut e d r e p ou ss é figu r e s o f sai nt s .

Thi s w or k is a s signe d to th e l atte r p ar t of th e e ighth c e ntu r y

A D and is c onj e ctu r e d to h ave b een a gift fr om C h ar l em agne
. .
,

t o th e S ax on King Witt eki nd on th e o ccasi on of th e l att e r s

’
,

c onve r s i o n to C hr i s ti anity in th e ye ar 807 It w as l ong pr e .

s er ve d in Witt e ki nd s f ou nd ati on at E nge r ne ar H er fo r d

’
,

to which h e h ad b e qu e ath e d h is t r e asu r e s ; in 141 4 it w as r e

move d f or safe k e eping to th e J oh anniskir ch e at Her for d
-
,

wh er e it r emaine d until 1888 wh en it c ame int o th e p o ss e s ,

s i on of th e B e r li n Ku ns tge w e r b e Mu seum Thi s p r e ci ou s .

e x ampl e o f th e e ar li e s t Ge rm an w o r k h as th e for m o f a small

p or t abl e s atch e l in which c ould be pl aced th ose sacr e d r elics

,

th e o wne r might wi s h to b e ar ar ound with h im b ecau se of th e

p r ote cti on th ey wer e assume d to
One of th e most not abl e and v alu abl e obj e ct s in th e
famou s Gu elph tr easur e th at h as r e cently b een b r ough t b ack
to th e city of B r unswick as a r e sult of th e mar r i age of th e
D uke of Cumb e r l and s s on E r ne s t Augu stu s with th e
’
, ,

daughter o f E mpe r or Willi am II is an e lab or ately d e si gne d ,

1"
Op . i, P a e L
cit .
, . l t XV
I I, No 1 ; e s r i e in vol 1 1 ,
vol 3 07 . d c bd . p . .

m Han dbuch
d er K6nigl ich en M seum z u Ber in, K ns ge er u l u t w be M u seum,
by Jul u
i s L eas ing, Ber in, 189 2, p 14 l . .

19
29 0 THE M AGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
cr o s s a ve r y fine sp e cimen of th e gold smith s ar t of th e
,
’

twe lfth ce ntu r y Thi s with th e o th er tr e asu r e s w as t ake n

.

by th e Duke of Cumb e r l and to Vienna f o r saf e k ee ping at -

,

th e time h e g ave up in 1 884 h is titl e as D uk e of B r uns

, ,

wick r ath er th an acknowl edge P ru s si an sup r emacy Th e

,
.

cr o s s which h as th e for m of a so call e d cr utch cr o ss

,
“ - -
,
”

with r e ct angul ar p r oj e cting pl at es at th e end s o f th e arm s ,

w a s d e s i gn e d to s er v e as a r e liqu ar y th e r e lic sh r i ne b e ing ,

in a cr ucifor m c ap sul e b ehind a small r ou nd e dge d go lde n ,

-

c r oss s et in th e mid s t of th e cr os s p r op e r Th e p r e ciou s .

r e lic s r e p os ing h e r e w e r e s aid to be b ones o f J ohn th e B ap

tist S t P e t e r S t M ar k th e E vang e li s t and S t S e b as ti an

, .
,
.
,
. .

On th e r e ve r s e s id e of th e cr oss ar e se t fou r l ar ge and b e auti

ful s apphi r e s and in th e centr e is a r em ar k ably b r illi ant
t op az .

Whil e nothing d efinit e is know n as to th e gold smith w h o

e x e cut e d thi s w o r k its s tyl e and gene r al ch ar act e r sugge s t
,

th e c onj e ctu r e th at it may h av e b een p r o duce d by th e ar ti s t

w h o mad e th e C r own of C h ar l emagne in Vi enna r e ally a ”
,

cr own ex e cut e d f or C onr ad III King of th e Ge r mans ( 109 3 ,

th e fi r s t H oh ens t auf en and al s o s e v er al r e gal o r na

,

me nt s f o r th e l att e r s consor t Q u een Gi s el a In additi on

’
,
.

to th e j ew e ll e d d e cor ati on of its r ev e r se th e fr ont o f th e ,

cr os s is s e t with m any p e ar l s and th e for m of th e se s e ttings

,

is one of th e chi e f ar gum ent s adduce d in fav or of att r ibut

ing it to th e m ak e r of th e so c all e d C r ow n of C h ar l e -

magne .
16 "

A n e ccl es i as tic al j ew e l of gr e at b e auty and r emar k abl e

hi s tori c int e r e s t is know n as th e C r o ss of Z accari a It w as .

s e cu r e d in 1 308 by Tici no Z acc ari a at th e captu r e o f th e

anci ent G r eek c ol oni al city Ph o cma in A si a Minor and w as , ,

d onat e d to th e C ath e dr al o f S an L or enz o in G eno a Thi s .

16 !)
Th e J w ll
e e er s
’
C ir cular , We dne sd ay , c
De e mb er 16 , 19 14 , vol . lx ix , No 20,
.
292 TH E M AGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
tions of ixte enth centu r y s e ems to p r ove th e exi stence
th e s

o f th e gem in th e Vatican t r e as u r y ab o ut th e tim e s p e cifi e d

,

and it h as b een c onj e ctu r e d with s om e p r ob ability that th e

, ,

em e r ald h ad b e en e ngr ave d by a B yz antine a r ti s t at som e

time b e for e 1453 when C onst antinople fell into th e hand s

,

o f th e Tu r k s and th at thi s ge m f o r m e d p ar t o f th e b o o ty
,

the y the n s e cur e d A p ri nt often copie d ph oto gr aphically

.
,

an d o th e r wi se pu r p o r ti ng to be a r e p r e se nt ati on o f thi s
,

e m e r al d p o r t r ait o f C h r i s t h as no e vid enti al v alu e an d h as

, ,

e ith er b e e n f r e e ly w o r k e d up f r om th e d e t ail s o f th e s pu r i ou s

l e tte r o f L entulu s to Tib e r iu s giving a p e r sonal de s cri ption ,

o f th e S avi o u r o r s till m o r e p r o b ably fr o m a R af ae l e s qu e

,

typ e of C hri s t s h e ad ’
.
18

Th e b e a d s of r o sa r ies wh e n bl e s s e d by th e S up r em e
,

P o nti f f or by one of th e dignit ari e s of th e C hu r ch ar e con

, ,

s id e r e d to be e nd ow e d with a c e r t ain s p e ci al vi r tu e in favo r

o f th e individu al f or wh om th e bl e ss i ng is imp ar t e d H ow .

e ve r s h o uld thi s p er son l o an th e b e ad s to an o th er w ith th e

,

intenti on of m aking h im a p ar tak er of thi s s pe ci al ble ss ing ,

o r indulgencing they l ose the ir vi r tue I t is pr e scr ib e d

,
.

that thes e b e ads s hould be made of s tone gl as s or s ome , ,

o th e r du r abl e mate ri al no t e as ily b r ok e n in o r d e r th at th e ,

e f f e ct s of th e bl e ss ing s h ould not be l os t o r p e r h ap s th at ,

th e obj e ct s o bl e s se d s h ould be l e ss li abl e to inju r y V ar i ou s .

p r e ci ou s s tone s as we ll as p e ar l s ar e u se d f or this pu r p o se ,

ther e b eing gener al ly gr oup s of ten smal l sph er e s e ach ,

gr oup se p ar at e d fr om th e other by a l ar ger spher e th e ten ,

.

smal l er b e ad s s er ving to nu me r at e th e p at er no s t e r s whil e

th e l ar ge h e ad is p asse d th r ough th e fi ng er s wh en a cr e d o h as
b e en r e cite d .

A l e gend v e r y p o pul ar in th e Middl e Age s h as b e en con

e sou r c e o f th e w o r d r o sa r y s appli e d
“ ”
j ec tu r e d to b e th a

1"
S ee C W Kin ,
. . E ar g
C r is ian N mism a i ly h t u t cs
, L ond o n, 187 3 , pp . 95
Th e E mer a ld
V e r ni e of th e a i an
”
cl V tc .
 ON TH E R ELI GIOUS US E OF V ARIOUS S TONE S 29 3

to a chaple t of b ead s f or counting p r ayer s Thi s l e gend .

te ll s of a pious youth wh o on each and e ver y d ay wove a ,

gar land of r oses f or th e statue of th e Vir gin in th e p ar ifi i

chur ch His r eligi ou s z e al s oon indu ce d h im to b ecome a
.

mo nk and as th e r es t ri cti ons and duti es of monas tic lif e

,

f or ce d h im to di s continu e his flor al off erings h e w as much ,

tr ouble d in c ons ci ence and w as only r eli eved wh en th e abb ot

,

to ld h im th at by r e citing 150 aves at th e close of each d ay ,

h e w ould pl e as e th e Vi r gin as m uch as by th e gi ft of fl ow e r s .

Th e p r aye r s w er e faithft s aid and th ey e v entu ally h e

came th e o ccasion of a mir acl One evening as th e yo ung e. ,

monk w as tr ave r sing a dense for e s t it suddenl y o ccu r r e d to ,

him that h e h ad fo r go tt en to r e cit e his ave s H e kne lt do wn .

quicklyand b egan to p r ay ; all at once h e saw a radi ant and

b e autiful figur e st anding b e fo r e h im and h e imme diat e ly ,

r e c o gniz e d in it th e B l e s s e d Vi r gin Gr aci ou sly sh e b ent .

o v e r him and d r e w fr om h is lip s one r os e aft er th e o th e r ,

until fif ty r oses of sup ernatu r al b e auty l ay up on th e gr ound .

Of th e s e sh e th en ma d e a gar l and and pl ace d it up on th e h e ad

of h e r fai thful ser vant
1 .
9

T h e fi rs t lit e r ar y al lu s i on to r os ar i es in Indi a is in a Jain

tr e atis e wr itten ab out th e b e ginning of ou r er a Th e Pr ak r it .

name h e r e empl oye d gcme ttiya is e quival ent to th e s ans cr it

, ,

g emayitr ika o r
“
count er and it is enumer ated among th e
,
”
,

ten ut ensil s of a B r ahm an as c e tic Th e o th er nine ar e .

th e tr id and a s tick th e w at e r jar th e B r amanical th r e ad th e

-
, , ,

e ar th en v e s se l nam e d k ar otika th e bundl e of st r aw u s e d as a ,

s e at th e cl out th e six kno tt e d wood th e h ook and th e -

, , , ,

fi nger r ing I t is s aid th at no m enti on of r os ar i e s h as b e en

-
.

found in Indian B uddhis t liter atur e .

20

1°
hur s ton
T , His to ry
i n al l C o n r iof
es ,
”
th e Ro s ar
o rna y u t Ju l of th e
S o cie ty f A r t s
o , vo
l 1, 27 1 ; Lon on, 19 02
. p . d .

2“
L eu mann, Rosar ies Me n ione in I n ian Li er a r e ; in Tr ans t d d t tu . of th e
th g
Nin C on of Or ien ; ( 189 2 ) Lo n on, 189 3 ,
. t 883- 889 . d pp .
294 TH E MA GI C OF J E WE L S A ND C HARM S

A S pl endid e ccle si as tical o rname nt is de s cri b ed in th e

invent o r y of th e r oyal t r e asu r es in th e C hat e au d e F ont aine
bl e au mad e in 1 560 o n th e acce s sion of Ch ar le s IX Thi s
,
.

w a s o f go ld and c omp o se d of a cr ucifix with th e figur e s o f

th e Vi r gi n M ar y and S t J o hn I t w as enr ich e d with 4 1 . .
“

s apphi r e s 3 p o i nt e d di am ond s and 12 b al as r ubi e s which -

”
, ,

s e r v e d to m ar k th e nail s in th e c r oss Th e w e ight o f th e g o ld .

w as 25 mar k s 5 ounc e s and th e v alu e of th e e nti r e obj e ct , ,

go ld and p r e ci ou s s tone s is give n as 27 20 écu s or ab out , ,

$ 6 120 Th e int r ins ic valu e of th e gold al one w ould be ab out

.

Th e mos t imp r e s siv e of th e e ccl e s i as tical o r na m e nt s in

th e S p ani sh chu r che s w as th e cus to d ia or monst r ance in , ,

whi ch th e H o ly E uch ar i s t w as b or ne thr ough th e s t r e e t s o n

C o r pu s C h r i s ti d ay ; ind e e d o nly at thi s time w as th e cu s ,

to di a publicly s h own I t w as in fact a lar ge sh r ine gene r .

,

ally aff e cti ng th e f o r m o f a chu r ch t o w e r Th e m o s t an ci e nt .

e x am pl e now in e xi s t e nc e is in th e C ath e d r al of G e r o na It .

is o f gold is m ( o v er 6 fe e t ) high and weigh s near ly

,
.
,

6 6 p o und s Thi s w o r k in which th e a r chit e ctu r al s tyl e is

.
,

an o r nat e G o thic w as c ompl e t e d in 14 5 8 by th e g old smith

,

F r anci s c o d e A sis A r t au One o f th e fine s t S p e cim ens h ow .

,

e ve r w as e x e cut e d by E nr iqu e d A r p h e f or C h ar l e s V and is

’
,

in th e C ath e d r al o f T o l e d o Thi s cu s to d ia m e asu r e s no l e ss .

th an nine fe e t in h e ight and is th r ee fe e t wid e He r e al s o .

th e form is that of a Go thic t ow e r ; th e c r os s at th e ap ex w as

ma d e by th e go ld smith L aine z and is ad o r ne d with 86 p e ar l s ,

and 4 l ar g e e me r a ld s .

Th e sh r ine it se lf c ont ains 7 9 5 m ar k s w e ight o f S ilve r ’

( ab out 600 p ound s ) th e g ol d in its c omp o siti o n w eighing

,

“1
In v nt y
e or of ro y al t r e as u h t au d
r es in th e C a e e Fo nt ain bl au Bibl
e e , . N at .

MS anc 4 7 3 2 ; f ol 3 of t anscr ipt in autho l ib y f om th coll ct

’
. fr . . r r s r ar r e e i on o f

M E M o l inier
. . .
29 6 TH E M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
Th e wr iter of a B ohemian p oem on th e le gend of S t .

C ath er i ne s b et r o th al to C h r i s t wr itt en ab out 1355 app e ar s

’
, ,

to h ave b een in one p ar t i nspi r e d by th e gl owing ad o r n

, ,

ment of th e Wence slau s chap e l in th e c athe d r al of S t Ve it . .

Th e p oe t gl ve s an e nthu si astic d e s c r ipti on of th e gor ge ou s

or nament ati o n o f th e mys tic imagi nar y t empl e in which th e
,

b e tr o thal tak e s place Th e p avement is of aquamar i ne

.

b e r yl th e w all s ar e studd e d with di am ond s in go lden set

,

tings th e f r am e w o r k of th e wind ow s is alt e r nat e ly of em er ald

,

or of s apphi r e and th e wi nd o w p ane s ar e no t o f s t aine d

,
-

glass but of p r e ci ou s or s emi p r e ciou s st one s S ome of th e se

,
-
.

ar e no t ill fitt e d f o r thi s u se th e t r ansp ar ency o f r ubi e s , ,

am e thys t s spine l s ,
j acinth s gar ne t s and simil ar st ones
, , , ,

ad mitting quit e sufl i cient light ; but o th e r s menti one d h e r e ,

s uch as tu r qu o i se s ch alc e d ony s and j as p e r s w o uld p er m it

, ,

but a d im r ay of light to tr ave r se th e ir o p aqu e o r s emi

o p aqu e sub s t anc e It h as b een conj e ctu r e d by som e that th e
.

p o e t dr ew h is m at er i al fr om th e acc ount of th e t empl e of

th e H o ly Gr ail in th e ol d G er man l e gend p r ob ably th r ough ,

a B oh emi an ve r s i on ; but as h e omit s in h is enumer ati on

twe lve of th e stone s giv en in th e Gr ail le gend and add s ,

a numb er of o th e r s di am o nd tu r qu o i s e ch alc e d ony gar ne t

, , , , ,

e tc
.
,
thi s lit er ar y s ou r ce is not fully s ati sfactor y R ath er .

might it be b e li e v e d th at th e spl endid d e c or ati on o f th e W en

cesl au s ch ap e l and o f th e K ar l s t e in C as tl e s ugge s t e d th e

vi s i on wr ought ou t by th e B oh emi an p oe t e sp e ci al ly as ,

am ong th e s t one s h e m e nti o ns which ar e not in th e Gr ail

le gend w e h ave th e garne t s o eminently a p r o duct of B 0

, ,
? “it
h ernia
A p e culi ar and ve r y int e r e s ting fac ette d di amond of
c ar at s di spl ays alter nate black and white facet s and
p r e sent s th e app e ar ance of a cl e ar ly de fine d Gr eek cr o ss in
”a
Dr . B J eéek ,
.
“
A u s d em R ei ch e d er E d l t einen
e s ,
”
Pr a g , 19 13 , pp . 128
 ON TH E RE LI GI OUS USE OF V ARI OUS S TONE S 29 7

bl ack outline wh en viewe d by t r ansmitt e d light Th e or igi .

nal c r ys t al which c am e f r om B r azil and w e igh e d

, car at s ,

w as an o ct ah e d r on and w as of a j et bl ack h u e Th e exp e cta .

ti on w as that th e r e sult of its cutting would be th e p r o

ducti on of a black b r illi ant but when one of th e p oint s of ,

th e o ct ah e d r on h ad b een r em ov e d to f orm th e t able it be ,

came evident that th e bl ack tint w as onl y supe r ficial th e ,

b o dy of th e cr ys tal b e ing whit e Thi s p eculi ar ity w as then .

utiliz e d by l e aving s ome of th e natur al bl ack fac es of th e

cr ys t al Thi s di am ond w as found to be of exce s s ive har d
.

ne ss r end e r ing th e t ask of cutting it an e xc ee dingly ar du

,

ou s o ne I t is now in th e p o s se ss i on of one of th e R o yal

.

H ou s eh old of S i am .
25

Am ong th e B uddhi s t l e gends cu r r ent in Indi a in th e

s e ve nth c entu r y A D is one r e fe r r ing to th e v as e s o f f e r e d
. .

by th e
“
f u ki gs o h ave to th e B uddh a The y fi r st
o r n f e n
”
.

b r ought fo u r go ld vas e s but th e B uddh a d e clar e d th at one ,

w h o h ad r enou nc e d th e w o r ld c o uld not u se s uch c o s tly v as e s

'
.

S ilv e r v e s s e l s we r e th en s ub stitut e d and we r e al s o r e fu s e d , ,

as w e r e s ucc e ss ive ly v as e s m ad e o f r o ck c r ys t al l api s l azuli -

car ne lian amb e r r uby and o th e r p r e ci ou s mat e r i al s

, , .

F inally fo u r s t one v ase s w e r e p r o f fe r e d

,
T h e s e w e r e of .

vi ol e t col or and t r ansp ar ent but th e fact th at th ey w e r e ,

not of p r e ci ou s m at er i al r end e r e d th em acc ept abl e to th e

B uddh a .
26

Th e im age s of B uddh a u su ally b e ar a s ad o r nm ent a small

gem Thi s is m os t fr e qu e ntly a mo ons t one but o cc as i onally
.
,

a r uby or som e o th e r gem will be u s e d Th e r e as on f or thi s .

r e ligi o u s u s e of gems mu s t not be s ought only in th e id ea

th at p r e ci ou s and co stly obj e cts ar e mos t fitting as decor a -

S ee G . F . Kunz , Fi ve l
B r az i ian D iamon d s, c
S ien c e, vo l . iii, p . 649 ,
No 6 9 M ay 3 0, 1884
. ,
.

2"
u en Tsang
He M émo ir es su r l es contr ées ccid ntal
o e e s,
”
Fren ch tr ans
by S tanis l as Jul i n
, .

e ,
Par is , 185 7 , vo l . i, p . 4 82 .
298 TH E M AGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
tions of c d image s but it al so impli e s a ce r tain b e li e f
th e sa re ,

in th e m agic o r qu asi s acr e d ch ar act e r o f th e gem it s e lf

- .

Th e S ad d h ar ma Pu nd ar ika one o f th e ni ne mos t s acr e d ,

b ook s of th e Buddhi s t s comp ose d p e r h ap s as e ar ly as th e

,

b e ginning o f ou r e r a gives th e following de scr ipti on o f a

,

c el e sti al stup r a a s or t of s hri ne cont aining a ce l e sti al

,

b e ing 27

It [th e stap m ] consis te d v

p r e cious subst anc es via gold silver
of se en , , , ,

lap is l az uli mus ar agal va emer al d r e d cor al and Kar ketana stone
, , , ,
.

This s tap m of p r e c io us s ubstan c es onc e f or me d th e go ds of p ar ad ise ,

s tre we d and c ov er e d it with mand c im va and gr e at mand ar a fl ow ers A nd

‘
f
.

f r om th at st up r a of p r e ciou s s ub st anc es th er e iss u e d th e v oice E xc ellent ,

e xc elle nt L or d Sékyamu ni ! th o u h as t w ell exp o unde d th e Dh ar map aya

,
r ya

of t eh L otu h
s of t e T r u e L aw S o is it L o
. rd ; s o is it s uga ta
”
, ,
.

S ome of th e mos t v alu abl e t empl e t r e asu r e s in th e I sl and

o f C e yl on w e r e p r e se r ve d in a p ago d a ne ar th e f r onti e r s o f

th e r e al m of S aul a Th e r e p o r t of th e go ld and j ewe l s

.

accumul at e d h e r e e xcit e d th e avidity o f th e P o r tu gue se , th e n

in c ont r o l cons ide r abl e p ar t of th e i s land and finally an

of a ,

e ne r ge tic att empt w as m ad e to g ai n p os se ss i on o f th e m .

Alth ough th e exi s tence of th e p ago da w as we ll att e s t e d th e ,

P or tugu e se we r e ignor ant o f its ex act l o cati on in th e tr act

of f o r es t l and wh e r ei n it s t oo d Th e e xp e diti onar y fo r c e .

c onsi st e d o f 1 50 P or tugu e se and 2000 L as car s On ne aring .

th e fo r e s t th e y pl ac e d th emse lv es und e r th e guid ance o f a

nativ e c aptu r e d in th e ne ighb o r h oo d H e l e d th em th r ough .

th e w o o dl and t r av e r s ing it hith er and thith er but no p ago d a

, ,

app e ar e d S udd enly th e nativ e exhibit e d signs of madne ss

.
,

which w e r e at fi r st b eli eve d to be s imul at e d but w e r e later ,

r e g ar d e d as g enui ne on which h e w as ma d e aw ay with and

,

ano th e r nativ e s ub s titut e d h o w ev e r with th e s am e r e sult, , .

One afte r ano th e r fi ve native s s h owe d th e s ame sym pt oms

2’
Th e S add h ar ma Pu nd ar ik a,
-
or th e L o tu s of th e T r ue L aw , ” t r ans . by
H . K er n, O f or x d
1 884, , 22 8 p . .
300 TH E M AG I C OF J E W E L S A ND C H ARMS
ing fr om ab o ut 2000 ye ar s ago One of th e mo s t s tr iking o f .

the s e is a r e lic cask e t t aken fr om a top s of th e typ e c alle d

d ag oba thi s nam e d es i gnating th at cl as s of th os e B uddhi s t
,

s t r uctu r e s d e s igne d e s p e ci ally f o r th e r e c e pti o n o f r e lic s .

Thi s r e lic c ask e t is o f s t e atit e and c o nt aine d a g o ld e n box ,

within which w as a fr agm e nt o f b o ne p r e s um ably r e gar de d ,

as a r e lic o f th e B uddh a ; ar o u nd it w e r e m any p e ar l s as w e ll

a s e ngr av e d c ar ne li ans and al so a nu mb e r o f o th e r p r e ci o u s

s t one s .

A c ar ve d s apphi r e once in th e co ll e cti on o f th e M ar qu e s s

,

o f No r th am pt o n s h o w s a r e p r e s ent ati on o f th e H indu divin

,

ity S iva It is of Indi an wor km anship and th e st one me as

,
. .

ur es inch e s in l ength inch e s in width and 34 inch in

,

thi ckne ss .
30

One o f th e w r it e r s mos t fam ili ar wi th I ndi an gem l o r e -

r e co gniz e s th at whil e th e r ich and e duc at e d H indu s o f ou r

d ay w e ar diamond s and o th e r gems chi efly as or name nt s in ,

anci ent time s th e s e b r illi ant obj e ct s w e r e m or e l ar ge ly em

ploye d in Indi a to e nr ich th e im age s of th e go d s thu s r en ,

d e r ing th e id ol s mo r e im p r e s sive and cau sing th em to be

wor shi pp e d with mo r e int ense fe r vo r In anci ent Indi a .

gemm e d o r nament s we r e b eli eve d to b r ing to th e we ar e r

r e s p e ct fame l ong e vity w e alth h appi ne ss s t r e ngth and
, , , , ,

fr uitio n a li s t of b ene fit s l o ng enough to s ati sfy th e mos t

e xig ent H o w e ve r as th o ugh thi s w er e no t eno ugh w e ar e
.
, ,

fu r th e r as su r e d th at th e s e gem s war d o ff e vil as tr al in

“

flu e nce s mak e th e b o dy h e althy r e m ov e m i s e r y and ill

, ,

fo r tune and w ash away s

,
i n
”
.
31

Th e o ld e s t j e w e l o f fe r e d to a s h r ine by an I ndi an p o t e n
tate of which w e h av e c e r tain kno wl e dge w as a m agnific e nt
, ,

p end ant cont aining a numb e r of p r e ci ou s s t one s th e gift of ,

8"
Pr o c dings
ee of c ty
th e S o ie of t quar ies
An i of L ond on , vo l . xvii p
, . 1 6 8,
i llu st ati
r on .

“1
S u r ind r o M ohu n Tagor e , M ani M a l a, ” Pt II , C a lcutta, 1 88 1, pp 5 7 3 ,
. ,

6 01 , 7 03 .
3 02 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

means di s cr iminating b e twe en genuine and imit ati on

of

cor al ; genuine co r al h ad th e sm e ll of s e w t a a e r Th e - .

C hine s e and th e Hi ndu s p r iz e d thi s sub st ance v e r y highly

“

b e cau s e among th em it w as u s e d to ador n th e image s of th e

go d s .
34

Th e p e r for at e d j ad e di s k call e d ts ang p i is s till u s e d as

’

th e s ym b o l of th e d e ity H e av e n ( T ie n) in th e t empl e o f th at
’

divinity at P eking By a r e gul ati o n of E mp er or K ie n lung

.
’ -

th e p r o p e r dime ns i ons of thi s c e r em oni al di s k w e r e r i gi dly

e s t abli s h e d ; th e di ame t e r o f th e di s k p r o p e r w as s et at

inche s and its thickne ss at 7/ 10 o f an inch ; th e p e r fo r ation

,

w as to have a di ame t er of 4/ 10 o f an inch While th e qu al ity .

of th e j a d e to be empl oye d is no t e s p e ci ally d e te r mine d th e ,

nam e ts ang impli es j ade o f a blui s h sh ad e Th e ve ine d

’
.

typ e of s tone is r e gar de d as p e culi ar ly adapte d f o r thi s

pu r p os e .
35

We ar e apt to r egar d Tib e t as th e land l e as t acce ssibl e to

mo de rn influ ence of any kind and that l east in t ouch with ,

any a s p e ct of E u r op e an civiliz ati on It s e ems th e r e for e no t

.
, ,

a lit tl e s t r ange th at at th e chi e f alt ar of th e R oy al C h ap e l in

th e D al ai L ama s p al ace on P otal a Hill L h asa th e e l ab or at e

’
, ,

ts e bou m ( ince nse vase or v e s s e l ) u se d by th e B uddh i s t

-
,

p r i e st s in th eir se r vices is a p r o duct of mod ern P ar i si an art

, ,

having b e en mad e in P ar i s ab out ten y ear s ago Th e ve s se l .

p r op e r which is c ar v e d fr om s ever al exc epti onally l ar ge

,

pi ece s o f cor al r est s up on a flat silver gilt b ase o r nam ente d

, ,
-
,

w ith tw o d r agons and is c r owne d with an oval fr ame w or k of

,

l api s l azuli l e ave s ; up on thi s fr amew or k is a cor al s t atu e tte

o f Am it abh a th e L or d o f B ou ndl e ss L ight r e v e r e d a s th e
“
, ,

e man a ti on of Adi B uddha s upp or t e d by a l o tu s fl o w e r o f

-
,

V on H ammer , A u sz tige au s d e m er s is en Wer e , B p ch

d er E e s e ine , k uch dlt
von M o amm eh d
Ben M anssu r in F n r u dg ub
e n d es Or ie n s , vo l vi, 13 8 ; t . p .

Wien, 1 818
Jd
.

“5
Ber o th ld
L a f er , a e, a S u in C ines e A r h a tudy
eo o h
and Re i io n
g ,
c l gy l
c g
Ch i a o, 19 12, 15 7 p . .
 PE R FO R A T ED J A D E D I S K C A L L E D TS A N G P I , A C H I N E S E S
'
Y M BOL O F T H E
D E IT Y H E A V E N ( T IE N )
'

F r o m B e r t h o l d L a u f cr , J ad e , a S t ud y in C h i nes e A rch e ol o gy and R el i g i o n. C h i ca g o. 19 12 , p

B) co ur te s y o f t h e aut h o r and F ie ld M use u m of l
Nat u r a Il l s to r y C h i cago
,
3 04 THE M AGIC OF JE WE LS A ND C HAR MS

id ol consi st s of m agnific ent

diamond s r ubie s emer alds and , ,

ind m nil a or Indi an sapphi r e s P ear l tu r qu o i se and c or al .

,

ne ckl ac es ar e twine d ar ound th e figur e s ne ck and cr oss e d

’

o ve r its b r e as t ; on its h e ad r es t s a g old en c or one t wi th a

se tting o f tur qu o i s e s and r i s ing fr om th e r im o f thi s cor one t

,

ar e fi ve up r ight l e av es withi n e ach o f which is a small go ld e n

image of th e Buddh a ; fr om one o f th ese hangs as a p endant

a r emar kably fi ne l ar g e and fl awl e s s pi e c e of tu r qu o i se
, ,

me asu ring six inch e s in l ength and f ou r i nch e s in width Al l .

th ese spl endor s l avish e d up on th e image of th e gr eat ap ostl e

o f th e s impl e life sh ow but a p oor c omp r eh ens i on of th e

d eep me anings and t end enci e s of h is e ar ly car e er .

Tr e ating of th e r eligi ou s a sso ci ati ons of tu r qu oi se among

th e Tib et ans Dr B er thold L aufe r wr it e s
, .
37

Turquoises, y in connection w ith gol d bel ong to th e most ancient

us uall ,

p ro p itiatory of f erings to the go ds and demons ; in th e enumer ation go ld ,

alw ays p r e c e d es tu r qu ois as th e mor e v al u abl e gif t Th ey al so figur e among .

th e p r esent s b esto we d on saints and L amas by kings and w ealthy l aymen .

Th e th r ones on which kings and L amas t ak e th eir pl ace ar e u su al ly d e

scr ib e d as ad or ne d with gold and tu r qu ois es and th e y w ear cl oak s or na
,

mente d with th ese s tones It may be inf erre d f r om tr a ditions and e p ic s tor ies
.

th at in ancient times arrowhead s wer e m ade not only of common flint but ,

al so o ccasionally o f tu r qu ois to wh ich a h igh v alue w as att ach e d A p ow er .

f ul s aint by t ou ch ing th e bow and arr ow of a bl acksmith tr ansf or ms th e

, ,
bow int o gold and th e arr owh ead int o tur quois
, .

In th e native l anguage s of Mexico and C entr al Ame r ica

th e name ch al ch ih u itl mos t fr e qu ently d e s ignates j ade ite but ,

it app e ar s s om e times to h ave b een appli ed to oth er s tone s

o f a gr e en or gr eeni sh blu e c ol or such a s th e so c all e d
- -
,

am az on s t one fr om th e r e gi on o f th e Amaz on River and e ven

-
,

o cc as i onally to th e tu r qu o i se Thu s th e tali smanic valu e of

.

th e ch alchihuitl s e ems to have d epend ed r ath e r up on its h u e

'

”
thold Lauf
Ber Notes on Tu q u is
er , r o in th e E as , ” Fie t ld M u se u m of
Natu al Histor y Anth p o l ogic al S ie s vol
r , ro er , . x iii, No 1 , C i a . h c go ,
July , 19 13 ,
p 11
. .
 ON TH E R E L I GI OUS US E OF VARIOUS S TONE S 3 05

and its ity th an up on its mine r al o gical ch ar act e r ; inde e d

r ar , ,

am ong p r im itive p e opl es s t one s o f th e s ame or cl ose ly

, ,

s imil ar c o l o r alth ough o f di f f er ent c omp os iti on o ft e n b o r e

, ,

th e s ame name and w e r e conc e iv e d to h av e th e s ame vi r tu e s

,

whe th e r t al i smanic or the r ap eutic Writing of th e r ich gift s .

s ent by M ont e zum a to C o r t és up on th e l att e r s ar r iva l at S an

’

Ju an d e Ul ii a B e r nal D i az d e C astill o menti ons

'
38

fou r ch al ch iu ite s a kind of gr e en s tone of gr e at val u e and

, ,

much e s t e em e d by th em [ th e Indi ans ] mor e highly ind e e d , , ,

th an w e e s te em th e eme r ald Th ey ar e of a gr e en c ol or . .
”

A nd h e p r o c e e d s to s t at e that e ach o ne of th e s e s t one s w a s

s aid to be w o r th a gr e at w e ight o f go ld .

Th e s t atu e of th e e ar th go dde s s C ou atl icu e fou nd in th e

-
,

village o f C oz catl an Mexico and now p r e se r ve d in th e

, ,

Nati o nal Mu seum of Mexic o show s inse r t e d in th e ch e e k , , ,

a dis k o f j ad e it e
( G r e en seem s thu s to h ave b een th e c ol or
.
39

s a cr e d to thi s g o dd e ss which may r emind u s of th e attr ibu

,

ti on of th e gr e en eme r ald to Ve nu s Indee d gr e en as th e .

,

c ol or of fo liage and plant s mu st natu r ally h ave sugge st e d

it s e lf as eminently app r op r i at e f or an ear th godd e s s ju s t -
,

as its s ignific anc e as a symb o l of life and gene r ati o n con

ne cte d it with th e G o dd e s s o f L ove .

Th e s to r y of th e e me r ald s b r ought fr om th e New W or ld

by H e r nan C or tés mu s t hav e b e en quite famili ar to six
te enth c entur y w r it er s f or w e fi nd B r antfime applying s o me
,

d e t ail s of th i s s t or y to a b e autiful and incomp ar able p e ar l

“ ”

s aid to h av e b e en b r ought fr om M exic o by C or t és o n h is

r e tu r n to S p ai n Thi s h e l at er al l owe d to slip fr om h is

.

finger s into th e s e a while sh owing it to a fr iend on b o ar d

Ver dad er a h ist or ia d e l os uc os d e l a conqui ta d l a Nueva E spafia
“
a
s es s e ,

B ib d e A nt E sp vol xxvi M adr id 1866 p 3 5

. . .
, .
, , , . .

Dr E du a d S e l er
. r Simil ar ity o f D esign o f Some Teotihu ac an Fr e c es
, s o

and C e t ain M x ic an Po ttery Ob j e cts

r e in P o cee d ings f th e I nt e nationa l r o r

C ong e ss of A mer icanis ts XVI I I S ession Lo nd on 19 12 ; Pt II L ondon 19 13

,

r , , , .
, , ,

p 200
.
306 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

th e hip that w as b ear ing h im towar d Algi e r s ; it w as lo st

s

in th e se a and in th e w or d s of B r antéme vani sh e d fr om th e

,

s ight of m ank ind u nw or thy to p o ss e s s such a m i r acl e o f

,

natu r e Th e l os s of thi s p ear l is l oo ke d up on by th e F r ench

’
.

wr ite r as a puni shment f or th e ins cr ipti on C or t és h ad

“ ”

cause d to be pl ace d up on it : Inte r nat os mu l ie r um no n su r

r e x it m aj or ; this r e fe r s to J ohn th e B apti st and w a s as
40
,

We have se en e ngr ave d up on one of th e f am ou s e mer ald s of

,

C ort és B r antfim e b e li e ve s th at its applicati on to a s impl e

.

p r o duct o f natur e w as s ac r il e gi ou s and th e c au s e of th e

o bj e ct s l os s ; h e al so s ee s in thi s l oss an om en o f th e d ea th
’

of th e E mp e r o r C h ar l e s which o ccu r r e d s h or tly aft er w ar d ,

and h e d r aw s att enti on to th e fact th at th e Afr icans “ ”

ca lle d the i r kings p r e ci ou s st one s

“
.
” 41

Th e Azt e c ar t wo rk e r s of th e p e r i o d imm e di at e l y ant e

-

d ating th e S p ani sh C onque s t h ad a tt aine d a high o r d e r of

—

s kill in th e diffi cult w or k o f inl aying c ar e fully cut and s h ap e d

bit s of p r e ci ou s m at e r i al s o as to p r o duce s ome f or m or

de sign of sym b olic o r r e ligi ou s me aning In judging th e .

ar ti s tic m er it o f s uch w o r k w e mu s t al w ays r em emb er th at ,

th e Azt e c inl ay e r s w e r e only p r o vid e d with r ud e and p r imi

tive t ool s and impl em ents f or th e exe cuti on of th eir t ask ,

and e xt r ao r dinar y p at i e nc e and ap pl ication mu st h av e b een

'

ne ce ss ar y to compl ete s ome of th e obj e ct s th at h av e b e e n

pr e se r ve d f or u s Thi s ar t seems only to h av e b ee n culti
.

vate d in anci ent M ex i c o and C ent r al Am er ica and p e r h ap s ,

P e r u al so ; of th e Mexican wor k some tw enty fi ve ex ampl e s -

h ave b e en s ave d Th e S p ani ar d s sh or tly aft e r th eir fir st

.
,

l anding we r e given an opp or tu nity to judge of th e q u ality

,

o f thi s Azt e c inl ayi ng f o r among th e gift s s ent by Mont e

.
,

zu ma to C or tés we r e fi ve such obj e ct s a mask with incr u sta

, ,

A mon em g th
a th t ar e bo r n of w o man th e h athre not ar is e n a g t
r ea e r .

M att . x i, ll .

‘1
( Eu vr es d u S ei ne g u r d e B r an ome ,t Lo n dre s, 1 7 7 9 , vo l . v pp
, . 3 5, 3 6 .
 ON TH E R E L I G I OU S U S E OF V ARI OUS S TONE S 3 07

tions o f tu r qu o i s e s o di s p os e d as to figu r e tw o inte r twine d

,

s e r p e nt s a c r o zi e r al s o with tu r qu o i s e mo saic
, and e nding in
a s e r p e nt s h e ad ; a p ai r of l ar g e e ar r ing s o
f s er p entine
’
-

fo r m d e cor ate d with th e ch al chihu itl s tone ( p e r h ap s ne phr ite

or j ad e ite ) a mit r e of o c e l o t s ki n s u r m ou nt e d by a l ar g e
,

ch al ch ih u itl and al s o d e c or ate d with tur qu o i s m osaic and a

, e ,

st af f o f offi c e with s imil ar i nl ay s A ser p ent mask answ e r .

-

ing to th e d e s cr ipti on of one of M ont e zuma s gift s is now in ’

th e B r iti s h Mu seum and is in a fai r ly goo d st ate of p r e se r v a

tion alth ough unfo r tunate ly th e tw o s e r p ent he ads have
,
-

b e en l os t E vid ently thi s mask w as u se d in c onne cti on with

.

th e w or s hip o f Q u e tz alc o atl th e s e r p e nt go d an inc ar na ,

-
,

ti o n o f which de ity th e p oo r Az t e c s at fir st b e li ev e d Cor tés

to be .
41a

S u r p assing thi s mas k in a c er t ain st r ange and w e i r d in

te r e s t, and e qu alling it in ar ti s tic w or k mans hip , is anoth e r
mo s t r emar kabl e Azt e c c e r emoni al mask , al s o in th e B r iti sh
M u s e um C o ll e cti on Th e f ound ati on of thi s is th e fr ont p art
.

of a hu m an sk ull , and its out e r su r f ac e h as b e e n c ove r e d w ith

an i nc r u s ta ti o n o f tu r qu o i s e and j e t mo s aic in fi ve alt e r nat e

b and s, th e upp er , middl e and l owe r one s b eing of je t, whil e

th e tw o int e r me di a t e o ne s ar e of sh ap e d pi ec e s of tu r qu oi se ;
p ar t of th e nos e h as b e en r emo ve d and th e space cove r e d o ve r
by t abl e t s o f pink s h ell ; p r ot r uding eye b all s ar e figu r e d by
c onv e x di sks of p oli s h e d i r on pyr it e s w ith a b or de r ing of
whi t e s h e ll ; a numb er o f th e t e e th h ave b e en b r ok en ou t .

S t r ap s att ach e d at th e t empl e s r ende r e d it p os sibl e to bind

thi s mask to th e face of an id ol or f or a p r i est of high r ank ,

to w e ar it o n s o l emn c e r em oni al o cc as i ons .

s om e th r e e hu nd r e d y ar d s o r mor e fr om th e gr e at t e mpl e

pyr amid at C hich e n I tz a Yucatan Mexico at th e te r mina , , ,

H Ho l mes , M t p c b g l ina A mer i c I I , M osai c

”
W . . as e r ie es o f A or i an A r t,

W k;
or re p r in tf ro m A rt and A che o logy vo l i no 3
r , .
, .
, No v , 19 14
. se e pp 96 , 9 7 ,
.

and Fi
g s. 2 and 3 , PP 9 2 , 9 3
3 08 TH E M A GI C OF J E W E L S A ND C H ARMS
ti on of th e S acr e d W ay t r aver se d in time s of t r ibul ati on of ,

p e stilence or famine by p roc e ssi ons of prie st s conveying ,

s ac r ific es to be o f f er e d to th e o ff end e d diviniti e s w as th e ,

S ac r e d We ll Int o thi s th e p r i e st s would th r ow th e o r na

.

ment s and t r inke t s d e dicat e d to th e go d s as p e ac e o ff e r ings -

.

Bu t such i nanimat e obj e cts w er e r e gar d e d as insuffici ent an d ,

e ven ani mal s ac r ific e s w er e d eeme d to be i nad e qu at e and ,

henc e it oft en happ ene d th at p r i s one r s of w ar and fai r

m aid ens we r e cast into th e d ee p s till wat e r s of th e S acr e d
.
,

We ll 42
.

M any f r agment s of th e car ve d s t one orname nt s have b e e n

r e c ove r e d f r om th e d e pth s o f thi s S acr e d W e ll and e ve n in ,

the ir p r e sent imp er fe ct s tate th e y t e stify to a conside r able ,

deve l opme nt of th e l apid ar i an ar t am ong th e anci ent Mayas ,

and a high d e gr e e o f ar ti s tic s kill in th e fa shi oni ng o f s uch

o bj e ct s o f ad o r nm e nt Und oubt e dly th o s e u se d in thi s w ay

.

as s ac r e d o f fe r ing s w e r e cons id er e d to be amul e t s and th e r e

for e to be th e mor e acce ptabl e in th e sight o f th e go d s .

Th at lapi s l azuli w as as much f avo r e d f or r e ligi ou s u s e

by th e ab o r igine s o f th e Ne w Wor ld as it w as in anci ent
E gyp t and in o th e r p ar t s o f th e Ol d Wor ld is sh own by th e ,

r e c ent di s c o ve r y o f twenty eight c ar e fully for me d cyl in -

d r ical b e ad s o f l api s l azuli am ong s om e v e r y anci ent d e p os it s

in th e i s l and o f L a Plat a E cu ad or F r om th e ge ne r al char ,
.

act er o f th e s e d e p os it s it is evid ent tha t th e y did no t b e l ong

to p e r m ane nt dwe ll e r s on th e i s l and and th e r e is e v e r y ,

r e as on to b e li ev e th at th e y w e r e l e ft by vi sit o r s fr om th e

mai nl and w h o c am e to th e i sl and f or th e p er f or mance o f

,

c er tain s acr e d r it e s and c e r emoni e s .

43

Th e anci ent M exic ans h e ld th e tu r qu oi s e in high e s t e em ,

“
dwar d H Thomp s
E . on, ce Th e
in T h H om e of a F or gott en Ra e

Nat i nal G og aph ic M aga

o e in v l xxv
r pp 5 85 6 08 ; June 19 14
z e, o .
, No 6, . .
—
, .

A r ch nol ogi al I nv t ig at ions on th I sl and f L a P l ata

'
4” “
Fe w k e s , z c es e o ,

E cu ad r F i ld C lumb ian M u um Pu b N 5 6 ; A nth p S

”
o ,
e o v l ii N
se 5 . o . ro . e r ., o .
, o .
,

C h ic ago 19 01 pp 26 6 sqq
, , . .
 ON TH E RE L I GI OUS US E OF V ARIOUS S TONE S 3 09

and th at L o s C e r r ill os and o the r mine s in A r iz ona and New

M exic o we r e e xt ens ive ly wor ke d p r i or to th e di s cov er y o f
Am e r ic a is p r ove d by fr agme nt s of Azt e c p o tt e r y v as e s ; -

by dr inking e ating and co oking ut ensil s by st one h ammer s

, , ,

we dge s maul s and id o l s which have bee n di scover e d in th e

, ,

déb r i s found in many di ff e r ent l o calitie s .

Whil e Maj or H yd e w as e xplo ri ng thi s neighb or ho od in

1 880 h e w as vi s it e d by s e ve r al Pu e bl o I ndi ans fr om S an
,

D omingo w h o s t at e d th at th e tu r qu oi se h e w as t aking fr om
,

th e o l d mine w as s acr e d and mu s t not go int o th e h and s of

,

th os e wh ose S avio u r w as no t a Monte zuma and th ese ,

I ndians off e r e d at th e s ame tim e to pu r chase al l th at mi ght

, ,

c ome fr om th e m ine in th e futu r e .

Ab o ut ten mi l e s fr om Temp e A r iz ona in r uins d esig , ,

nate d a s L os M u e r t os th e r e w a s f ound encl os e d in asb e s t os

, ,

in a d e co r at e d Z uni j ar a se a s he ll c o at e d with black pitch

,
—
,

in w hich w e r e incr u s t e d tu r qu oi s e and garne t s in th e for m ,

o f a t o ad th e s a c r e d e mbl e m o f th e Z u fi i
,
Incr u s t e d cl am .

s h e ll s, r e p r e s e nti ng t o ad s may be se e n in th e B r uns wick

,

C o ll e cti on th e C h r i s ti e C oll e cti o n in th e B r iti s h Mu se um

, ,

and in th e Pito r ini Mu s e um R om e ,

.

At th e annu al F i e s ta which is attende d by th e S an F e lip e ,

th e Navaj o th e I s l e ta th e Ac om a th e J icor r il l a Ap ach e

, , , ,

and o th e r Indi ans a t th e Pu e bl o o f S ant o D omi ngo a pl ac e ,

s itu at e d ab o ut th r e e m il e s w e s t by s outh o f W al l ac e S t ati o n

o n th e Atchi s o n T o p e k a and S ant a F é R ail r o ad a car ve d

, ,

woo d en im age of th e s aint ab out fou r fe e t in he ight and , ,

s aid to d at e fr om th e ti m e o f th e c onqu e s t in 16 92 is c ar r i e d ,

in p r o c e s s i o n th r ough th e p r incip al s t r e e t s to a smal l t e nt

m ad e of th e fine s t Navaj o bl anke t s wh e r e it is pl ac e d on an ,

im p r o vi s e d altar H e r e var iou s o ff e r ings ar e mad e Am ong

. .

th em s tr ings o f tur qu oi s e b e ad s b o th r ou nd and flat of th e , ,

ch o ice s t co lo r ar e s u s p ende d fr om th e e ar s o f th e figur e

, ,

and f r om a s t r ing which e nci r cl e s its ne ck On th e c ent r e o f .

3 10 TH E M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
th e br e ast is one of th e cu r i ou s tur qu ois e encru s te d mar ine -

cl am sh ell s simil ar to th e one found by L i eut enant F H

-
. .

C u s hing in th e e xc avati ons ne ar Temp e A r iz ona Th e ,

.

wr it er s aw a fi ne ex ampl e of thi s o r nament al obj e ct su s

p end e d fr om th e ne ck of th e Vi r gin of S ant o Domingo at th e ,

A nnu al F i es t a Augu s t 4 1 89 0 With th e exc epti on o f a

, ,
.

black b and o f o b sidi an r unning ac r o s s th e c entr e th e enti r e ,

e xt e r i o r o f th e s h e ll is c ov er e d with a s o r t o f mini atu r e

p avem ent o f littl e squ ar e s of tu r qu oi se which ar e cem ent e d

to it with a bl ack s h e ll ac lik e sub s t anc e o bt aine d fr om th e
-
“

gr e ase wo od pl ant c omm on in New M e xico

-
”
.
44

I t h as b e en s ugge s t e d th at th e typ e s o f o r nam ent ati on

u se d by th e ab o r igine s of C entr al Am e r ic a m ay b e com e
f ashi onabl e at th e tim e of th e op ening of th e P anama C anal .

I n j e we l r y th e c r ayfi s h m od e l a s s h own in a g old plat e d ,

-

or nam ent di s c ove r e d in th e C hi r iqui di s t r ict of P anam a ,

o ff e r s a s t r iki ng and p e culi ar f o r m which might w in f av or ;

a cu r i ou s fr o g p att e r n c o uld al so be u s e d If th e l o cal u s age .

in anci e nt tim es is to be c onsid e r e d th e eme r ald and o th e r ,

gr een s tone s would be given th e p r e fe r ence f o r de cor ati on ,

as s t o ne s o f thi s c o l o r w e r e th e mo s t in f avo r among th e

p r imitive inh abitant s of C ent r al Ame r ica b e cau s e it sym

bol iz e d th e ve r du r e of fi e ld and for e s t and h ence y outh and ,

vigo r Wh en set in gold the se st one s gaine d in symb olic

.

valu e f or gold h aving th e c ol or of th e su n w as r egar d e d as

, , ,

typic al of for ce cou r age and vit ality , , .

Th e mys tic l ake of Gu at avit a high up on th e And e an ,

pl ate au o f C o lombi a S outh A me r ic a w as th e chi ef h oly

,
.
,

pl ace of th e native Indi ans of thi s loc ality hundr e ds of ye ar s

ago at a tim e wh en gold and em e r ald s w e r e pl entiful am ong
,

th em luxu r i e s u nknown to the i r imp ov e r i sh e d de s cend ant s

,

o f o u r d ay L e gend h ad t aught th em to r e gar d thi s lak e as

.

h
G eor ge F K nz . u , G ems and c us Stones
Pr e io of Nor th A mer ic a, New
Y k
or , 1 89 0, pp
6 1, 6 2
. .
3 12 TH E MAG IC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

S ant a Fé, in Unit e d S t at e s of C ol ombi a, w h o obt ai ne d a

S p ani sh conce ss i on In o r ab out 1823 w e h av e r e c or d o f
.

ano the r unsucc e ss ful ve ntu r e on th e p ar t of J o sé I gnaci o

P ar i s in an acco unt of Col ombia wr itten in 1824 by C apt ain
,

Ch ar l e s S tu ar t Cochr ane of th e R oyal Navy w h o aid e d

, ,

P ar i s in his ef f or t s Th e r ep or t that at th e tim e of th e

.

S p ani s h C onqu e s t th e C aciqu e of Gu atavit a cau se d g o ld

,

du s t constituting th e bu r d ens of fifty m en to be cast int o th e

lake gr e atly c ontr ibut e d to th e z e al of th e t r e asu r e se eke r s
,
-

in th e vicinity One of th e e a r ly att empt s at l e ast r e sult e d

.

in th e r e c ove r y of s o much t r e asu r e th at th e G ov e r nm ent s 3

’

p e r c ent s h ar e is s aid to h ave am ou nt e d to

.

I n none of th e se e ssay s h owe v e r w a s th e l ak e r e ally and

, ,

e f f e ctu ally d r aine d o f f and th at of P ar i s in 1 823 o r 1 824

,

fail e d in th e s ame w ay b e cau s e of inad e qu ate capital H e

,
.

h ad succe e d e d in p e r su ading s ixt een sh ar e h o ld e r s to club

to ge th e r e ach one c ont r ibuting $500 to a common fund but
, ,

afte r not only thi s but m o r e suppli e d by

hims elf h ad b een e xp ende d ther e still r emaine d 33 fe e t of
,

wat er in th e l ak e .

R e c e ntly an E ngli s h c omp any h as r e c ogniz e d th at th e

tr e asu r e mu s t be s ought at or even b ene ath th e tr u e b o ttom ,

as thi s e xi s t e d at th e time o f th e S p ani s h C onqu e s t and thu s ,

at l e v e l s c ons id e r ably l o wer th an th os e o f th e b o tt om at th e

pr e sent time Th e p r oj e ct is aft er 3 0 fe e t of th e p r e se nt

.
,

b ottom h as b een r emove d to s et up a ste am sh ove l and sink

,

down 40 or 50 fee t in se ar ch of th e gold du s t golden or na -

,

ment s and emer ald s b el i e ve d to exi s t h er e .

 V III
amul ets : ancient, mammal , aah flDrientaI

W HE p r e se nt and th e following chapt er ar e de vot e d to a

s tudy o f th e t al i sm anic vi r tu e s att r ibut e d to p r e ci ou s

s t ones and g e m s as di s tingui sh e d fr om th e cu r ativ e p o we r s

,

w ith which th e y w e r e c r e dit e d I t is some time s diffi cult to .

e s t abli s h a h ar d and fas t dividi ng li ne b e twe en th e tw o

class e s as eve r ything that c onduce s to th e h appines s and

,

we ll b e ing o f man al s o afi ects h is b o dily he alth but a dis

-
,

tincti on co r r e ct in th e main may be made by r e gar ding th e

, ,

t ali smanic u s e as cove r ing al l cas es exc ept those in which

th e s t one w as u se d wh e r e to d ay s om e r eally m e dicinal su b -

s tanc e wo uld be admi ni s t e r e d .

A m od e r n G e r m an wr ite r on amule t s h as pr op os e d to
apply th e t e r m e m anism ( E manismu s ) to th e vi r tu e ex
“ ”

is ting o r supp o s e d to e xi s t in am ule t s and t al i smans and ,

gi ve s a s h is o pi ni o n th at th ei r vi r tu e is ne ith e r a S pi r itu al
no r a p e r s onal one but th e op e r ati o n of fo r ce s th e l atte r no t
, ,

b e ing sp e ci al mys t e r i ou s vit al for c e s but imp e r s onal physi

, ,

cal c o m p o ne nt s and qu aliti es and th at th e s e e x e r ci s e th e i r ,

influ ence by m e ans of em anati on Wundt h as he ld th at th e .

ve r y e ar li e s t amul e t s we r e p ar ts of th e human b ody and

.
,

alm os t alw ays s uch p ar t s as w e r e b e li ev e d to be th e b e ar er s

of th e s o ul
1
.

R adi ation or emanati on of ener gy with out ob se r vable ,

l o ss of sub st anc e is a fact famili ar enough to u s to—d ay but

, ,

thi s ph enome non w as not so gene r ally accept e d centu rie s

ago . S till th e l o d e st one always o f fe r e d a s tr iking e xampl e
1
K t D
ar u z Em i m
,
i Z it ch if t f
er E th n l g i 45th J h g ng
an s u s, n e s r ur o o e, a r a ,

19 1 3 , H e f t I II ,
l
B er in, 19 13 , pp . 5 5 9 , 5 60 .
3 14 TH E M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
with which al l wr it er s on such subj e cts wer e acqu ainte d A .

s t r ange r ar gume nt in supp o r t o f th e t r uth of thi s

p r ope l t}
’
7

w as adduc e d by th e s e v e nte enth ce ntu r y phys ici an S ir ,

Th omas B r owne ( 1 605 1 6 82 ) w h o wr it es — 2

If ul ets d o wor k by emanation f rom their bo dies up on those p ar ts

am

wh er e unto th ey are ap p end e d and ar e not yet o b ser ve d to ab ate their weight ;
if th ey p r o duce vis ible and r eall e ff e ct s by imp onde r o us and inv is ibl e emis
s ions it may be u nju st to d e ny al l e f fi c acy to go ld in th e non emis s ion of ,
-
,

weight or dep er dition of any p onder ous ar ticles .

Whil e l e ar ne d do ct or d o e s not exp r e ss ly s tate h is

th e
b e li ef in th es e imp onde r o u s and invi sibl e emis si ons fr om”

am ul e t s h e c e r t ainly d oe s not att empt to d e ny th e i r e xi s t

,

e nc e .

Th e B olivi an nativ e s b e li ev e th at th e so call e d m ount ain -

s ickne s s th e af fe cti on f r om which s ome t r ave ll e r s s uf fe r at

,

high altitude s p r ob ably o r iginat es in subtl e emanati ons

,

fr om c er t ain mine r al veins A c onfi rm ation of th e fact th at

.

such a b e li e f e xi s t s th o ugh no t o f th e t r uth of th e th e or y

, ,

is fou nd in th e native name f o r thi s illne ss vets which s igni , ,

fi e s at onc e mou nt ain s ickne s s and a ve i n o r l o d e

“ -
”
Th e .

fact that at th e p ass of L ivichuco on th e tr ail fr om C h all a ,

p at a to S ucr e th e r e ar e consid e r abl e de p osit s of antimony

, ,

is r e gar d e d as sub s t anti ating thi s s t r ange f ancy .

3

Am ong th e B abyl oni ans one of th e m os t d r e ade d of th e

m ali gn s pi r itu al p ow e r s w as th e t e r r ibl e femal e d emon
L abas tu and a l ong se r i e s of amul e t s ar e r e c omme nd e d one
, ,

o r m o r e o f which s h ould be w or n to war d o f f h e r p e r nici ou s

influ ence F o r s ome o f th e se am ul e t s p r e ci ou s st one s we r e

.

u s e d and th e e ff e ct of c ol o r p r ob ably a de t e rm ining cir

, ,

cums tance in th e se l e cti o n o f th e p ar ticul ar s t one w a s to be ,

s t r e ngth ene d by th e c o l o r o f th e w r apping ab out th e s t o ne

Br owne “
d
Pseu d od ox ia E pid em ics , L o n o n, 165 0, B k II , . chap . 5, p 65
Ju
, . .

a
S cient ifi c A mer i an,c ne 28, 19 1 3 , p
5 75 . .
 AM UL E TS : ANCIE NT , ME DIE V AL ORIE NTAL
,
3 15

an d o f cor d by me ans of which it w as to be hung fr om th e

th e
ne ck o r attach e d to th e r ight o r l e ft h an d o r foo t o r to o th er
, ,
-

p ar ts of th e b o dy A s thi s d r e adful s pi r it w as chi efly fe ar e d

.

as th e induc e r of di se ase th e l o c ati on o f th e amul e t w as ,

p e r h ap s in s om e case s de te r mine d by th e p r e s ence of lo cal

p ain o r di s or de r ; in thi s case it would be exp e cte d to act
a s a cu r e o f di s e as e r ath er th an a me r e p r e ventive Th e .

fo llowing pas sage s r efe r to s uch s t one amule ts : 4

Th o u h lt w r ap up a sh ubu—stone in white woo l and hang it on a white

s a ,

woollen c or d with f o ur eye stones ( end ti) and f o ur par é and bind it to thy
,
-
,

r ight h and .

A bl ack Iva st o ne s h alt th o u e nwr ap in bl ack w oo l h ang it on a blac k

-
,

woollen c or d p r o vide it with thr ee eye stones and thr ee p a é and b ind it to
,
-
r ,

thy le f t h and .

Thou s h alt wr ap a wh ite Isa st one in r e d wool h an g it on a r ed woo llen

-
,

c or d with f o ur e ye s tones and f our p ar é and bind it to the r ight f o ot

,
-
, .

A n ap p u—stone s h alt th o u w r a p up in blue w oo l h ang it on a blu e ,

woo ll en c or d f ur nis h it with thr ee eye stones and thr ee p ar é and b ind it to
,
-
,

th e l ef t f oot .

S e v e n eye st ones and se ven p ar é sh alt th o u s tr ing o n a black c or d

- .

t ) h e r e menti one d we r e mos t p r ob

’

Th e end tz ( eye - s o ne s

ably eye ag at e s s imi lar to th o se s till p r iz e d in th e M es ap ota

-

mi an r e gi on f or the i r supp os e d m agic al vi r tu es and m o r e ,

e s p e ci ally f o r p r o t e cti o n agains t th e E vil E ye The r e is .

,

ind ee d a b ar e p os sibility th at s ome fo r m of th e cat s eye

,
’
-

( know n by that nam e to th e A r ab s ) o r one of th e s t ar s tone s -

may o cc asi onally be s ignifi e d by thi s A ss yr i an nam e Th e .

w o r d p ar é as it is not p r e ce d e d by th e d ete r minative ch ar

,

act er s ignifying s t one may r e fe r to s ome o th er mate r i al , .

A n imme di at e ass o ci ati on o f an animal eye with a tu r

qu ois e an e x ampl e of th e sym p ath e tic magic to which w e
,

h ave fr e qu ently all ud e d come s fr om P e r si a Du r ing th e , .

cel eb r ati on o f th e imp o sing c er emonie s att e nding th e gr e at

i J t w J Di R l igi n B byl i n nd A y i n
“
‘
M or r s a s ro , r ., . e e o a on e s u ss r e s,

G iessen, 19 05 , pp . 3 35—3 39 .
316 TH E M AGI C OF JE WE LS A ND C H RMS A
ann a u l ass emblage of pilgri ms at th e s hri ne of Me cc a it is ,

customar y to s laughter an immense numb e r of shee p and ,

ce r tain of th e Pe r s i an pil gr h s will se cu r e p os se s sion of

s ome o f th e e y e s o f th e i r s acr ifici al victim s and will emb e d ,

tu r qu oi s e s in th em fi r mly b e li eving th at in thi s w ay th ey

,

have comp o se d an infal libl e a ul e t agai s t th e E vil E ye

m n m ‘
.

A P e r sian manu s cr ipt of a wor k entitl e d Noz h at “

Nam ah E l l aiy wr itt en in th e e l ev enth c entury by S obem

”
,

E d d in th e t r ans c r ipti on b eing d at e d 1304 asser t s th at th e

-
, ,

tu r qu oi s e ( pi r uz e h ) th ough l acking in b ri lli ancy w as as , ,

teeme d to be a s tone of goo d omen and one that would b r ing ,

good luck since thi s w as indicate d by its name s i gnifying

, ,

in P e r si an th e Vict or i ou s
“ ” 5
.
,

One o f th e E gypti an t al e s fr om th e time of th e e ar ly

dynasti e s sh ows th e valu e pl ace d up on th e tur quo i se in
E gypt at th at time Thi s r e cit al o ccu r s in B auf r a s Tal e ’
. .

Th e r e i gning Ph ar aoh to r eli e v e a fit o f ment al d e p r essi on , ,

t ook a pl e asu r e t r ip on th e p al ace lak e in a b oat r owe d by

tw enty b e autiful an d r ichly attir e d maidens Whil e b ending .

o ve r h er o ar one o f th e maid ens l et fal l int o th e w at e r fr om

,

h er h ai r ad ornme nt a fi ne tu r qu oi se ( E gypt muf kat thu s

-
,

r end e r e d by P e t r i e ) and w as d e eply ch ag r i ne d at th e l o ss .

H oweve r th e cou r t m agici an Z az amankh w h o acc om p ani e d

, ,

th e sove r e ign by h is magic ar t s w as abl e to p r ovid e a r em

,

e d y f or o n his r e citing a ch ar m o f gr eat p ow e r th e tu r qu oi s e

,

r o s e up thr ough th e w at e r s o th at it c ould be pick ed up fr om

th e su r fac e and r e tu r ne d to its di s c onso l at e ow ner .

5a

Th e E gypti ans b e li eve d th at th e di f fe r e nt kind s o f pr e

‘l
gu
Po e
“
Th e Tu r qu i
, Wash ingt n 1 9 15 c iting an art icl e by S ikes
o s,
”
o , , ,

in Folkl ore vol x ii p 26 8 L ondon 1 9 01 . .

, , .

Cit d by Joseph E Pogue in Th e Tur quois

, ,

5
e . Me moir s of th National , . e

A cademy of S c ience s v l ii pt 11 Th ir d M emoir Wa h ingt on 19 1 5 p 13

, o . x , . , , s . , . .

F rom Ou sel ey Tr ave l s in Var iou s C ountr ie s of th e E ast more Pa t icul ar ly

, ,
r

Per s ia L ondon 1819 vol i pp 2 10—2 12

,
”
, , .
, . .

“
P gu
a Th e Tur quo is
o e,
“
Wa h ington 19 15 c it ing Pet i E gyptian
”
, s , ,
r e
“

Tal es Fi s t S er ies Fou r th to Twel f th Dynas ty Lond n 1895 pp 16 22 ” -

r , , o , , . .
,
 AMULE TS ANC IE NT : ,
M E D I E VAL , ORIE NTAL 317

t
ciou s s one s we r e e nd owe d with ce r tain sp eci al tali smanic
pr o p e r ti e s and th e s e s tone s we r e combine d in the i r ne ck
,

lace s in a w ay supp o s e d to af f or d p r ot e cti on fr om al l manner

o f mali gn i nflu e nc e s Th e b e ad s w e r e of v ar i ou s for m s
.
,

s om e tim e s r ou nd o r o val and at o th e r s r e ct angul ar or , ,

o blo ng ; b e s id e s th e s t one s in gene r al u s e s uch as th e e me r ,

al d, car ne li an agat e l api s lazuli am e thyst ro ck cr y s tal

, , , ,
-
,

b e r yl j as p e r and gar ne t b e ad s of go ld s ilve r gl as s faie nce

, , , , , ,

and e ve n o f cl ay and s t r aw w e r e em pl o ye d T o com pl e t e th e ,

.

e ffi c a cy o f th e ne ckl ac e sm all im age s of th e go d s and o f th e

,

s ac r e d anim al s w e r e add e d a s p end ant s E v en on th e mum .

mi e s and mumm y c ase s s uch o r nament s ar e paint e d in imi

tation of ne ckl ac e s o r c oll ar s of p r e ci o u s s t one s with fl ow e r s , ,

as p e nd ant s
6
e tc.
,
.

One o f th e m os t ar ti s tic and b e autiful s p e cime ns of an

ci ent E gyp tian goldsmith s wor k w as r ecently s ent by D r ’
.

F li nd e r s P e t r i e on b e h alf o f th e E gypti an R e s e ar ch Acco unt

,

S o ci e ty to th e B os t on Mu s eum of F i ne A r t s I t is ad orne d
,
.

with ame thy st s se t in gold th e s tone s with th eir sym b o lic ,

s e tti ng s c ons tituti ng a ch ar m o f p o w er ful am ul e t s f or th e

p r o te cti on of th e we ar e r w h o is b e li eve d to have b e en th e ,

P r inces s S at H ath or A nt of th e Twe lfth Dynasty th e wife

- -
, ,

o f th e h e i r to th e th r one D r P e t r i e p r onou nc es thi s to be

. .

one o f th e fine s t anci e nt E gypti an ne ckl ac e s h e h as e v e r s e e n .

Thi s s pl e ndid o r nament cam e fr om t omb No 154 at .

H ar agh I t me asu r e s. inch es in length and is comp os e d

of 88 ame thy s t b e ad s v ar ying in l ength fr om ne ar ly a
qu ar ter inch to ab out fou r t enths of an inch
- cm to -
.

1 cm ) and in di ame t e r fr om a littl e ov e r a qu arte r i nch to

.
-

o ve r f o u r t enth s o f an i nch
- cm to Th e be ad s .

ar e s lightly fl att ene d and th e b or i ng s w er e mad e fr om b o th

e nd s me e ti ng accu r at e ly in th e c ent r e in th e m aj or ity o f

,

B ud g Th e M mm u y C am b idge pp 3 3 0—3 3 1
”
“
e, ,
r , 1 89 4, . .
3 18 TH E M AG IC OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
case s In s pit e of small sur face scar s th ey ar e ge ner ally of
.
,

ve ry cl e ar and even col or .

6a

S p e ci al ch apte r s fr om th e g r ea t E gypti an c o ll e cti on of

hymns and invo cations known as th e B oo k o f th e D e ad “ ”

wer e ins cr ib e d on ce r tain p ar ticul ar s t one s as in th e follow ,

ing ins t ance s

C h apt e r XXVI of th e B o ok of th e De ad to be ins cr ib e d
o n o r r e cit e d o ve r a figu r e in l api s l azuli
7
.
, ,

Ch apter wher e by th e Heart is given to a p er son in th e Nether wor ld .

H e saith : H e ar t mine to me in th e pl ace o f H ear ts ! W h ol e H e art

,

mine to me in th e pl ac e of Wh ol e H e ar ts !
,

Let me h ave my H e ar t th at it may r est w ith in me ; but I s h all f ee d up on

th e f oo d of Osir is on th e e aster n sid e of th e me ad of amar anth ine fl owers
,
.

B e mine a b ar k f or d esc end ing th e str e am and anoth er f or as c e nd ing .

I go d ow n into th e b ar k wh er e th o u ar t .

B e ther e giv en to me my mo uth wh er ewith to s p e ak and my f eet f or ,

w alking ; and l et me h ave my ar ms wh er ewith to ov er thr ow my ad ver

sar ies .

hands f r om th e E ar th o p en my mouth : Let Seb the E r p a of

L et tw o ,

th e go d s p ar t my tw o j aw s ; l et him o p e n my tw o e yes wh ich ar e cl os e d

, ,

and gi v e motion to my tw o band s wh ich ar e p ow er l ess ; and l e t A nub is giv e

vigor to my legs th at I may r aise my sel f up on th em .

A nd may S echit th e d ivine one lif t me up so th at I may ar ise in H e av en ,

and iss u e my b e h est in M em ph is .

I am in p os session o f my H e ar t I am in p osse ssion of my Wh o l e ,

H ear t I am in p oss ession of my ar ms and I h ave p os sessio n o f my l e gs

,
.

[ I d o wh ats oev er my Ge nius w ill eth and my S o ul is not b ou nd to my ,

b ody at th e gates o f A ment a ] .

C h apt e r XXVI I of th e B oo k of th e De ad to be ins cr ib ed

o n, o r r e cit e d ove r , a figu r e in g r e e n f el d sp ar .
7a

Ch apte r wher e by th e H e ar t of a p er son is no t t aken f r om h im in th e

Neth er w or ld .

C omm ni a e u c t d by
Dr Ar r Fa ir an s , D ir e
. thu b k
or o f th e B os on M ct t u seum
o f F ine A r s t .

k t
Lif e Wor o f S ir Pe e r L e Pa e R eno f , vo l vi Par is , 19 07 g u . , .

7
a Th e L if e Wo r o f S ir Pe e rkL e P a e R eno f ,t”
g
vol iv, Par is, 1 9 07 , u . p . 71 .
320 TH E MAGI C OF J E W E L S A ND C HARM S

d ent ally w e m ay r e c all that th e h er me tic wor k of Thoth ,

name d by th e l at e r G r e e k s T r ismegisto s th e Thri ce M ighty ,

One which w as s aid to h av e b e e n u ne ar th e d in a t omb w as

, ,

ins cr ibe d up on s mar agd u s .

Th e l ar ger p ar t of th e amul e t s u se d in anci ent E gypt

r e p r ese nt ed s om e livi ng c r e atu r e Th e mos t u su al typ e is .

th e bull s h e ad which w as cut f r om car neli an h em atit e

’
, , ,

am a z on s t one l api s l azuli o r qu ar tz P r e hi s tor ic E gyp ti an

, ,
.

amul e t s r e p r es enting th e fly h av e b e en f o und ; th e se w e r e o f

s l at e l api s l az uli and s e r p entine

, I n hi s to ri c time s gold w as .

e mpl oye d as th e mat e ri al Oth er type s o ccu r r ing in p r e .

hi s to r ic times ar e th e h awk of qu ar tz o r limes t one ; th e s er ,

pe nt o f l api s l azuli or lime s tone ; th e c r o co d il e and th e fr o g

,
.

C ar neli an w as fr e e ly u se d as th e m ate r i al f o r am ul e t s in th e
e ar li er hi s t or ic time s am ong th e p r e v ailing f o r m s w e r e th e ,

h and th e fi s t and th e eye ; amul e t s figu ri ng th e li on th e

, , ,

j ack al he ad th e fr og and th e bee als o app e ar S ilv er or

—
, , ,
.

e l ec t r u m w as s ub s titut e d f or c ar ne li an in th e M iddl e K i ng

d om . A t a l ater p e r i od am ul e t s w e r e u sed l e ss and l ess

fr e qu ently .
8

Th e my s t e ri ou s vi r tu e s of th e scar ab ar e not yet f or

gotten in th e E as t in S yr i a at l eas t f or w e ar e t old th at this , ,

b e etle is an obj e ct o f much vener ati on am ong th e S yr i an

p e as ant s as an amul e t One u se of it in thi s w ay is to encl o se .

a s p e cim en in a bo x and l ay thi s up on th e b r e as t o f a b ab e

in its cr adl e as a su r e p r o t e ction ag ains t th e g r e atly d r e ad e d -

E vil E ye Th er e is al s o a s up er s titi on in thi s r e gi on th at

.

if a s car ab is found lying h elpl essly on its b ack anyone

“ ”
,

w h o ch ar it ably r e li e v e s it of its emb ar r assment by s e tti ng

it on its fee t will be r eli ev e d of th e gu ilt of a numb er of sins
, .
9

l de t t c t E gypt d bu gh
'

”
F in rs Pe r ie, Th e A r t s and Cr af s o f A n ien , E in r and

L on d on ,p 79 19 09 , . .

”
C a l o L andb g
r P ov b s t d ict er , r er e e o ns de l a p ov ince
r d e S yr ie , S e cti
on

S ayd a L eyd n 1883 pp 3 13 3 14

”
de , e , , .
, .
3 22 TH E M AGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
of le gend One o f th em r ep r e se nts th e se fr agments of p r e
.

ci ons s tone s as h avi ng ori ginally ador ne d th e r ichly deco

r a t e d va s e s and ve ssel s of Al e x and er th e Gr e at which w e r e
,

b r oke n up and cas t into th e s e a by Al exan der s mother afte r ’

his d e ath Th e o th e r t al e w as to th e e f fe ct th at Al e x an d e r
.

hims elf h ad ga th er e d t oge ther a mas s of j e we l s and or der e d

th em to be th r own int o th e se a ne ar th e Ph ar os so th at its ,

neighb or h oo d s h ould ne ver be d e s e r t e d ; f or M as udi r e

’
,

mar k s wh e r e ver p r e ci ou s s t one s ar e to be fou nd wh ethe r

, ,

in mine s or in th e d ep th s of th e s e a men ar e su r e to assembl e ,

to s ee k f or th em .
11

Th e pr oph e t I s ai ah in his thi r d ch apt er wh e r e h e s cor e s ,

th e want o nne ss and vanity o f th e D aughte r s o f Zi on ( vs 16 .

26 ) e num e r at e s in d e t ail th e var i ou s ad o rnments of a H ebr ew

mond aine t o war d th e e nd of th e eighth c entu r y b e fo r e Ch r i s t .

Among th e j e we l s and t r ink et s amul e t s ( l ehds him; v 20) ar e , .

e xp r e ss ly me nti one d and al s o cr e s cents th e se b eing

“ ”
, ,

p r ob ably of gold While it is not p o s sibl e to de t er mine th e

.

mat e r i al o f th e am ule t s th e f act that th e y ar e name d to

,

ge th e r with ri ch or nament s of var i ou s kind s r ings no se , ,

j ewe l s b r ac el e t s ankl e t s etc indic ate s th at th ey we r e o f

, , ,
.
,

pr e ci ou s m ate r i al an d w e r e p ossibly engr ave d p r e ci ou s

,

s t one s o r s e al s of s ome s o r t I n th e S ong of S ong s which

12
.
,

can s car c e ly be as signe d to a l at er d ate th an I s ai ah and ,

may have b e en wr itt en e ar li er th e s eal is nam e d in wh at ,

is p e r h ap s th e mos t b e autiful p as s age of thi s uniqu e p oem ,

C hapt e r VI I ve r s e 6, :

11
M acou d i, L es Pr air ie s d ’Or , t ext
ch t ans by B a bier d e and Fre n r . r

M eynar d and Pav t d C ou t il l vol ii Pa is 1863 pp 4 3 6 4 3 7 ch ap xxx ii

e e r e e, .
, r , , .
, , . .

G eseniu s in h i H e b w D ictiona y v n c nj ctu

12
s re th at th e l eh a h h n
r e e o e r es s

may h av e b e n sh ll s wh ich wh n h e ld to th e a gav e f o th

e e , e und s be l i ved t e r r so e o

have an ominous significance .

 AMULE TS ANCIE NT : ,
M E DI E V AL , ORIE NTAL 3 23

S et me as a seal up on thine h ear t ;

as a seal up on th ine ar m .

F or love is str ong as d eath ;

p assion is unyielding as H ades ,

Th e fl ashes th er eof ar e flashes of fi r e ;

an all c ons u ming fl ame
-
.

Th e golden cr e s cent s ” wer e u se d as am ule t s by th e

Midi anit e s f or su s p e ns i on on th e ne ck s of th e ir cam e ls at ,

th e p e ri o d of th e H e b r e w conqu e s t of C anaan as app e ar s ,

fr om th e eighth chapter of Judge s ( v .

Th e bu r ying in a gr ave of val u abl e ge ms and o r nam e nt s

w or n by th e d e ce ase d du r i ng life mu s t h ave b een o r i gi nal ly
,

d u e to a b e li e f th at the y se r ve d as t ali sm ans to gu ar d th e

r em ai ns fr om th e m align i nflu ence of e vil S pi r it s o r p e r h ap s ,

e ve n to af f or d p r o t e cti on and aid by s om e s t r an ge o ccult ,

p owe r to th e s oul of th e dep ar te d in th e unde r o r upp e r

,

w or ld whith e r it h ad j o u r neye d In th e New Wo r ld among .

,

th e mo r e highly civiliz e d an d w e althy Indi an t ri b e s o f th e

s outh thi s cu s t om w as v e r y gene r al and r ich s p o il s h av e
, ,

b e en tak en fr om th e ir gr aves by th e unsentim ental settler s

fr om E u r o p e In th e Ol d Wor ld al so thi s u sage w as quite
.

comm on ; E gypti an tomb s have aff or d e d j ewe l s of gold and

gem s wor th lar ge sums intr insical ly ap ar t fr om th e ir ,

a r cha eo l o gic al v alu e and o nl y to no t e o ne am ong m any in

,

s t anc e s w e may r e c all th e t r e asu r e s u ne ar th e d by th e i nd e

,

fatigable S chli emann in th e ol d Gr eek t omb s of Mycenae .

How eve r of al l the se find s none su r p asse s in int er e s t th at

,

mad e by M H enr y d e M or gan ne ar S u sa on F e b r uar y 10

.
,

1 901 wh en th e r e w as b r ought to light fr om a d e pth o f s ome

, ,

s ix me t r e s b e l o w th e s u r face a b r onz e s ar c o ph agu s c o nt ain

,

ing th e sk el e t on of a woman H e ap e d up on th e b r e as t o f th e
.

S ke le t on and s t r ewn ab out th e h e ad and ne ck w as a m as s o f

fi nel y w r ought and ar ti s tic gems and j ewe l s i ncluding s ev

-
,

e r al d e t ach e d amul e t s F r om c oins found in th e bu r i al and

.

al s o f r om th e g ene r al ch ar a ct e r of th e s e r e lic s M d e Mor g an , .

324 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

b elie ve s that th e interment mu s t have b een made at s ome

d ate b e twe en 350 and 330 B C ju st be for e Al exand e r s inva . .
,
’

s i on of P e r si a
” .

Th e j e we l s emb r ace a b e autiful gold tor qu e w e ighing 3 85

gr ams ( something ov er one p ound Tr oy ) Th e h oo p t e r m i .

nate s in tw o li ons h e ad s h aving ch e ek s of tu r qu oi se whil e

’
,

on th e muzzl e is a l api s l azuli fl ank e d by tw o tu r qu o i se s ; on

th e top o f th e h ead is a pl ate o f mo th er of p e ar l B r ac e l e t s - — .

si mil ar in d es i gn and d e c o r ati on to th e t o r qu e go to c ompl e t e

th e p ar ur e Of e ve n gr e at er i nt er e s t th an th e gold t o r qu e
.
[

w as a thr e e r ow pe ar l neckl ace 23 8 o f th e p e ar l s b e ing s till

-
,

mo r e or l e s s well p r eser ve d ; or iginally th er e mu s t have b e e n

fr om 400 to 500 of th em S till ano th er val u abl e ne ckl ac e . .

c ons i s t s of 400 b e ad s of p r eci ou s or ornamental stone mate

r i al and 400 g old b e ad s Th e s t ones r e p r es ent e d ar e tu r
.

q u o ise l a
,
pi s l azuli e m er al d ag at e var i ou s j as p e r s r e d and
, , , ,

bl ond c arnelian feldsp ar j ad e f ) hyaline and milky qu ar tz

, , , ,

am e thy s t of a p al e vi ol e t h u e h ematit e se v e r al mar bl e s and , ,

br e cci a A fou r th ne ckl ace h ad a r ow of b e ad s and p e nd ant s

.

incr u s te d with c ar nelian l api s l azuli and tu r qu o i s e ; he r e ,

th e sh ar p contr as t of th e b r ight r ed car ne lian di s tu r b s th e

har moniou s ef fe ct p r o duce d by th e combination of th e dar k
blu e lapis lazuli and th e light blu e tu r qu oi se .

Th e d e t ach e d amul et s ar e of var i ou s for ms one figu r ing ,

a s phinx with a r am s h e ad ; thi s w as in whit e p as t e with

’

gr e en enamel A noth er of gold w as r ud ely fashi one d in th e

.
, ,

fo rm of a lion or a cat and th er e w as al so a dove o f l apis ,

l azuli p o or ly exe cut ed th e amul et s ( mainly of E gypti an

, ,

typ e ) b e ing of ver y i nfer i or w or kmanship as c omp ar ed with

th e j e we l s S till th ey se r ve to c onfirm th e b e li e f that thi s
.

h e aping up in th e tomb of al l th e de ar e st tr e asu r es ch e r i s he d

1”
De legat ion en Par se , vol . viii, Re cher ch es A r ch eol igiqu e s 3 eme S ér ie ,
Par is, 19 05 pp 3 6—
, 58 . .
326 TH E M AGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
j asp er w as es t e eme d in anci ent time s thi s des ignati on cove r ,

ing j ad e as w e ll : 14

A u r o , qu id melius "? asp is J . Q uid J asp ite f V ir tus . Q uid v ir tute ?

D E US Q uid d eitate ? Nib il
. .

W h at is b etter th an Gold ? J as p er .

Wh at is b etter th an J as p er ? V ir tue .

Wh at is b etter th an V ir tue ? GOD .

Wh at is better th an the deity ! Noth ing

“
.

Th e fi r s t menti on of th e f am ou s charm Ab r acadab r a ,

which so oft en app e ar s engr av e d on Gno s tic gem s occu r s in ,

a L ati n m e dic al p o em w r itt e n by S e r e nu s S ammonicu s w h o

live d in th e thir d c entu r y and is said to h ave b e qu e athe d h is

lib r ar y c ons i sting of sixty tw o th ou s and volum e s to th e E m —

p er or Go r di an th e Yo unger Th e p o em r e c omme nd s thi s .

mys tic w o r d o r name as a s o v er e ign r em e dy f or th e d emi

, ,

t e r ti an fever if it we r e wr itt en on a pi e ce o f p ap e r and

”
,

s u s p e nd e d by a li nen th r e ad f r om th e ne ck o f th e p ati e nt .

To h av e its full e ffi cacy th e w or d sh ould be w r itt en as many

time s as ther e ar e l e tt e r s in it but taking away one l ette r ,

e ach ti me s o th at th e ins c r ipti on as su m e d th e fo r m of an

,

inver te d cone .
15

I t is int e r e s ting to no t e th at D e F oe w r iting in th e se v en ,

te enth c e ntu r y o f th e G r e at Pl agu e in L ond on

allud e s to thi s s t r ang e t ali sm an as s till in u s e Tr e ating 16
.

o f th e cu r i ou s p r o phyl actic s e mpl o ye d at th at time h e r e ,

p r o ach e s th o s mpl y d such th o d s and act e d as

m “
e w h o e o e e ,

if th e plagu e w as not th e h and of Go d but a kind of p o s se s ,

si on of an e vil S pi r it and th at it w as to be k e pt o f f with

,

cr o ssings s igns of th e z odi ac p ap e r s ti e d up with so many

, ,

C u ieu se Kunst u nd We ck S chul Nii nbe g 17 05 p 9 9 4 - ”

r r , r r , , . .

Pr é c pt es M é d c aux d e S e enu S ammonicu t ext and t ans by L B aude t

e i r s s, r . .
,

Par is 1 845 pp 7 4—7 7 , . .

A Jou nal of th e Plague Y ear

,

D e Foe
1"
,
L nd n 189 5 p 3 8 ( v l ix of
r , o o , , . o .

Wo k ed by A itken )
r s . .
 AMULETS ANCIE NT : ,
ME D I E V AL , ORIE NTAL 3 27

kno ts and ce r tain wor ds or figur e s as p ar ticu l ar ly th e wor d

, ,

Ab r acadab r a forme d in tr iangle or pyr amid thu s ,

A B R A C A D A B R A
A B R A C A D A B R
A B R A C A D A B
A B R A C A D A
A B R A C A D
A B B A C A
A B R A C
A B R A
A B R
A B
A

A cu riou s ch arm whi ch w as e xtensively u sed as an amul e t

in m e die val time s c onsi st s of fi ve L atin wor d s so ar r ange d
that th ey can be r ead b ackwar d s or for war ds and als o u p
war d s or downw ar d s Th e di sp osition of th e l ett er s is as
.

fo llows

Thi s ch arm h as b een pr e ser ve d f or u s in Gr eek and C o ptic

as w e ll as in Roman char act e r s and ex ampl e s of it have ,

be en found cut in a mar bl e S lab ab ove th e ch ap e l of S t .

L au r ent at Roch emau r ( A r d éch e ) F r ance and al so in th e , ,

plast e r wall of an ol d Roman hous e at Cir ncester Gl ouce s te r ,

shi r e E ngl and

,
In a Gr e e k manu s cr ipt in th e B ibli othequ e
.

Nati onal e in P aris th e L atin wo r d s ar e t r anslit er at e d and

,
17
,

t r ansl at ed as follows
wi mp, th e sower
ép th e plough
H rO,

rév h old s
er ,

am pa wor ks
,

pé c wheel s
ra .

17
Ms Gr No 24 11, f ol
. . . . 60 . S ee 0 . Wer sch er , de l a
antiq . d e l a Fr an ce , 1874, vol . xxxv pp
, . 15 3 sqq.
3 28 TH E MAGI C OF JE W E L S A ND C HARMS

Anoth e r and mor e ingeni o u s explanati on of thi s puzzl e

h as h owe v er b een given
,
B e ginning with th e l a s t w or d
,
.
18

r ot as and t aking th e o th e r w or d s in th e i r or d e r it is
“ ”
, ,

pr op os e d to r ead as fol low s Th e pl ough wh e e l s ( r o t as ) :

“ -
,

th e l ab o r e r ( op er a ) h old s ( t ene t ) c r e e p af t er h im ( ar e po )
, , ,

I th e s ow e r
,
Th e chi e f d e fe ct in thi s v e r s i on ap
p e ar s to be th e as sumption th at o p er a can be r ender e d
“ ”

l abor er an int e r pr et ation which is at b est supp or te d

,
”
, ,

by a doubtful u se o f th e w or d in th at s ens e by H or ac e Thi s .

charm app e ar s in an I tali an m anu scr ipt o f th e f ou rteenth

centur y wher e it is r e commende d to be u s e d f or th e assu r
,
19

ance of a s p e e dy d e live r y .

T ouching th e w ond er ful and mys tic p ow er att r ibute d to

th e seven v owel s o f th e Gr e ek alph ab e t by th e Gnostic s ,

C W King cites th e foll owing w or d s fr om th e Pistis S ophi a

. .

o f Val enti nu s :
2°

Nothing theref or e is mor e exc ellent than th e my ster ies which ye seek
af ter s aving only th e mys te r y of th e S ev en V o we l s and th e ir f orty and
,

nine Power s and th e Number s th ere of

, A nd no name is mor e ex c el lent .

th an al l thes e [ Vowels ] a Name wher ein be c ontaine d al l Names and al l

,

Lights and al l Powers .

las t sentence pr ob ably r efe r s to th e ar r angement of

Th e
th es e vowe l s often me t with in ins cr ib e d Gnostic t alismans ,

th e so c all e d Ab r ax as g ems H er e w e o ft e n fi nd th em in th e
-
.

foll owing or der I E H a 0 YA and th e s ound of th es e v owel s ,

r e ally s ugges t s th e c onv enti onal

p r onunci ation of th e He
b r ew name Jeh ovah ( yeh ow ah ) Th e wor d s qu o te d fr om .

th e Pistis S ophi a ar e pl ace d in th e mouth of J e su s and King

,
call s att e nti on to th e f act th at in Gr e e k h
t e s am e w o r d is
u se d f or voice and vowel ( swi m) He the r efor e b e lie ve s that .

1‘
King, ly Ch istian Numismatics
E ar r d on
L on 187 3, p
, 187
In th e auth or s l ibr a y
, . .
’
r .

King E ar ly Ch is tian Numi matic s

, r s , Lon d o n, 1 87 3 , pp . 229 , 2 3 0 .
 AMULE TS ANCIE NT : ,
ME D I E V AL , ORIE NTAL 3 29

th e p as s age in Re vel ati ons ( x 3—4 ) Th e se ven thund er s ,

utt e r e d th ei r voic e s signifie s th at th e s ound o f th e seven

,
”

vowe l s e ch o e d thr ough th e vault of h eaven and comp o se d

“
,

that mystic utte r anc e which th e s ainte d see r w as fo r bidd en

to r e ve al u nt o m o r t al s .
”

C e r tain t ali smans w e r e s upp ose d to af f or d pr o t e cti on

no t only to individu al s but ev e n to enti r e citi e s Of thi s .

cl ass w e r e tw o t ali sm ans d e s cr ib e d by Gr e go r y of Tou r s .

H e r e l at e s th at P ar i s h ad enj oye d f r om anci e nt tim e s a su r

p r i sing immunity fr om s e r p ent s and r ats as we ll as fr om ,

fi r e s H ow e ve r in cl e ari ng ou t th e channel b ene ath a b ri dge

.
,

ac r os s th e S e ine th e w o r km en f ou nd e mb e dd e d in th e mu d
, ,
,

tw o b r az e n im ages o ne o f a s e r p ent an d th e o th e r of a r at ;
,

aft e r the se h ad b e e n r e m ov e d fr om th e i r r e s ting pl ac e ,

se r p ent s and r at s app e ar e d and conflagr ations b e c am e

,

c ommon .
21

Of th e m any memor i al s of th e A ge of C h ar l emagne p r e

s e r v e d in th e C ath e d r al T r e as u r y at A ach en th at p opul ar ly ,

known as th e Tali sman of C h ar lemagne always e xer te d a

p e culi ar fas cinati on o ve r th e mind s of thos e vi s iting th e
sh ri ne b o th b e c au se o f its s ac r e d ch ar act er and on acc ount
,

o f th e mys tic p o w e r as c ri b e d to it .

Th e Tali sman is comp ose d of tw o l ar ge s apphi r es cut

’
,

en cabo ch on one b e ing o f o val f o r m and th e o th e r s qu ar e

, ,

th e se cons tituting r e sp e ctively th e fr ont and b ack of th e

r e lic ; e ncl ose d b e tw een th em is a cr oss m ad e fr om woo d of

th e H oly C r o s s s aid to h av e b een found in P al e s tine by S t .

He l ena mo th e r of C ons t antine th e G r e at

,
Thi s is only .

vi sible wh en l o oking thr ough th e oval s apphi r e se t in fr ont

o f th e me d alli on Th e tw o s apphi r e s ar e j oine d and fr am e d
.

by a b and studd e d with pr e ci ou s s t one s and vari ou s othe r ,

gems ar e s et ab ove and b el ow th em Th e oval s apphi r e is of .

21
p c p
G r ego r u E is o i Tu r onens is, t
H is or ia F r anco r u m, ed . dt
A rn , and

Kr us ch , Pa s
r I , H anno ve r az , 1884 , 349 , l ib p
iii, cap 3 3
. . v . .
330 TH E M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
a p al e blu e and is fu r ni s he d with a gold op enwor k b o r de r ing
,
.

At th e top of th e me d allion in a s qu ar e sp ace is s e t a l oz enge ,

s h ap e d g ar ne t and ar ound th e oval s apphi r e f orm i ng th e

,

fr ont ar e pl ac e d succe s sively 1 ) an eme r ald ( 2) a p e ar l , , ,

( 3 ) a gar ne t ( 4 ) a p e ar l ( 5 ) an emer ald ( 6 ) a p ear l ( 7 ) a

, , , ,

gar ne t ( 8) a p e ar l ( 9 ) an emer ald ( 10) a p e ar l ( 11 ) a gar

, , , ,
.

ne t ( 1 2) a p e a r l ( 13 ) an eme r al d ( 1 4 ) a p e ar l ( 1 5 ) a
, , , ,

gar ne t ( 16 ) a p e ar l
,
.

Th e s qu ar e s apphi r e at th e b ack o f th e m e d alli on is of

p o or qu ality and imp e r fe ct col or ; ab out it ar e sixte en set
tings containing r esp e ctively ( 1 ) ( l acking ) ( 2) a p e ar l ( 3 )
, , , ,

a gar ne t ( 4 ) a p e ar l ( 5 ) an eme r ald ( 6 ) a p e ar l ( 7 ) a gar

, , , ,

ne t 8) a p e ar l ( 9 ) an eme r ald ( 10) a p e ar l ( 11 ) a garne t

, , , , ,

( 12 ) a p e ar l ( 1 3 ) an eme r ald ( 14 ) a p e ar l ( 1 5 ) a gar net

, , , ,

( 16 ) a p e ar l .

On th e b and ar e s et th e foll owing s t one s ( 1 ) a p e ar l ( 2 ) : ,

a s apphi r e ( 3 ) a p e ar l ( 4 ) an am e thy s t ( 5 ) a p ear l ( 6 ) a

, , , ,

s apphi r e ( 7 ) a p e a r l ( 8 ) an am e thy s t ( 9 ) a p e ar l ( 1 0) an
, , , ,

alm o s t whit e s apphi r e ( 1 1 ) a p e ar l ( 1 2 ) an am e thy s t ( 1 3 )

, , ,

a p e ar l ( 14 ) a whit e s apphi r e
, .

In th e summ e r of 1804 E mp r e s s J os e p h ine went to Aix

‘

l a C h ap e ll e ( A ach en ) to t ak e th e w at e r s th e r e and du r ing

—
,

h er s t ay on Augu s t 1 sh e vi s it e d th e t omb of C h ar l emagne

, ,

in th e C ath e d r al We ar e t old th at Nap ol e on w h o j o ine d

.
,

J ose phine at Aix l e C h ap ell e on S e pt emb er 3 h ad al r e ady

- -
,

au th o r iz e d th e C ath e dr al ch apt e r to p ar t with c e r t ain o f th e

r e lic s and b e s t ow th em up on J os ephi ne at th e ti me o f h e r

vi sit to th e tomb Thi s auth or izati on of c ou r se w as only

.
, ,

a p olit e e quival ent f or a c omm and and w as duly c ar r i e d ou t , ,

th e mos t p r iz e d o bj e ct s e cu r e d by J os e phine b e ing p r e ci s ely

thi s f ame d t al i sman It eventu al ly c am e int o th e h and s o f
.

H or t ens e J o s e phine s d aught er th e mo th e r of Nap o l e on

’
, ,

III and w as inh er it e d by him

,
It is s aid to be now in a .
332 TH E M AG I C OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
tr e phining w as p e r for me d at thi s e ar ly d at e almos t if not ,

quit e exclu sive ly in th e case of infants and it is b eli e ve d ,

p r incip ally f or th e cu r e of epil ep sy If th e child su r vive d .

th e op e r a ti on its skull w a s th ought to h av e acqui r e d a ce r tai n

m agic p o we r Thi s id e a h ad its r i se in th e b e li e f th at epi
.

l ep sy w as th e r e sult of an indw elling evil spir it so th at if ,

th e di s e as e di s app e ar e d as a r e sult o r se qu ence of th e o p e r a

ti on thi s e vil spi r it w as b eli eve d to h ave m ad e h is w ay ou t
,

th r ough th e ap e r tu r e On th e ev entu al d e ath of one who se

.

s ku ll h ad b ee n s ucc e s s fully t r e phi ne d di sk s w e r e s om e tim e s ,

ou t ju s t on th e e dg e o f th e o p ening th r ough which th e p os

s e ss i ng s pi r it h ad s lipp e d o u t l e avi ng as a t r ac e o f h is ,

p as sage s ome of h is di ab olic but s till p ot ent virtu e That .

25

th e sup e r s titi on r e gar di ng th e se c r ani al di sk s l as te d w e ll

int o th e S ixt e enth c entu r y e ven among some of th e e ducate d , ,

is p r ov en by th e fact that on a b r ac e l e t which b e longe d to

and w as w o r n by C ath e r ine d e M e dici o ne of th e t al i smans
’
,

w as a pi e c e o f a human skull .

Att enti on w as fir s t c alle d to th e s tr ange amule t s t aken

fr om th e human skull by th e op e r ati on o f t r ephining by ,

M Pr u ne tiér e at a mee ting of th e F r ench A s s oci ati on f or

.
,

th e Advanc ement o f S ci e nc e h e ld in L y ons in Th e ,

S p e cimen h e th e n exhibit e d c am e f r om a s epultu r e in th e

d ep ar tment of L o z er e Thi s p ar ticul ar e x am pl e sh ow e d a

.

br e ak on th e e dge and M P aul B r oca h as conj e ctu r e d that a

, .

sm all pi e c e may hav e b ee n chipp e d o f f so tha t it mi ght be ,

pulve ri z e d and adm ini s t e r e d as a p owd e r to p e r sons suf fe r

ing f r om di se as e o f th e b r ain a t r e atm ent fav or e d by th o se ,

w h o d oubt e d th e g e ne r ally b e li e v e d sup e r natu r al or igin of —

Rene l , L es re ligi ons de l a Ga ul e avant le C hr ist ianism e , Par is, 1 9 06,

2°
S e e Pa ul Br oca , Su r l a t ép anation d v cr an
ulett es c aniennes
r e et l es am r
’
Revue d A nth o pol ogie vo l vi 187 7 pp 1—4 2 19 3
’
d l époque néo l itiqu e
e , r , .
, , .
,

225 and al so h i A mul e tt es cr ani nnes et t é p anat ion p r éh isto ique

s in th
e r r e

sam Revue vol v 18 7 6 pp 106 107

e, . , , .
, .
 AMULE TS ANC IE NT : ,
ME D I E V AL , ORIE NTAL 3 33

e pil ep sy u sp e cte d its s our ce in s ome l e si on of th e b r ain

,
and s

o r o f th e m e ning e s F o r thi s of c ou r se no m or e effi ci ent

.
, ,

r em e dy c ould sugg e s t it s e lf acc or di ng to th e ol d s ymp ath e tic

,

the o r y of me dicine s than a p owde r made fr om th e sk ull of

,

o ne w h o h ad b e en an e pil e ptic The s e s ku ll amul e t s h ave .

-

b e en une ar th e d in ne o lithic bu r ial s in var i ou s p ar ts o f

F r anc e a c o ns id e r abl e numb e r h aving b e en found by M d e
, .

B aye and o th e r s in th e d e p ar tme nt of M ar ne ; a s p e cimen

w a s al s o fo und in an Alge r i an s e pu l tu r e by G ene r al F aid
'

h er b e .

Th e gr e at G r eek phys ici an Hipp o c r at e s of C o s a con ,

t emp or ar y of Pl at o advi se d tha t r es or t sh ould be h ad to th e

,

o p e r ati on o f t r e phi ning in m any c as e s o f inju r y to th e h e ad ,

and th at th e anci e nt H i ndu s w e r e to a c e r t ain e xt ent famili ar

with it as a m e tho d o f t r e ating di s e as e s o f th e b r ain app e ar s

in one o f th e B uddhi s t r e cit al s fr om a Tib e t an s ou r ce .

H e r e it is r e l at e d th at A tr eya mas t e r of th e King of Phy s ,

icians J ivak a wh en app e al e d to f or h e lp by a man su fi e ring

, ,

fr om a dis tr e s sful ce r eb r al di s or d e r di r e cte d th e man to ,

dig a pit and fill it up w ith dung ; h e th en th r u s t th e man int o

thi s s oft and s avor y mas s until nothing but h is h e ad and ne ck
p r o t r ude d and op ene d h is skull F r om it w as d r awn ou t a
,
.

r e ptil e wh o se p r e s e nc e h ad c au se d th e mal ady J ivaka .

s eems to h av e b e en in c ons ultati on with his m as t e r in this

int e r e s ting op er ation and is s aid to h ave late r extr act e d a

,

c entip e de fr om a m an s skull aft e r making an ap e r tur e ’

the r e in with a golde n knife In ne ithe r of th e se case s h ow .

27
,

e v er d o w e h av e any hint th at di s ks o r f r agment s f r om th e

,

human skull wer e u s e d as amul et s .

A gh as tly obj e ct much favor e d in F r ance in th e Middl e

Age s as it w as b e lie v e d to give th e owne r th e p owe r to d is
,

Kum agu su M inakat a, Tr e p anning am ng A ncient Peopl es Nature

o , ,

J an . 1 5 , 1 9 14 , pp . 555, 556 ; c it ing E ncycl paad ia B it annica 19 10 vol x iii

o r , , .
,

p . 5 18, and E A
. . S ch ief ne r , Tib et an Tal e s t ans Ral ston 19 06 p 9 8
, r .
, , . .
33 4 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

cover hidden tr easu r e s w as th e s o c all e d main d e gl oir e

,
- - -
;
01
'

hand of glo r y which w as th e d e siccate d hand of one w h o

‘
,

h ad me t h is d e a th by h anging .
28

A r e mar k abl e t ali sm anic b r ac e le t owne d by C ath e r ine

d e M e dici w as se t with a s kull fr agm ent and with a r e p r e
’
—

s e ntation o f a
“
m ain d e g l oir e -
Thi s is d e s cr ib e d in th e
-
.
”

cat al o gu e mad e in 1 7 86 of M d E nne r y s c oll e cti on Th e .

’ ’
.

s e tting s of th e b r ac e l e t ten in numb e r c omp,

r i se d th e f o ll o w ,

ing obj e ct s to e ach o f which w a s p r ob ably as cr ib e d s ome

,

s p e ci al s ignific anc e and vi r tu e

29
.

A n o val e agl e s tone

“ ”
( ae tite s ) on whi ch w as gr aven in
-

int agli o a winge d dr agon ; ab ove thi s figur e w as th e dat e

1 5 59 th e ye ar in which th e b r ac e l e t w as c om p os e d and th at
,

of th e d e ath o f C ath er ine s hu s b and H enr i I I

’
,
.

A n o ct agonal ag at e t r av e r s e d by a numb e r of tubul ar

,

ap e r tu r e s th e o r ific e s o f which c o uld be se en on e ith er s id e

,

o f th e s tone .

A ve r y fi ne oval onyx of th r e e color s b e ar ing gr aven on ,

its e dge th e fo ll owing name s of ange l s G ab ri e l R aph ae l : , ,

M ichae l Ur i e l ,
.

A lar ge oval tu r qu oi s e with a gold b and .

A pie ce of bl ack and whit e m ar ble .

A n ov al b r own agate with a c aduce u s a s t ar and a cr e s

, ,

c ent engr ave d in intagli o on one of its face s and on its e dge ,

th e nam e J e h ovah and ce r t ain t ali sm anic ch ar act e r s ; on th e

o th e r fac e w e r e fi gu r e d th e c ons t e ll ati on S e r p ens th e z o di
,

ac al s ign S co r pi o and th e S u n ar ou nd which w e r e th e s ix ,

pl ane ts .

An obl ong s e cti on of a human S k ull .

A r o und e d pi e ce of go ld on th e conve x s id e of which w as

“
8
Pie r r e L a c oix c c tt
S ien e s et Le r es an M o en A ge, ” Par is, 1 87 7,
r , 2 50 y p . .

”
M ar in, t H is t
o ire d e F r an e
,
”
vo l ,
c
Pa r is, 184 4 , 4 5 1 , no e
. x
Fr o m p . t .

a c u c t
omm ni a ion o f Pierr e L a r oi , c x ct g
i in as a ori Ca a o e d es uth ty t l gu
tabl u t qu
ea x , an i p g v
ité s , ie r r e s r a é es , e t c , etc , d u a ine d e f e u M d ’E nne r
.

y,
. c b t .

ecuy by R emi and M il iotti, Par is, 1 7 86

”
er, .
C ourt e s y of E rne s t L ero ux . Pan s
S KE LE TO N O F A N A C H E M E N ID N O B L E W P P Y
O M A N . E R H A S A RO A L P E R SO N
A G E . A S FO UN D E N T O M B E D W IT H A W E
A LT H O F J E W E L ED O R N A M E N TS A T
P
S US A I N E R S I A . B Y M H E N R Y
D E M O R G A N I N 1 9 04
.
,
33 6 TH E M AGIC OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARM S
invention and u se of th e art of p r inting the r e c ould be no
w id e di f fu s i on o f such t r ans l ati ons .

Th e j acinth is de s cr ib e d by Th om as d e C antimp r é a s
b eing a s t one of a ye llow col or I t is v e r y h ar d and di th .

cult to cl e ave or cut ; it can h owe v er be w or k e d with d ia

, , ,

mond d u s t I t is ve r y co ld e s p e ci al ly wh en h e ld in th e
'

.
,

mouth Among m any o th e r vi r tu e s it p r o t e ct s fr om

.
”
,

me l anch oli a and p oi s o n and m ake s th e w e ar e r b el o ve d o f ,

G od and men I t al so act s as a sor t of b ar om e t er s inc e it

. ,

gr ow s dar k and dull in bad w e ath e r and b e come s cle ar and

b r ight in fi ne we athe r C ar d ano s ay s th at wh en th e 33

w eath e r w as fi ne th e st one b e came ob s cu r e and dull but ,

wh en a t emp e st w as imp ending it as sum e d th e r u ddy h u e ,

o f a bu r ni ng c o al I t al s o l o s t its c ol o r wh e n in c ont act with

.

any one s u f fer i ng f r om di s e as e m o r e e s p e ci ally fr om th e ,

pl agu e .
34

A s a r e sult of h is s tudy o f p r e ci ou s s t one s C ar dano w as ,

induc e d to aflir m th at th e y h ad life but h e gr ave ly s t ate s ,

that h e h ad neve r no t e d th at th ey p os se ss e d sex ( a c ommon

b e li e f in h is d ay ) alth ough as natu r e de light s as much in
“
,

mi r acl e as w e d o s om e m ay be s o c ons titut e d that the y

,

ar e alm os t di s ti ngui s h e d by s ex
35
.

Th e b e autiful s apphir e h as alw ay s b e en a gr e at favo r it e

with l ove r s of p r e ci ou s stone s and to it h as b e en attr ibut e d
a ch as t ening pu r ifyi ng influ e nc e up on th e so ul
, E v en B u r .

ton in h is A nat omy of M e l anch o ly wh er ein p r e ci ou s s t one s

, ,

ar e r ar e ly menti one d t ake s o cc as i on to w r it e as fo ll o w s o f

,

th e s apphi r e : It is th e fai r es t of al l p r e ci ou s s t one s of sky

“

c o lour and a gr e at enemy to bl ack ch o ler fr e e s th e mind

, , ,

mend s m anne r s ” “
.
3

”8
Ko nr a d M ege nber g s o l d G e r man
von
’
ve r s io n B uch d e r Na tur ,
by Dr . F r anz Pf e ifle r, S tuttg ar t , 186 1 , p 44 9
'

. .

M
d u
C ar ani, D e r e r m var ietate , l ib , Basil eaa, 155 7, . v p 100. .

d p
C ar ani, Ph il o so ph i O er a qu a d am, Ba si e se, 1 585 ,
”
l p 33 0
. .

a“
A na om o f M e a nt o , y
”
Bk I I, 4, i, 4 l ch ly . .
 F RO M A P OR T R A IT O F Q UE E N E L IZ A BE T H

p k
I n t h e o ss e s s i o n o f t h e D u e o f D e vo ns h i re K G H ar d w i c H al l k q
T h e u e e n h a s j e w e l s i n h e r h ai r
p k k g
,

g
,

a p e ar l e a rd ro a nd t w o ne c l ace s , o ne fi t t i n cl o se t o t h e ne c . t h e o t h e r f al l in o ve r t h e bre as t T h e s t ifi
'

k
bro cad e s i r t is e m br o i d e re d
,

i t h a w o nd e rf u l a r r aW o f a u ati c bl r d s and a ni m al s y q
O n t h e l e f t . t h e cu s h i o n
o f
T h
h
t e
o
c
h
h a
m
i r
i
o f
n
s t
o
a t
'
e 18
n
e
o
mbr
n
o i d e r
t r o o
e d
m
i t
a
h t h
nou
e u e
r o o
e n
'

O0
s m o no r am
V 88
W
i nb h a n
q g
S u rm ou ntm g t h e ch ai r is a. c r s t al bal l
. y
33 8 TH E M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
At th e to p w as a cr o s s with r ays a s imil ar c r o ss b eing dr a
wn ,

at th e b ott om o f th e t e xt Thi s b e gan with th e f ol l ow m g

.

w or d s
M ond ay, Nov emb er 23 , th e d ay of S t C l ement, . p op e and m ar tyr , and

of th ers
o in th e m ar tyr ol ogy .

Th e E ve of S t C hrysogone , mar ty r ,
. th er s Fr om ab o ut h al f
and o f o .

p as t ten in th e ev ening until ab out a h al f ho ur af ter midnight -

,

FI R E

Th e n fo llow a s e ri es of j cul ati ons and sh or t r eli gi ou s

e a

t c
s e n en e s , and t owar d th e end aft e r th e nam e o f C h r i s t
,

thr ic e r ep e at e d th e w or d s ,

I h av e se p ar ate d mysel f f r om H im, I h av e fled f ro m H im, de nie d Him .

and finally th e p r aye r th at thi s s ep ar ati on might h ence fo r th

c e ase Th e or iginal t ext is s aid to be in th e B ibli othequ e
.

Nati onal e in P ar i s with th e M S of th e P e nsée s .

“
.

P asc al is s tate d to h ave alway s k ept thi s amul e t on h is

p er son r emoving it car e fully fr om th e lining o f an ol d gar
,

m e nt and putting in a ne w one wh e n thi s w as as sume d Th e ,

.

s t r ange i nt r o ducti on r e f e r r e d to a vi s i on o f fi r e which h e h ad

h ad on th e ni ght in qu es ti on and thi s h as b ee n e xpl ai ne d as

,

r e s ulting fr om a s e v e r e ne r vou s s h o ck h e h ad e xp e ri e nc e d

s ix m onth s b e fo r e wh en d r ivi ng al ong th e b ank s o f th e S e i ne

,
.

A s th e v e hicl e ne ar e d Ne uilly th e h or s e s t ook fr ight and r an

aw ay d a s hi ng t ow ar d th e e dge o f th e b ank ; ju s t o n th e
,

b r ink th e r eins b r oke and th e h or se s plunge d d own int o th e

r ive r l e avi ng th e c ar r i ag e in which P a s c al w as s itting on th e
,

e dg e o f th e p r e cipic e Thi s sh o ck imp r e s s e d h im s o vividly

.

th at h e would o ften s e e th e p r e cipice b e fo r e h im as di stinctly

as th ough it w er e a r e ality In any c as e th e m att e r is o f in
.

te r e st as sh owing th at one of th e mo s t gift e d m e n of th e

s e ve nt e enth c e ntu r y w as a b e li e v e r in am ul e t s
39
.

3°
F . La lut
mu l et d e Pas cal ” in A nnal e s med p sych I
, L
’
a , . .
, s e r ., vo l . v ,

pp . 15 7 180;
— a nd P E L itt r é, M é.d e c in
.e et mé d e c ins
”
Par is , 1 8 7 2 , ,
pp . 9 5 —9 7 .
 AMUL E TS ANCIE NT : ,
M E D IE V AL , ORIE NTAL 33 9

Th e gi ving of co r al s to new b o r n infant s w as e xp r es s ly -

for bidd en in 1 708 in th e bi sh op ri c o f B amb e r g, be cau s e of th e

s up e r s titi on conne cte d th e r ewith although Ch r i s ti an p aint ,

e r s o f th e fou r t e enth c e ntu r y o ft e n r ep r e se nt e d th e child

J e su s as h olding c o r al s in h is hand Th e p e r si s te nc e of th e .

S up e r s titi on as to th e E vil E ye and th e b e li e f th at c or al s af e

gu ar d e d th e w e ar e r the r e fr om have imp r e ss e d many cul ,

tu r ed I t al i ans o f ou r d ay and e ve n so abl e and cl e ar h e ad e d

,
-

a s t at e sman a s p r ime m i ni s t er C r i spi is s aid ne v e r to h ave

gone to a p ar li amentar y s itting with out having with h im

a c o r al am ul e t
40
.

S ome ch aract e r i s tic Hindu amul e t s figu r e th e god J agan

nath ( L o r d o f th e W or ld ) o r a s s o ci ate d divi niti e s and al s o
, ,

s ym b o l s r e l at e d to th e w or s hip o f thi s f o r m o f K r i shna

41
.

I n th e m onth J oye sth a ( May Ju ne ) h is w o r ld r e nowne d tem — -

p l e at F u r l in Or i s s a is th r ong e d with pilg r im s fr om al l p ar t s

O f I ndi a and on th e g r e at fe s tival d ay h is i m age and th o se
,

o f his b r o th e r B al ar ana and o f h is si s t e r S u bh ad r a ar e t ak en

ou t o f th e s anctu ar y and pl ace d in an e l ab o r at e ly d e c o r at e d

car which is d r awn th r ough th e s tr ee ts of th e city Th e

, .

r e adine ss o f f anatic al b e li e v e r s to s ac r ific e th e i r live s by

cas ting them se lve s bene ath th e whe el s of thi s ponde r ou s car ,

h as m ad e th e exp r e ss i on almo s t a
“ ”
C ar o f J agannath
h ou seh old wo r d fr ee ly u se d by th ose w ho know little or
,

nothing ab out H i ndu r e ligi on Th e E ngli s h G ove r nment .

h as l ong s ince put a st op to th e se r e ckl e s s and u s e l e ss

ni ar tyr d oms .

M any of th es e amul e t s ar e mad e of a black s t e atit e One .

r e p r e sent s K r i s hna J agannath ) s tanding and pl aying on a

flute ano the r figu r e s thi s avat ar of Vi sh nu with h is wife
lg
Die R e i ion in G e s i ch cht
e u nd G e g nwa t e r ,
”
ed . by Fr ie d ich
r M ich ae l
S chie le , vo l i, Tii bingen, 19 09 , col 4 55
. . .

“
E nr i co H
G igl io l i,
.
“
Di a lcuni x v to amuleti d alt i oggetti l itici
e -
o e r

tt l a f ma d i Jagan natha a Pu i in O iss a

,

d p t
a o er a i ne l cult
o di Kr is na, so h o or -
r r ,
”

A r ch vi io pe r l A nt ropo l ogia, vol xxiii pp 87—89 ; Fi an i 189 3

’
.
, . r z , .
340 TH E MAG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARM S

Radh a . A cu r i ou s s e r i e s p r e s ent s J agannath B al ar ana and ,

S ubh ad r a ; th e u nnatu r ally l ar g e h e ad s of th e figu r e s and

th e t r u ncat e d c r owns and l e g s ar e expl aine d by th e f act th at
th e gr oup w as car ve d fr om th e tr is al a of a t op e of a B uddhi s t
t emple e r e ct e d at Pu r i in th e thir d centu r y B C th e H indu s . .
,

o f a l at e r tim e h avi ng utiliz e d thi s r e lic o f a f o r m e r f aith f or

go d s o f the i r e thnic r e li gion The r e ar e al s o a numb e r of

.

s t am p s i nci s e d with embl ematic figu r e s s uch a s a s h e ll a

, ,

s ankh a wh e e l a s e r p e nt tw o f oo tp r i nt s e tc
, ,
so th at th ,
.
,

c or r e sp onding s e al m ay be imp r es s e d in co l or e d cl ay up on
th e ar ms of th e f aithful in th e sanctu ary of J agannath .

Many of th e amul e t s b e ar i ng th e d oubl e f o o tp ri nt em ,

bl e matic of Vi s hnu ( K r i s hna J ag annath ) ar e ar r ang e d in

-
,

gr oup s of fi ve al l b e ing p e r f or at e d s o th at a gr oup can be

,

s u sp end e d on th e p e r s o n .

Th e f oo tp r int s ar e expl aine d by a cu r i ou s l e g end to th e

e f f e ct th at wh en a di s put e a s to s up e r i o ri ty ar os e b e twe en

th e g o d s of th e Tr imu r ti B r ahm a S iv a and Vi s hnu th e

, , ,

s e l e cti o n of a t e s t to d e cid e thi s w as l e ft to Bh r igu o ne o f th e ,

te n p at r iar ch s H e app r o ach e d B r ahm a with out s al uting

.
,

h im ; thi s i nfu r i at e d th e go d but h e r e s t r aine d him s e lf A p

,
.

p r o ach ing S iva in tu r n Bh r igu f ai l e d to r e tu r n th e go d s

’
,

s alut ati on which so enr ag e d h im th at h e r ai s e d h is t r id ent

,

to sl ay th e insult e r and w as only p r e ve nt e d fr om d oing thi s

,

by th e timely int e r v enti on o f th e godde s s P ar vati No thing .

d aunt e d B h r igu pu r su e d h is t e st and finding Vi shnu r ep os

, ,

ing with his h e ad in L ak shmi s l ap h e kick e d th e divinity to

’
,

ar ou s e h im Vi shnu h owev e r ins t e ad of l o sing h is t emp e r

.
, , ,

qui etly ar os e ; s alute d th e r ash p at r i ar ch and ev en th ank e d ,

h im f or th e r emind e r and c r av e d h is p ar d on th at h e h ad not

,

imme di ate ly gr e e t ed h im ass e r ting that th e kick ( which

,

mu s t h av e b een mos t vigo r ou s ly admini s t e r e d if it l e ft tw o

fo otp ri nts ) h ad l e ft on h is b r e as t a m ar k o f good au gu r y .

A fi ne p r e sent ati on of th e s tyle of j e w e l s w orn by th e

 AMUL E TS ANC IE NT : , ME D I E V AL , ORI E NTAL 34 1

M ah ar é mi of S ikkim ,
full bl o o de d Tib e tan by bir th is
a -
,

o f fe r e d by a p o r t r ait o f thi s qu e e n d one in oil by D am o d ar

D utt a B e ng ali a r ti s t in 1 908 w hil e th e M ah ar ani w a s S h ar

, , ,

ing th e c aptivity o f h e r hu sb and at D ar j e e ling wh e r e th ey ,

h ad b e e n s e qu e s t r at e d by th e B r iti s h auth or iti e s f o r many

ye ar s Th e e lab o r at e and r ath e r opp r e s siv e h e addr e s s is a
.

typical ado r nm e nt o f th e qu e ens of S ikkim ; th e b r oad ban

d e aux a r e c om p o s e d o f p e ar l s and a b r illi ant c ol o r e ff e ct is ,

p r o duce d by th e r ow s o f alt e r nating c or al s and tu r qu o i se s .

Th e go ld e ar r ing s h av e a tu r qu oi s e inlay in c oncentr ic

— -
,

r i ng s and f r om th e qu e e n s ne ck h ang s a l o ng ne ckl ac e o f

’
,

co r al b e ad s se p ar ate d at int er val s by lar ge S ph e r e s of am

,

be r ; a c o r al b r ace l e t and tw o r ings with co r al and tu r qu o i se ,

s e tti ng r e sp e ctiv e ly c ompl e t e th e v e r y e f fe ctiv e if no t e sp e

, ,

cial l y c o stly j e w e l r y
42
.
,

Ja de gi r dl e p end ant s having a t ali smanic qu ality we r e in

gr e at favo r du r ing th e p e r i od o f th e Ch ou dynasty ( 1 122 249 —

Th e typical gi r dl e p e nd ant o f th at time w as a s e v en

j e we lle d one e ach of th e combine d o r nament s b e ing m ade
,

o f s ome one o f th e ch o ic e v ar i e ti e s o f j ad e Th e se a do r n .

m ent s c ons i s t e d o f a top pi e c e or b r oo ch wh e nc e d e p end e d

-

a ci r cul a r c ent r al pl aqu e ( yu ) fl ank e d by tw o s qu ar e o r na ,

m e nt s ( kii ) b e l o w fol l o we d a c e nt r e o r nam e nt o f s e gment -

fo rm on e ith e r S id e of which w as a bow sh ap e d j ewel Th e

,
-
.

g i r dl e o r name nt s w e r e r ich in s ymb o lic s i gnific ance th e ,

r hyt hmic swinging o f th e j ad e s c u

a s e d a mu s ic al no t e wh en

e ve r th e y c am e in c o nt act with
one ano th e r o r with any ,

m e t allic o bj e ct ; as l ove t r ink e t s th e y h ad th e mo s t fo r tu nat e

-

m e an i ng ; a s i n dic ati ons o f offi c e th e y g ai ne d c ons id e r ati o n

p ct f th e w e ar e r s o f high r ank whil e f o r th o s e o f

and r e s e o r ,

Be th ld L au f Not n T u qu ois n th e E as t ld M use um

“ ”
“ r o er, es o r i
, Fie of

Na tu r la H i t ys or P ubl ic at i n 1 6 9 ; A nth o p o l g ic al S
o i r o er e s, vo l . x iii
, No . 1 .

J
,

C h ic ag
o,
uly 1 9 1 3
, ; e te xt o pp s it e f
se nt isp ie c pl ate
o ro e .
342 THE M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARMS
le ss di stincti on th ey we r e s o di f f e r enti at e d as to b e come
m ar k s of th e r e s p e ctiv e c r aft o r vo cati o n 43
.

In S i am th e gi r l s h e ad s a r e s h av e d with th e e xce pti on

’
,

o f th e top o f th e h e ad wh e r e a kno t o f h ai r is all o w e d to

,

gr ow On th e fou r t e e nth annive r s ar y of th e gir l s bi r thday

.
’

thi s top kno t is cut o f f th e op e r ati on b e ing accomp ani e d

“ ”-

by a so l emn r e li gi ou s c e r emony to mar k and c ons e cr at e th e ,

e ve nt which d eno t e s th e p ass ing o f th e gi r l int o w omanh oo d

,
.

On thi s o ccas i on th e m emb e r s o f th e f amily gath e r t o ge th e r

,

al l th e j e w e l s th e y can s e cu r e f o r th e ad o r nm ent o f th e
‘
ne w
woman and whe r e th ey ar e no t we althy e nough to p r ovide
,

b r illi ant and r ich or nam ent s fr om th e ir ow n p os se ss i ons kind

fr i ends will always be found r e ady to supply th e d efici ency .

In th e c ase o f th e S i am ese gi r l figu r e d in ou r pl at e and of ,

a gi r l c omp ani on th e Q u e e n o f S i am h e r se lf act e d as f ai r y

,

go dmoth er to th e e xt ent of fu rni shing fr om h er o w n p rivat e

tr e asu r e s a c ostly and suit abl e de co r ati on Th e gems and .

o r nament s wor n w er e wo r th and ar e s aid to h av e

fill e d a small ste am e r tru nk -

.
44

In a favor it e form of whit e j ad e amul e t th e s t one is cut ,

f lat and is th en inl aid with r ubi e s in go ld s e ttings s o d is ,

p o s e d as to indicat e a flow e r form Jad e amul e t s of thi s typ e -

.

ar e f ou nd in C hi na and in v ar i ou s p ar t s o f no r the r n A s i a
,

and ar e b e li ev e d to gu ar d o r fr e e th e w e ar er fr om p alpit ati on

o f th e h ear t
45
.

F l owe r s fashi one d f r om p r e ci ou s s t one s m ak e mo st at

tr active or nament s and by the ir v ar i e ty of c ol or ing can be
,

worn with almost any cos tume A ce leb r at e d b e auty of .

L ond on s o ci e ty h as a numb e r of p ansi e s of diff er ent c o l or s ,

B th ld L uf
‘3
er o J d S tudy i Chin A ch l gy d R ligi
a er , a e, a n es e r aeo o an e on,
h cago
C i pp 19 4 sqq
, 19 12 , . .

C omm unic at e d by D C h ar l s S B add ck f o me ly phy sic ian to th

r. e . r o , r r e
cou t of S iam under d ate f Feb uar y 13 19 03
r , o r .

London 1 909 p 2 7 ; P l at e XV Figs 1 12

,

H ndl ey e Ind ian J ew el l e r

,
v
,
”
, , .
, .
,
 AMUL E TS ANC IE NT : ,
ME D IE V AL , ORIE NTAL 3 43

o ne m ad e of r ubi e s
th e r o f s apphir e s s till anothe r of
,
ano ,

em e r a ld s and s o o n th r ough th e r ange of c o l o r s

, In thi s w ay .

sh e alw ay s h ad a p ans y acc or di ng in c o l o r with th at o f h er

gown A s b r idal gift s th e s e j ewe l flow e r s ar e mos t app ro

.
-

p r iate mor e e s p e ci ally wh e n th e l ady l ov e b e ar s a fl or al -

“
,

nam e s uch as Vi o l e t o r R o se
”
.

C or al o r nam e nt s o f al l s or t s ar e in gr e at d emand in Tib e t ,

and a fi ne pi e c e o f thi s m at e r i al will b r ing ab out $ 20 an

o u nc e and is th e r e f or e lit e r ally w o r th its w e ight in go ld

, .

Th e Ve ne ti an t r av e ll e r M ar c o P o l o w h o vi s it e d Tib e t in th e
, ,

l att e r h alf of th e thi r t e enth ce ntur y al r e ady no t e d that ,

cor al w a s in high favo r the r e and th at c o r al ne ckl ac e s

ad o r ne d th e ne ck s o f th e w omen and al s o th ose o f th e id ol s

in th e i r t empl e s Th e l o ve o f p e r sonal ad o r nm ent is ve r y

.

s t r o ng am ong th e Tib e t an w om en and th o s e in any w ay ,

we ll to d o lo ad th ems e lve s with a m as s of j ewe lle d o r na

- -

me nt s g r eat pi e c e s o f amb e r c or al and tu r qu o i s e constitu t

, ,

ing th e p r incip al gem m at e r i al Th e f av or ext end e d to c o r al

-
.
,

ap ar t fr om th e r e li gi ou s s ignific anc e o f r e d as sym b o lic al

o f one o f th e i nc ar nati ons o f B uddh a may p er h ap s h av e an ,

e s th e tic b as i s as w e ll f or r e d o r pi nk af f o r d s a pl e as ant co n
,

t r as t to th e dar k compl exi ons and h ai r o f th e Tib e t ans .

46

Much mo r e p r iz e d h o we ve r th an c o r al is th e b e autiful
, ,

blu e tu r qu oi se which not only s e r v e s f o r pu r ely or nam ental

,

u s e but is fr e e ly empl oye d in th e d e c or ati on of r e li gi ou s ob

jects s uch as th e cu r i ou s p r aye r wh ee ls s o indi spe nsabl e

”
,

a p ar t of Tib e t an r itu al .

Th e t ali smanic qu ality of thi s st one is an imp or t ant el e

ment in its p opul arity as it is s upp ose d to b r ing go o d f or
,

tune and phy sical w e ll b e ing to th e we ar e r and to af for d -

pr o te cti on agains t contagi on Th e Tib et ans sh ar e in th e .

quite gene r al b e li e f th at th e tu r qu oi s e will gr ow p al e in

L A s ine
.
ut Wadd e ll ,
L ha s a and yt
it s M s e r ies , with a. Re c d of
or th e E x

pe d ition o f 19 03 L on d on, 19 05 , pp 347, 3 48

. .
3 44 TH E MAGIC OF J E W E L S A ND C H RMS A
s ymp athy with th e p r e sent o r p r o sp e ctive fo r tune and
h e alth o f th e p er son w e ar ing it and as a los s of co l or is
,

cons id er e d p o t
r e nt ou s of c o m i ng e vil s uch s t o ne s a
,
r e g o tt en

r id of as s o on as p o s s ibl e to be r e pl a ce d by th o s e o f a

br ighte r h u e Th e d e aler s w h o buy up f or a tr ifling sum

.

the se di s col o r e d tu r qu oi se s o ften tr e at th em with a dos e of

blu e dye s tuf f which sup e r ficially r e st or es th e c ol o r and it is ,

s t at e d th at m any of th e s o ldi e r s o f th e B r iti sh exp e diti onary

for ce to Tib e t in 1904 wer e at fi r s t d e ceive d into buying th ese

vamp e d u p S t ones but th ey s oon di sc over e d th e d e c e ption
-
,

and w er e m o r e c ar eful l at er o n Tu r qu oi se s ar e al so be
.

l ieve d to gu ar d agains t th e E vil E ye and a qu as i sacr e d ,

-

ch ar acte r is l ent to s ome e s p e cially fi ne sp e cimens by s e tting

them in th e for eh ead s of s t atu e s of th e Buddha or oth er
r eligi ou s imag es
47
.

Th e w omen of Tib e t ar e s aid to p r iz e most highly as

amul e t s pi e ces of cl oth ad or ne d with tu r qu oi se o r c or al ,

which the y h ave acqui r e d fr om th e L amas w h o by th e im ,

p ositi on of th ei r p r i es tly ble ss ing h ave endowe d th e s e o bj e ct s

with a p e culiar sanctity in th e e ye s of th e Tib e t an d e vo t ees .

Ano the r am ul e t favor e d in this f ar Of f l and is a sm all me tal

-

box o f go ld s ilv er or c o pp e r and encr u st e d wi th tu r qu oi se

, , , .

Within ar e enclo se d littl e s cr oll s i ns cr ib e d with mys tic ch ar

acte r s to c onju r e e vil s pi r it s and thw ar t th ei r mal e v ol ent

s ch em e s f or th e t r ibul ati on o f m ank i nd .

A n i nge ni ou s if r ath er f ar f etch e d expl anati on of th e

,
-

supp ose d p ow e r o f c or al to av e r t lightning and h ail is

giv en
by F o r tuni o Lice ti In h is Opini on c oral b eing of a war m
.
, ,

qu ality o ver come s th e coldne s s o f th e atmos ph er e whi ch

, ,

p r o duce s lightning by th e attr action of contr ar i e s and hail ,

by its ow n qu ality Thi s is a s p e cimen of th e att empt s to find

.

a pl au s ibl e phy si ol ogic al r e as o n f or th e p ow e r s o f gem s th e

,

b d pp
I i .
, . 348, 3 49 .
 AMULE TS ANC IE NT : ,
M E DI E V AL ORI E NTAL ,
34 5

wr it e r s nev e r f or a mome nt he sit ating to accept th e p opul ar

b e lie fs in thi s r e sp e ct .
48

Among th e B h ots of L and akh in th e wes te r n p ar t of

T ib e t a l ar ge pi e ce of am b e r o r agat e is oft en wor n by
,

th e m e n su s p end e d fr om th e ne ck a s an am ul e t H e r e as in .

s o many o th e r p ar t s o f th e W or ld th e amul e t is b e li e ve d to ,

acqui r e e s p e ci al e ffi ca cy wh e n w o r n in thi s w ay as it c omes ,

in imm e di at e c ont act with th e p e r s on o f th e w e ar e r .

49

A v e r y singular m anne r of u sing p r e ci ou s sto ne s as t ali s

mans is no t e d in B u r m a Th e r e ar e c e r tain t ali smans .
50

c all e d hkoung be h t s e t W hich ar e ins e r te d in th e fl esh be

- -
,

ne ath th e s kin The y ar e u su ally o f go ld s ilv e r or l e ad o r

.
, , ,

e l s e o f t o r t o i s e s h ell h o r n e tc but s om e tim es th e y ar e r oll e d

, ,
.
,

pe bbl e s and o ccas i onally p r e ci ou s s to ne s W e ar e t old th at .

wh e n a p r i sone r is fo und to h av e such t ali sm ans on or r ath e r ,

in h is p er s on th e j ail e r cut s th em ou t l e s t th e y sh ould be

,

u s e d to b r ib e th e gu ar ds Th e t ali smans ow e much o f th ei r .

supp os e d p ow er to i ns cr ipti ons in mys tic ch ar act e r s and ,

th ey ar e so highly favo r e d that s ome of th e native s we ar one

o r m or e r o w s of th e m ac r oss th e ch es t .

F o r th e J ap ane se r o ck cr ys t al is th e pe r fe ct j e we l
“ -
, ,

tama ; it is at onc e a s ymb ol o f pu r ity and o f th e infinity of

i

s p ac e and al so o f p ati e nc e and p e r s e ve r anc e

,
Thi s l atte r .

s ignific anc e p r o b ably or i ginat e d fr om an o b s e r v ati on of th e

p ati ence and skill r e qui r e d f or th e p r oducti on of th e spl endid

cr ys tal b all s mad e by th e accu r at e and p ains taking Jap ane s e
cutte r s and p oli sh er s .

Th e b e li e f of M ohamm e d ans in th e E vil E ye cl aim s th e

auth o r ity o f th e P r oph e t to t e e ff e ct th at th e am ( eye )
“
h
is a r e ality Th e A r ab s al s o d e s ignat e th e E vil E ye as
.

tuni L ti De annu l i cap 19

Fo r o i ce s, . .

Ind an J ewe ll y
,

H ndl y L ond n 19 09 p 59
4" ”
e e ,
i er , o , , . .

5°
H S hway Yo. Th B ur man H is Lif and Nat i n
e, in I nd ian e : e o s,

J we ller y
e by T H Hendley Th e Jou na l f Indian A rt and I ndustry J an
,
”
. . . r o , .
,

19 09 vol
,
ii No 105 p 143
. x , .
, . .
346 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

aw ar e ,
“
look and naf s b r e ath o r spi r it
th e ,
”
,
“
It is no t .

c ommonly r e gar de d as th e r e sult of a definite mal e vo l ent

int ention but r athe r as an ef fe ct engende r e d by envy at th e
,

s ight o f anything e sp e ci ally b e autiful o r att r activ e Ind e e d .

,

som e time s th e b ar e e xp r e ss i o n o f g r eat admi r ati on is su p

p o se d to p r o duce e vil r e sult s as is illu st r at e d by th e as ser

,

ti on that when a m an o n seeing an exc epti onally l ar ge and

,

fi ne s tone excl aime d , What a lar ge st one ! it imme di ate ly

,
‘ ”

b r oke into thr e e pi e ce s .

In th e S ah ar a th e h or ns of o x en and some tim es th e i r

, ,

s kull s with th e h o r ns att ach e d ar e s e t o ver th e e nt r anc e s ,

of dw elling s to p r ot e ct th e r es id ent s fr om thi s d r e ad e d in

flu ence ; in Tuni s and Algi e r s b o ar s tu sk s ar e al s o u se d in

’
,

thi s w ay H owever th e m o s t favor e d we ap ons of de fence

.
,

ar e th e out s t r e tch e d finge r s o f th e h and som e time s but tw o ,

finge r s but m or e often al l fi ve Th e ge stu r e of h olding ou t

,
.

th e fing er s t o war d th e envi ou s p e r s on is fr e qu ently ae com

p anie d by th e utte r anc e o f th e wo r d s K h ams a fi cinch
“
fi ve : ,

( finge r s ) in you r eye ! Th e numb e r fi ve h as thu s acqui r e d

”

s uch a sp e ci al s ignific anc e th at Thu r s d ay a s th e fif th d ay of ,

th e W e ek is l o o k e d up on as th e app r op r i at e d ay f o r pilgr im
,

ag es to th e s hr i ne s o f th ose s aint s wh o se p r o t e cti on against

th e E vil E ye is b e li ev e d to be mo s t p o t e nt .
51

Th e A r ab s of A r abi a P e t r aea b e li e v e th at wh en any one

cas t s l onging and cove t ou s eye s up on any animal b e longing
to ano th e r p ar t of h is s oul e nt e r s th e anim al and th e l att er
,

is d oome d to d e str ucti on if it r emains in th e p os s e ss i on of th e

r ightful owner Th e s ame id e a p r e vail s in th e ca se of a
.

child wh ose p os se ssi on is envi e d or w h o is unduly admi r e d , .

Wh er e th e id entity of th e one w h o h as c as t th e sp ell is known ,

th er e is a fair ch ance o f r end e r ing it h ar ml es s if a pi e c e of

th e guilty one s g ar ment can be st o l e n and th e animal or
’

child r ubb e d with it Th e vi r tu e of c or al as a p r ot e cti on

.

E d mond Dou tté , M ag ic et R e l ig ion, ” A lge r , 19 09 , pp . 3 2 0 s qq .

 IX

amul ets of minutiae 19 2011125 am: of mant a r

flames
HE folk l or e tal e s of th e se ttl ement c all ed Milpa Alt a
- -
,

in th e F e d e r al Di s t r ict M e xico not f ar fr om Me xico

, ,

C ity h av e p r e s e r ve d m any l e gend s fr om ol d Azt ec time s

, ,

as thi s c ommu nity w as or i gi nally s e ttl e d by s om e nobl e Azt e c

famili e s for tunat e enough to e s c ape with the i r good s fr om

-

th e S p ani ar d s at th e tim e of th e c onqu e s t by C ortes In .

s e v e r al o f -
th e se l egend s th e ch alchihuitl ( a gr e en st one often ,

ne ph r it e o r j ade it e ) is m e nti one d Thu s it is s aid th at wh en

.

som e mino r divinity s e e s fit to c onf er up on a m an o r w om an

th e e ndo wm e nt s of a tl amd tqu c o r s age h e gave war ning

“ ”
,

o f thi s in a d r e am and th e t r uth o f th e vi s i o n w as c onfi rme d

,

wh en du r ing th e e nsuing d ay th e d r e ame r found on th e

, ,

gr ound w ithin h is encl osu r e id ol s of ch al chihuitl or fr ag ,

m ent s o f o b sidi an which w e r e b e li e ve d to h av e fall e n fr om

,

th e sky thi s u s u ally o ccu r r ing du r ing a r ai ns t orm

,
E vi .

d entl y th e r ai n h ad w ash e d th em ou t of th e e ar th or vo lcanic

as h in which th e y h ad b e e n bu r i e d Th e s e o bj e ct s w e r e im
.

m e di at e ly picke d up and p r e ser ve d as the y s ignifi e d th at th e

,

p e r son wh o se dr e am h ad thu s b e en ve r ified w as admitt e d to

th e comp ani onship of th e g od s Th e r e app e ar s to h av e f ol
.

lowe d some initi ati on ce r em ony to r ende r d e finit e th e conse

cr ati on of th e ch osen tl amdtqu e and thi s w as to be conne cted
,
.

w ith a fi e r y o r d e al th e tr ace s of which in sc ar s or s e ve r e

,
.

bu rns and s ome time s e ven in th e l os s of e ye sight ser ve d to

, ,

r e c ommend th e s ag e to th os e seeking h is aid Thi s w as

“ ”
.

c alle d f or in c as e s of illnes s and al so f or th e finding of hidden

t r e asu r e and f or pr e dicti ons of th e we ather In attempting .

3 48
 AMUL E TS P RIMI TI V E , MODE RN 349

to ct cur e s th e tl amd tqu e mad e u se of pi e ces of j ade as

e ff e ,

t ali smans fo r tifi ed by e l ab or at e ex or ci sms and p r ayer s

,
1
.

Among th e l ower cl as s e s of th e Mexican Indian popul a

ti on of Milpa Alta to cur e di se ase s th e aid of a t ep o p oh que
,

( one w h o pu r ifie s th e di s e ase ) is sometimes c alle d in Thi s .

onc e ve r y gene r al cu s t om is h o w ev e r gr adu ally fall ing i nto

, ,

di su se Th e p r o gr ess of p opular s ce pticism is illu st r ate d

.

by th e half ap o l oge tic t one in which thi s is e xpl ained in th e

—

wor d s : If h e doe s no goo d h e will d o no h arm and b e sid e s

“
, ,

h e is s o ch e ap ”
Th e h e al e r may be e ith e r a man or a
.

woman One of th e mo st imp or t ant h elp s is a chain of ch al

.

ch ih u itl b e ad s Afte r invo cations of th e var i ou s app e ar

.

ances of C hr is t and of th e Vi r gin chr onicl e d in lo cal t r adi

tion and of th e p atr on s aints ( f or these Indians ar e d evout

,

R oman C a tho lics ) th e h eal er ch ooses ou t a ch alchihuitl b e ad

,

with which h e p r e tend s to ext r act th e air fr om th e s ick

“ ”

p er s on H e successive ly t ouch e s with it th e p ati ent s tem

.
’

pl es th e side s and top of th e h e ad th e stomach and lastly

, , ,

th e af f e ct e d p ar t at th e sam e time f or cibly d r awing in his

,

ow n b r ea th p r o ducing th e r e by a p e cu li ar no i s e
,
Th e u s e .

of th e s tone is s ome times suppl em ent e d by tha t o f tw o e ggs ,

one b e ing h eld in e ach o f th e h e al er s h and s A di ff er ent ’

.

typ e or fo r m of chalchihuitl is u s ed f or each dif f e r ent d is

e ase and as a final op er ati on th e af f e ct e d p ar t is m oi s t ene d
,

wi th alcoh o l and th en m s s age d with th e s t o ne b athing

“ ”
a , ,

w ith a h ot d e c o ction of her b s b e ing al so r es o r t e d to in s ome

cases .
2

A ch ar acte r is tic obj ect s e cur e d in th e P r ovinc e of Ch i

r iqa i R e public o f P anama is a si ngul ar amul e t o f a fi ne
, ,

qu ality of gr een tr anslucent j ade ( j adeit e ) Thi s is fash .

ioned into a c onventi onal r e p r e se ntati on of a p ar r ot with a

1 bl t
Pr of esso r a Isa e Ramir ez Cas ane a, E l Fo -Lore d e Mi d lk lp a A lt a D F , .

c d
Mex , in Pr o ee ings of th e In er na iona Congr ess o f A mer i
i co
” t t l canist s XVIII ,

d
S e ss ion, Lon on, 19 12, Pt II, Lo n on, 1 9 13 , . d
3 5 2- 3 54 pp . .

’
bd
I i . DD 3 56 , 3 5 7
. . .
3 50 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE LS A ND CHARMS

disp r op or tionate ly long be ak Th e de t ail s of th e bir d for m .

-

ar e but r oughl y indic at ed wh at is supp o s e d to r e p r es ent th e ,

he ad and b ody b e ing but a tr ifle lar ge r th an th e be ak In .

th e r e gi on of th e ne ck mar k e d by a p er iph er al i nci si on th er e

, ,

is a h o l e thr ough which a c or d f or su sp ens i on w as p r ob ably

p as se d Th e typ e r es embl es th at of th e Chiriquian go ld par
.

r o t s and di ff er s fr om th at o f th e amul e t s of L as G u ac as
, ,

C ost a R ica A s a much l ar ger numb er o f j ad e obj e ct s h av e

.

be en f ound at thi s latt er pl ace th an occur at Chi r iqui it h as ,

b ee n c onj e ctu r e d th at th e common sou r ce w as a d ep osit of

j ade som ewh e r e in Co sta Rica C hir iqui h as al so yi elde d 3
.

a pl ai n highly p o li sh e d am ul e t o f p al e gr e en j ad e ; th e fr ont
,
-

is c onv ex and is tr av er s e d by a gr oov e ; a small h ol e h as b e en

pi er ce d ne ar th e top to facilit at e su sp ension .

Th e S outh Ame r ic an Indi ans h ad a class of s t one l ove

amul e t s r ep r e s enting mor e o r l e ss cl e ar ly tw o emb r acing
,

figu r e s It w as claime d by their magici ans that th es e had

.

not b een cut or fashi one d in any w ay but we r e s o forme d by ,

natu r e and we r e endow e d with th e p owe r of att r acting to

,

th e w e ar e r th e l ove of th e ch o s en obj e ct of aff e cti on Thes e .

sp e ci al amul e t s b o r e in th e native l angu age th e nam e s of

h uaccmgu i and cuycm car umi T h e y w e r e s aid to be found .

bu r i e d in th e ear th wher e a thunde r bo lt h ad de scended and ,

wer e thu s a p ar ticular cl as s of th e s o called “ thunder —

st one s and a high p r ic e c ould be obt aine d f or o ne mor e

”
, ,

es p e ci ally if th e owner h ad to d e al with a w oman A char ac

'

ter istic sp ecimen p r esumably fr om E cu ado r is of black

, ,

se r p entine
4
.

3
George Gran McCur d y, Ph D t . A S
.
, tudy
of Ch ir iqu ian A n i t quiti s New e ,
”

Hav en, C o nn-s 19 1 1. p 4 2, fi gs . . 4 5 and 4 9 ; Mem of t h e C onn A a

. . c d of A r t s and
.

S cience s, vol iii, Mar ch, 19 1 1

. .

V e rneau and P Ri e ,
R . . vt th l g
E no o ie an ienne d e I’ E qu ateu r , ” Par is , c
19 12 , vo l vi o f M iss io n d u ser i e G é o o i e d e l ar mée
.
’
vc l g qu
o r l a me s re p u u
d qu t l
d u n ar e d e m ér i ien e a or ia e n A mé r iqu e d u Su d , 1 89 9 —19 06 ,
’
22 2, 2 23 , pp
X
.

l t
Pa e I II , 4 fig . .
352 TH E MAGI C OF JE W E L S A ND C HARM S

is t
s r an e r g
th an th at o f employing f or thi s pu r p o s e ar tifici al
e yes f r om P e r u vi an mu mmi e s Or iginally e ye s of th e gi ant .

cu ttl e fi s h ( l o l t g o g igo s ) th e y w e r e u s e d by th e anci e nt P e r u

'

vi ans to r e place th e natur al ey e s o f th e d e ad b e c au s e th e s e

s ub s titut es w e r e mo r e du r abl e Of c ou r s e th e r ath e r g r e w .

som e s ou r c e wh e nc e th e s e mu mm y e ye amul e t s w e r e s e cu r e d
-
,

b r inging th em m e asu r ably in t ouch with a so r t of ne cr o

mancy m ad e th em al l th e m or e s o ught aft e r by th e s up e r
,

s titiou s nativ e s A n e x ampl e fr om a mummy fou nd at

.

C uzc o P e r u w as e xhibite d by th e w r it er in th e F o lk L o r e
, ,
-

C o ll e cti o n at th e C o lumbi an E xhibiti on in C hicago in

A s tr ange anim al figur e fr om th e Pu ebl o B o nit o r uins ,

r ud e ly c a r v e d ou t o f s t one and h aving a b and c omp o s e d of

pi e ce s of tu r qu oi s e se t ab out th e ne ck w as und oubt e dly an ,

amul e t Tw o d e p r e ss i ons in th e st one wh e r e th e e y e s sh o uld

.

be indic at e th at th e s e w e r e o f inl aid tu r qu o i s e I n s pit e o f .

th e imp e r fe ct fo r m o f thi s obj e ct it giv e s e vid enc e in s o m e ,

o f its d e t ail s to th e skill o f th e nativ e ar ti s t w h o e x e cut e d it ,

e s p e ci ally in th e c ar e h e h as t ak en to p r o t e ct th e so ft s t one

fr om th e att r iti on o f th e co r d u s e d f or its su s p ensi on a pi e c e ,

o f bi r d b one h avi ng b e en i nt r o duc e d i nt o th e p e r f o r ati on

-

ne ar th e ne ck and th e e nd s o f th e h o l e count e r sunk and fil l e d

,

with gum int o Which a pi e c e of tu r qu o is e w as s et ; one of

th ese c ap s still r em ains in pl ace F r og form s entir e ly of .
,

tu r qu oi se al so app e ar in Pu eblo B oni t o s eve r al t adp ol e s

, ,

and f r o g s o f thi s m at e r i al h aving b e en fo u nd in th e bu r i al

r oom e xpl o r e d by M r P e pp e r S ome time s th e f orm is b ar e ly

. .

indic ate d by th e p r otub er ant eye s and a s light inci sing which
mar k s th e pl ace o f th e ne ck .
6

Th e Pu e bl o B onit o r uins in New M e xico h av e fu r ni sh e d

15
G e or g
lk l of P eci u S t n
e Fr e de ick
r K un
C h ic ag o 189 4 ; z , Fo -
or e r o s o e s,
,

re p int f
r m M m i of t h I nt nat i na l C ng
ro f A nth p o l gy ; s e p 2 6 9
e o rs e er o o r e ss o ro o e . .

G g H Pe pp e Th E xpl ra t i n f a Bu ia l m in Pueblo B nit o

0
eor e . r, e o o o r -
r oo o
Put nam A nnive a y V lume N w Y k 1 9 09 pp 22 9 23 0
,

N w M x ic
e e o,
”
rs r o , e or , , .
, ,

2 3 6 , 23 7 .
T UR Q U O I S E INC R USTE D OB J E C T S P R O B A BL Y
, A M U LE T S , F O UN D AT P UE B LO
B O N IT O , N E W M E X I C O
k g
T h e w o r o f ancie nt I nd i an d w e l l e rs I n th i s re i o n Fr o m G eo r g H P pp p
A m e r i can A nt h r o ol

gW
e e er ,

o g l s t . v o l v u . Pl x v u 1 T u r q u onse—m cr u s t e d bo ne 2 J et f r o i th q
t ur y
u o i se e e s p q
3 J et l a ue

g
.

t h t u r q u o xs e se t t i n
3 54 TH E M AGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C H ARMS
th ose wor thi e s is c al l e d in to ave r t th e imp ending mi s fo r tune ,

h is fav or it e r em e dy c ons i s t s in pl acing a pi ece of s l at e a ,

tu r qu oi se and a cr ys t al in a v es se l fil l e d with wat e r th e ,

liquid b eing admini st e r e d in r e gul ar do s e s to th e thr e atene d

victim Th e th r e e f o ld r e m e dy comp r i sing a sp e cim en of
.
,

th e l o s t s t one is supp ose d to outw e igh an d c o u nt e r act th e

,

p r ob abl e e vil influ ence s of th e l ost tu r qu o i se al one .

"a

Th e m agic p ow e r th at dw e lt in th e s e I ndi an f e ti sh e s w as
name d oyo r on in th e I r o qu o i an t ongu e and e ach p e r s on or ,

kindr e d w a s b eli eve d to h av e a s p e cial oyar on which e x e r t e d

a c ont r o lling p ow e r o v e r th e i r g oo d o r e vil f o r tu ne Th e .

mat e r i al obj e ct in which thi s e ntity w ould t ak e up its ab o de

w as d e t e rm ine d in a p e culi ar w ay Wh en a youth h ad at .

taine d m atu r ity h e w as int r u s te d to th e ch ar ge of an ol d m an

,

w h o t oo k h im to a f ar aw ay l o dg e in th e w ild er ne ss -
H er e .

h e h ad h is f ac e sh ould e r s and b r e as t bl ack ene d to sym b o liz e

,

h is l ack o f s pi r itu al o r o ccult enlight enm e nt H e w as then .

c omp ell e d to fas t f or a consid e r able time and w as ins tr u cted

to car e fully not e h is d r e am s and if h e s h ould h ave an e x cep ,

tional l y vivid d r e am r e gar ding any s p e cific o bj e ct to t ell ,

h is gu ar di an of it Th e f act w as th e n duly r e p o r t e d to th e
.

wi s e m en of th e t r ib e w h o d e cid e d wh e th er th e obj e ct w as
,

th e ch o sen abiding pl ac e o f h is oyar on Thi s h aving be e n .

s ati s fact o rily d e t e rmine d an o bj e ct o f th e ki nd w as s ought ,

o u t and w as p r e s e r ve d and t r e as u r e d by th e o ne to wh om it

h ad b e en a ss i gne d in th e vi s i on P e r h ap s th e f amili ar s pi r it .

might h ave el e ct e d to dw e ll in a c al um e t a pip e o r a knife , ,

o r e l se in s om e anim al ,pl ant or mi ne r al f or m ,

8
.

Th e Midewiwin or as it is s ome tim e s e r r o ne ou s ly ca ll e d

, , ,

th e “
Gr and M e dici ne S o ci e ty o f th e Ojibw ay Indi ans is ”
,

78
gue Th Tu qu i cit ing Ru ll Th Pima Ind ians in 2 6th
Po , e r o s,
”
sse , e
,

A nnu a l R p t f t h B u e au f A m
e or o E th no l ogy 19 04—19 05 p 1 1 2
e r o er . , , . .

H andbook f A me ic an I nd ian N r th f M x ic o
9 “
o r d by F d r ick s o o e , e . re e
W bb H odg ; S mith s nian In t B u
e e f A m E th n B ull 3 0 P t II p 17 8 ;
o s .
, r . o . .
, .
, . .

Wash ingt n 19 10 o , .
356 TH E M AG IC OF J E W E L S A ND C H ARMS
Th evar i ou s adjuncts of th e s o r ce r e r s t r ad e ar e car e ’

fully p r e se r ve d by th e Mide or J e s s akid in h is m e dicine bag .

A go o d s p e cimen of thi s w as made ou t of th e skin of a mink ,

P u to mu s o is on G app and ado r ne d at one end with tw o

’

.
, ,

flu f fy whit e fe ath e r s Oft e n a flat bl ack wat er w o r n p eb

.
10
, ,
-

bl e will be one of th e gr e at t r e asu r e s in thi s s ack Th e vi r tu e s .

o f a s t o ne o f thi s typ e ar e s aid to h av e b e e n put to a cu r i ou s

t e s t on th e p e r s on of a J e s s akid at L e e ch L ake Minn in ,

.
,

1 85 8 Th e m an ofi e r e d to wag e r $ 100 th at if h e w e r e s e cu r e ly
.

ti e d up h and and foo t with s t out r op e but h aving h is st one

, , ,

r e s ting o n h is thigh h e c ould r em o v e th e b ond s with out ,

a ss i s t ance Th e w age r w a s t ak en up and th e t e s t duly ap

.

pli e d ; th e J e ss ak id b e ing l e ft al one in h is t ent tightly and

fi rm ly b o und B e fo r e l ong h e c all e d ou t to th o se on th e
.

watch out side th e tent th at s ear ch sho uld be made f or th e

r o p e at a c e r t ai n s p o t ne ar by Thi s w as d one and th e r cp e .

w as f ound with th e kno t s u ndi s tu r b e d whil e th e J e s s akid ,

w as to be s e e n c almly s e at e d o n th e g r ou nd s m oki ng a pip e ,

and s till b e ar i ng h is m agic bl ack s t one o n h is th igh } l 1

F r ench mi s si o nar i e s of th e e a r ly p ar t o f th e e ight e enth

c entu r y r e p or te d th at th e Indian wiz ar d s of some of th e
nor thw e s t e r n t r ib es would t ak e a p ebbl e th e s iz e of a pigeon s
’

e gg and mutt e r o ve r it c e r t ain c onju r ati o ns

, Thi s th e y .
,

a ss e r t c au s e d th e f o r m ati on o f a lik e s t one within th e b o dy

,

o f th e p e r s on w h o w as to be b e witch e d Th e me dicine m e n 12 -
.

o f c e r t ai n C anadi an t ri b es o f thi s time w er e no t c ont ent with

mutt e r e d c o nju r ati ons in t r e ating th e i r p ati ent s but w ould ,

not i nfr e qu ently r e s o r t to th e ch arm supp o s e d to be e x e r t e d

m L oc . cit ., Pl XI ,
. fig7 , opp 220
. . .

”
W . J . H off man, Th e M i e i in, d ww r G r and M e d icine S o c ie ty of th e
o

Oj i bway 7 t h Re p t or o f th e B r ea of E u u th n l gy 1885—86 Wash ington 189 1

o o , , , ,

p . 27 7 .

” ’
L A bbé Banier and l A bbé M ascr ier ,
’
H is toi génér al d
re e es cer emonies ,

moeu r s , et o me s c utu re ligieu s es de t ou s l es p eu ple s d u monde ,

”
Pa r is, 1 74 1,
p . 101 .
 AMUL E TS P RIMI TI V E ,
M OD E RN 35 7

C anad i an I nd i a n M e d l cm e m a n Fr o m
“
g
H i s t o i re énér al e d e s cér ém o m e s . m mu r s . e t
p p
co u t u n e s r e l ig e u s e s d e t o u s l e s e u l e s d u m o nd e .
"
by A bbé B ani e r and Abbé M as cri e r V o l
;
.
l
V II fi an s . 1 4 1 .

by dancing and h owling b e fo r e th e sick p e r s o n Th e ne r v ou s .

s h o ck p r o duc e d by a c ombi nati o n o f such g r o t e s qu e m ove

3 58 TH E M AGIC OF J E WE L S A ND CH RMS A
m ent s di sc or d ant cr i e s might we ll r ou s e th e p atient
and
“ ”
,

and p e r hap s h ad s ome tim e s goo d e fi e cts in r e s t o r ing vit ality .

A n int er esti ng u se of th e Rontgen r ays to d e t e ct hidden

amul e t s is not e d by S t ew ar t C uli n It w as c onj e ctu r e d by .

Mr Cu shing th at some pi e c es o f tu r qu o i se c onc eive d to be

.
,

th e h e ar ts of fe tichi s tic bi r d s we r e c onc e al e d b eneath th e ,

he avy wr apping of b r own yar n th at bind s th e fi nger loop s of -

th e p r e hi st or ic th r owing s tick in th e Mu s eum of th e Univ e r

s ity of P e nnsylvani a Thi s o bj e ct w as too v alu abl e and to o
.

fr agile to p e rmit of its e xamination and the r e for e th e R 6nt ,

gen r ays w er e u s e d di s cl os ing th e p r e se nc e of fou r s t one

,

b e ads p r es umably of tur qu oi s e as Mr Ca sh ing h ad indi

, , .

cate d .
13

P oint B ar r ow E skim os ar e s o l ar gely d ep endent

A s th e
on fi s hing th ey esp e ci ally f av o r amul e t s or t al i s mans r e fe r
,

r i ng to thi s and in many c as e s th e p eculi ar p ow er o f th e

,

tali sm an is accentu at e d by giving it a sp e cially si gnifi cant

for m Thu s fr om Utkiavw in w as b r ought a pi ece of dar k
.
,

cr ims on j asp er tw o inch e s l ong r ud e ly f ashioned by chipping ,

int o th e form of a wh al e and al so a similar figu r e mad e fr om ,

a w at e r w orn qu ar tz p ebbl e Ano th e r P oint B ar r o w amu

-
14
.

l et cons is t e d of thr ee small fr a gment s of amb er car e fully ,

wr app e d up and pl ace d in a cottonw ood box inch e s in

length Thi s box w as cleve r ly m ade of tw o s emici r cul ar
.

pie c es of th e wood th e flat fac es h aving b een hollowe d out s o

,

as to l e ave sp ac e f o r th e amb e r T h ey we r e th e n b ound to .

ge th er by l oos ely knott e d s inew b r aid .

15

A bl ack j ade adz e shap e d that may h ave ser v e d as a

,
-
,

fi sh er man s tali sm an f or th e P o int B ar r ow E skimo w as

’
,

b r ought fr om Utkiavw in I t m e asu r e d inch e s in l ength .

,

F Mu um f S c i nc
r ee d A t B ull t in N 4 J n 189 8 p 1 83 ( with
se o e e an r , e o. , a .
, , .

figu )r es .

J hn Mu d ch Th P i t B w E kim 9 th R p t f th Bu u
1‘
o r o , e o n ar r o s o, e or o e r ea
of E thno logy 1887 88 Wash ington
,
-
, , 189 2 , p . 4 35 .

1“
I bid p 439 fi g 426
.
, .
, . .
360 TH E M AG I C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
tali sman w as hidden b ene ath thi s str ap or e l se it may h ave ,

b e en de signe d to s er ve as a p oint of supp o r t f or an amule t

that h ad b een t ak en o f f at th e time th e t r ave ller s aw th e
s t r ap.

Animal amule t s th at is to s ay amul e t s f or animals ar e

, , ,

in u s e in th e A r ctic r e gi ons one cl ass o f th e se b e ing s t one s

,

that have fall en fr om a bir d r ock The s e th e E s kimo att ach -

.

to th e i r d og s p r o c e e di ng up on th e th e or y th at a s th e s e pi e c e s
,

of r o ck in falling f r om a g r e at h e ight h ave t r av er s e d th e ai r

w ith t r em end ou s r apidity th ey will c ommunicat e th e qu ality

,

o f fle e tne s s to th e d o g s Thi s t r ansmi s s i on of an a cqui r e d

20 -
.

qu ality of th e st one to th e p er s on w e ar ing it is sh own in

o th e r i ns t anc e s a fav o r it e amul e t with th e E s ki m o s b e ing
,

a pi e c e o f an o l d h e ar th s t o ne Thi s is b e li e v e d to gi ve
-
.

st r ength to th e w e ar e r b e cau se th e s t o ne h as so l ong e ndu r e d

,

th e a tt ack s o f fi r e th e s t r ong e s t and fi e r ce s t e l ement

, S uch .

fr agm ent s o f s tone ar e oft en w or n by E skim o wom en w h o ,

wr ap them up in piece s o f se al skin m aking in thi s w ay a

j
-

d e cor ati on to be wo rn on th e ne ck .
21

Not o nly d o e s th e me dicine bag of an E skimo me dicine -

m an s e r ve to gu ar d h is t r u st e d amul e t s and t ali s mans but ,

s ome of th ese w o nd e r d o ct o r s cl ai m to be abl e to d r aw withi n

-

it th e soul of a sick child s o as to k e e p thi s s oul hidden aw av

,

fr om al l h arm and d anger I n fact th e opini on h as b e en ex

.
,

p r e s s e d th at many p e r s onal amul e t s h ave ow e d th ei r r eput e

to th ei r supp o s e d p ow e r as soul gu ar di ans th e ow ne r s soul s -

having b e en t r ansfe r r e d to th e mat e r i al b ody of th e amul e t ,

which is m or e e asily c onc e al e d and k e pt ou t of th e w ay of

inju r y than is th e human b o dy th e t ab ernacl e of th e spi r it , .

A t r ace of thi s b e li e f h as b e en found by s ome in th e t e r m

batté h a—nep h es h u s e d by I sai ah ( ch ap iii ve r
, Th e se .
, .

feminine ad o r nment s ar e call e d p e r fum e b ox e s ” in th e

“

usn
R asm s e ,
Th e P e o pl e of th e Po la r No r th , P i h lade lph ia , 19 08, p . 13 9 .

21‘
b d p 13 9
I i ,
. . .
 AMUL E TS P RIMITI V E ,
M OD E RN 36 1

R e vi se d Ve r si on but , th e lit e r al me aning is “

h ou se s of th e
so ul ( or
22

Th e native s uthwe st e r n Au str ali a r e gar d shining

of so

s t one s with s o much v e ne r ati on th at o nly s o r ce r e r s o r p r i e s t s

ar e b e li e v e d to be w or thy to h andl e th em and so gr e at is th e ,

f aith in th e innat e p ower of such obj e ct s th at any o r dinar y

nativ e d o e s not d ar e to t ouch th em and c anno t e ven be b r ib e d
so to d o F or th e p r e s e r vati on of th e vi r tu e of th e se s t one s
.

it is co nsid e r e d e ssenti al th at no woman shall be p e r mitt e d

to touch th em or e v e n to l ook up on th em ,
A p ar ticul ar .

for m of tali sm an is made by winding l ength s of op o s sum

yar n ab out a fr agment of qu ar tz of car ne li an o f chalc e dony , , ,

or s om e o th e r att r active s t one and thu s f o rm i ng a r ound b all ,

ab out th e s iz e o f a c r o ch e t b all ; th e se ar e wo r n s u s p e nd e d -

fr om th e gi r dl e T ali smans of thi s typ e ar e ve r y highly

.

p r iz e d f o r th e i r supp o s e d p ower to cu r e di s e as e s and in cas e ,

o f ill ne s s a t r ib e which is no t p r o vid e d with o ne will b o r r o w

it fr om a m or e for tunat e tr ib e Wh it e qu ar tz is u s e d by .
23

th e nativ e s in New S outh Wal e s Au st r ali a f or th e m anu .

, ,

factu r e of a ch ar m to cast a sp e ll o ve r an enemy Thi s ch ar m .

is call e d ma l t and c ons i s t s of a fr agm

,
e nt of whit e qu ar tz

to whi ch a pi e c e of op o ssum f u r h a s b e en gumme d ; it mu s t -

then be smear e d with th e f at of a d e ad b o dy and pl ac e d in

a s l o w bu r ni ng fi r e
-
I t is c onfid e ntly b e li e v e d th at th e p e r s on
.

o v er wh om th e s p ell is c as t w as t e s s l owly aw ay and di e s

24
.

J ad e car vings of an exce e dingly p e culi ar typ e ar e th

h ei tikis ( ne ck or name nt s ) gr e atly p r iz e d among th e M ao r i s
- -

o f Ne w Z e al and Th e g r ot e s qu e r e p r e s ent ati on of th e human

.

form h er e r e aliz e d by th e native car ve r s th e ass o ci ati on o f ,

2”
J G . .lder th e B eautif ul L nd n 19 13 vol
Fr az e r , Ba p 15 5 ,
”
o o , , . 11, . .

S ee al o by th e am wr it r
s Folk l o e in th e Ol d T t am nt
s e in A nth r o
e ,
r es e ,

pol ogical E ssay p e nt ed t o E B Tyle Ox f o d 19 07 pp 148 sqq

s, r se . . r, r , , .

Jou nal s f Tw E xp dit ions f Discov e y L ondon

.

S i G e o ge G y
”
3 ”
r r re ,
r o o e o r , ,

184 1 vo l i pp i,

Bonn y J u r n o f th A nth r o p I nst vo l x iii p 13 0

. .
,
“
2
e
e , o .
, .
, .
, . .
362 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
th e s e obj e cts t r e asu r e d up as h ei r l o oms with th e p e r son
, ,

ality of s ome r eno wne d anc es t o r th e s t o r y th at th e sp e cial ,

p or tr aitu r e to be m ade w as s ome tim e s comm unicat e d in a

d r eam or vi si on al l thi s induc e s th e b e lie f th at in f or m e r
,

time s though p e r h ap s not at th e p r e se nt time th e M aor i s

, ,

l ooke d up on thei r h ei tikis as amul e t s or p oss ibly even as

-
,

fe tiches .
25

Th e D owager Q u e en Al ex and r a is said to gr e atly valu e

as a t ali sman a p end ant c ons i s ting o f a nugge t o f mas s iv e

gold su r mounte d by a figu r e of a hunchb ack e x e cute d in ,

gr een ename l Th e nugge t is h o ll ow e d ou t and op ens wh en

.

a se c r e t spr ing is t ouch e d ; within app e ar s a h e ar t sh ap e d —

o r nament m a d e of New Z e al and j a d e Th e s t o r y r u ns th at .

thi s j e we l w as given to h is m othe r by th e l at e Duke of C lar

enc e th e e ld e r b r o th e r of th e p r e s e nt K i ng Ge or g e V
,
.

Th e p opul ar ity in E ngl and of th e s e qu e e r h ei tiki amu —

le t s made fr om th e p anama or gr e en s t one ( neph r it e ) of

,
-

New Z e al and h as b een as c r ib e d by many to th e w e ari ng by

,

Q u e en Al ex andr a of or nam ents m ad e of New Z e al and j ade ,

and to th e r e p o r t th at e v e r y m e mb e r o f th e Al l B l ack s
“ ”
,

an al mo s t invincibl e E ngli s h f oo t — b all t e am car r i e d som e ,

little tr ink e t mad e fr om thi s mat e r i al whil e h e w as engage d

in pl ay Th e p o pul ar faith in
.
“
lucky j ade ” w as fu r th e r
co r r ob or at e d by th e s t o r y th at L or d R o s eb er y h ad on h is
p e r s on a j ade amul e t wh en h is ho r s e C ice r o w on th e De r by
and that L o r d R o th s child w as w e ar i ng such an amul e t as

h is h o r se S t A mand c ar r i e d h is c o l or s to vict o r y
. Wh en .
27

w e c ons id e r to h ow g r e at an e xt e nt p o pul ar e nthu s i asm is

excit e d in E ngl and by h e r g r e at and cl as s ic h or s e r ac e s w e -
,

u th
dt l c c
Fo r f r er e ai s on er nin g the se tr ange o nam nt s e th w it s s r e s e e r er
’

J B Lippincott C ompany Ph iladelph ia

,

u u
C r io s L o re o f P r e ioc u t
s S o es,
“
n
”
. .
,

d
and L on on, 1 9 13 , pp 8 7—9 0 . .

P e c io u s S tones f o C u at iv e Wear B isto l 19 07 p 39

“
F r nie e ,
r r r , r , , . .

A E Wr ight and E L ove tt

”7
. . S p e c im n of M o d er n M a cot s and A ncient
.
, e s s

A mul e t s o f th e B itish I sl es F lk L ore vol x ix 19 08 p 29 3

”
r , o , .
, , . .
 AMUL E TS P RIMI TI V E ,
MODERN 363

ne e d not he s itat e to b elieve that the se r ep or t s did much to

r end er j ad e amul e t s g ene r ally fashi onabl e .

A n ol d P olyne s i an l e gend r e co unt s that j ad e w a s b r o ught

to New Z e aland f r om a di s t ant l and by a ce r t ai n Ngah u e w h o ,

s ought by thi s me ans to s ave th e p r e ci ou s m at er i al f r om an

enemy w h o c o v e t e d it H e s e ttl e d at A r ah u a on th e w e s t
.
,

c o as t o f th e middle i s l and and in thi s r e gi on h e found an ,

e t e r nal and s af e r e s ti ng pl ac e f o r his j ad e which h e v alu e d ,

ab o ve al l things Thi s l e ge nd h a s o ft en b e en adduce d a s a

28
.

p r o o f that th e New Z ealand j ade w as b r ought fr om oth er

countr i e s but as it p r o cee d s to s t at e that Ngahne m ade ne ck
,

and e ar or nam ent s o f thi s mat e r i al th e r e is at l e as t as gr e at ,

p r ob ability th at w e have he r e th e supp os e d or igi n of th e

h ei—tiki o r nam ent s and that th e l e gend t e stifi e s to th e p cpu
,

l ar b e li e f th at th e a r t o f m aking thes e obj e ct s cam e to Ne w

Ze al and fr om with out .

Th e qu as i m agic ch ar a ct e r of New Z e al and j ad e ( ne

-

ph r ite ) in th e e y e s o f M ao r i s o f th e o ld e n tim e is p r o ve d by
th e fact tha t c e r t ai n s up e r s titi ou s r e s tr icti ons w er e e s t ab
l ish e d in r e gar d to th e cutting of ne phr it e one of th e s e b e ing ,

that no w oman sh ould be all owe d to appr oach th e j ade

cutte r s whil e the y we r e engage d in th e ir t ask F or th e dri ll .

ing o f h o le s in j ad e impl em e nt s o r amul e t s th e cor d d r ill w as -

e mpl oy e d and th e su r fac e of th e o bj e ct r e ce ive d its p o li s h by

,

r ubbing it with a pi e c e o f s and s t one aft e r it h ad b e e n r o ughl y ,

fashi one d by chipping to th e de sir e d for m Th e t ough

, ,
.

ne s s o f j ad e is such that i nfinit e p ati ence and l ong continu e d -

e ff o r t mu s t h ave b een ne c e ss ar y to c ompl e t e any o r nament

o r impl ement u nd e r th e se p ri mitiv e c onditi ons

29
.

A cu r i ou s and ch ar acte ri stic j ade ar t efact known as ,

nbou e t or koind ien is found among th e nativ e s of New C al e

'
,

G r ey Po lyne sian Myth l gy L ond on 1 85 5 p ”

2"
,
o o , , , . 13 2 .

”
E l sdon B est Th e S tone Impl ement s of th M ao
,
e r i, Dominion M useum
Bull et in No 4 We ll ingt n New Z aland 19 12
, .
,
o ,
e , .
364 TH E MAGIC OF J E WE L S A ND CHARMS

doni a Thi s is a mor e or l e ss ci r cul ar di sk of j ad e with a

. ,

cutting e dge In mos t case s thi s disk is attache d th r ough

.

tw o e p r f or a ti o n s t o a s t r aight cyli n d r ic a l h a n dl e h a vi ng a
,

s lit at t h e upp e r e xt r e m ity i nt o which t h e j a d e di s k is intr o

d u ce d . Th e l ow er e xt r e m ity h a s a n o v o id t e r m i n a ti on or ,

l
e se it is s e t in a c o c o a n ut s h e ll u s u a lly c o v e r e d with th,
e

inte gument of a pt er op od Att ach e d ar e p endant s of b e auti .

ful mar ine sh ell s and some time s th e cocoanut sh ell is fille d
,

w ith s m all p ebbl e s s o th at it can be u se d as a r attl e Th e se .

nbou et w e r e o r iginally u s e d as cl e av er s to cut up th e d e ad

b o die s f or th e cannib ali stic or gie s and thi s u s e se ems to hav e ,

b e en thought to imp ar t a kind of tali smanic vi r tu e to th e

o bj e ct s f or th ey ev entu ally b e c am e ins igni a of th e chi e fs of
,

th e native t r ib es
30
.

Th e or nament mo st highly p r iz e d by th e nativ e s of Ne w

C al e d oni a is a ne ckl ac e o f p e r f or at e d j ade b e ad s One of .

th e s e ne cklaces in th e r ich c oll e cti on of S ignor Gigl iol i

, ,

c ont ains 122 j ad eb e ad s s om ewh at l ar ge r th an p e as anoth e r

,

ne ckl ace c omp r i s e s e ight b e a d s alt e r nating with sm all s h e ll s

o f th e o l ive a sp e ci e s o f m u s s el
,
A s a p end ant h ang s an .

ou dip or s lu ng s h o t o f s t e atit e Ne ckl aces of thi s kind ar e

-
31
.
, ,

call e d p eigh a by th e native s and th e high e ste em in which ,

the y ar e h eld p r ob ably ar is e s fr om their supp ose d t al i smanic

p ower s Th e j ad e orname nt s or ar t efact s found in th e ne igh
.

b o r ing L oyalty I sl and s h ave al l b een b r ought fr om Ne w

C al e d oni a and w e ar e t o ld th at so g r e at w as th e v alu e pl aced
,

up on th em th at th e native s of th e Lo yalty I sl and s oft en

t r ad e d th eir young gir l s in e xch ange f or obj ects made fr om
th e g r e atly c ov et ed j ad e .

F r om a F iji an mi s s i on t e ach er at Goo d enough I s land

G igl io l i, M at er ial i per l o tudi de lla Eta della Pie tr a

s o .
,
”
Ar chivio per
l ’A ntro pol ogia e
’
l E tnol ogia, vo l . xxxi pp 7 9 80; Fir enz e 19 01
, .
, , .

n
Ibid .
, pp . 82, 83 .
366 TH E MAGIC OF JE W E L S A ND C HARM S

b e li e ved that S ir J Thu r ston at this time gove r nor of th e

.
,

i slands h ad s e cu r e d p o sse s si on of th e confi s c ate d cr yst al

,
.
32

I t is r ath e r di fficult to d e t e r mine in wh at p r op or ti ons t r uth

and ficti o n ar e r ep r e s ent e d in thi s t al e .

Th e d o ctr ine of symp athy find s an e ch o am ong th e nativ e s

o f M e l ane s i a In th e B ank s I sl and s f or ins t anc e if a native
.
, ,

c ome s acr o ss a pi e ce of cor al to which th e acti on of th e

wav e s h as imp ar t e d th e form of a loaf of b r e ad thi s will ,

be t ak en to s ignify th at such a c or al h as an affi nity with th e

b r e ad fr uit tr e e and th e native will bu r y it unde r such a t r ee
-

in th e c onfid ent e xp e ct ati on th a t its f r uit b e ar ing qu ality -

will be enhance d the r eby C hance may p e r hap s se em to .

pr ove th e tr uth of h is b e li e f and in thi s cas e h e will p e r mit ,

h is ne ighb or s to bu r y s t one s ne ar h is own so th at some wh at ,

o f its vi r tu e may p ass i nt o th em

33
.

To h av e one s lif e d e p end up on th e s afe p r e s er vati on of

’

a t ali s m an m ay no t alw ay s be a bl e ss i ng as app e ar s in a ,

K almuck s t or y A Kh an w h o owne d such a t ali sman th ought

.

that h e h ad co nce al e d it so ef f e ctive ly th at no one c ould fi nd

it and h ence h e did not h e sitat e to mak e th e di s c ov e r y of its
,

hi ding pl ace a cr uci al te s t of th e skill of a wi s e m an w h o

-

cam e to vi sit h is cou r t Th e s age pr ove d e qu al to th e eme r.

geney and found th e t al i sm an whil e its owne r w as asl e ep ,

but w as so r ej oice d at th e succe ssful acc ompl i shm ent of

th e t ask th at h e v er y i rr e v er ently cl app e d a bl add e r o n th e
s l e e pi ng Kh an s h e ad w h o w a s s o much e nr age d at th e ia
’
,

dignity that h e or de r e d th e wi se man s imme di ate e xe cuti on ’

.

H owe ve r th e l att e r quickly mad e u s e of th e magic p o we r

,

o v e r th e Kh an s life th at th e p os s e ss i on o f th e t ali sm an g ave

’

h im and cas t it d own s o vi ol ently as to b r e ak it No s o one r

, .

“2 “
Folk L r e vol xxiv No 2 July
o . 1 9 13 , S to y
r sen t to R R M ar ett
D J cunc as of Ba l io l C ll ge Oxf or d
, , .
, , . .

by M r. . o e , .

Th G ld n B ugh gc d on
83 “ ”
F as
r er , Pt I
e o e o , .
, Th e M a i A r t, L on , 19 11,
vol . i, p 1 64
. .
 AM UL E TS P RIMITI V E MODERN , 367

h ad thi s happ ene d than bl oo d spu r t e d fr om th e Kh an s ’

no s t r il s and d e ath ove r tp ok h im .

34

Agat e amul e ts still fi nd f avo r in S p ain a numb er of ,

int er esting ex ampl e s h aving r e cently b e en acqui r ed in th at

countr y by M r W L Hil dbu r gh many o f th em b eing off er e d
. . .
,

f or sale in small s tall s b o th in th e capit al Mad r id and in, , ,

o th e r o f th e S p ani sh citi e s I n a num b er of c ases th es e 35

.

amul e t s ar e milky whit e agat es thi s h u e r ecommending th e i r ,

u se as l actati on amul e t s I n o ne s p e cime n h owe ver se cu r e d

.
, ,

in S evill e th e agat e sh owe d s e v en conce ntr ic whit e st r ip e s

, ,

p r ob ably indicating tha t it h ad b een u s e d as a ch arm against

th e E vil E ye as we ll as to favo r th e s e c r e ti on of milk .

F or th e l att er pu r p o se in li e u of agat e whit e glass b e ad s

, ,

ar e oft en sold a d e al e r in a s m al l s t all in Mad r id h aving in

,

h is s t ock a st r i ng of fifty such b e ad s which h e sold one by

one to th e w omen w h o h ad f aith in th e i r e ffi c acy ; ag at e b e ad s

of c ombi ne d gr ayi sh r e ddi s h and whit e c ol or ati on ar e al so

,

to be fou nd .

Q uite an ambiti ou s typ e of th e s e p opul ar amule t s is fi g

u r e d by Mr H il dbu r gh ( Pl i p 64 fig
. Thi s is a tripl e .
,
.
, .

p endant with chain attach e d f or su sp ensi on th e uppe r p ar t

, ,

b eing an agat e gr ayi sh white and r e ddi sh p r ob ably r ender-

,

ing it at once a l actati on amul e t and one s er ving s till an

othe r u se as a w oman s am ul e t Th e middl e of thi s p e nd ant
’
.

w as of blu e gl ass b ande d with o th e r col or s and th e t er minal ,

w as of bl ack gl ass s p o tt e d blu e ye ll ow and r e d ; b o th of

, ,

the se gl ass obj e cts ar e supp o s e d to have se r ve d agains t th e

E vil E ye Thu s thi s p ar ticul ar amul e t combine d a numb er
.

of vi r tu es .

Cor al is a favor ite mat er i al f o r amul e t s in S p ain as in

many oth er l and s b eing sh ap e d f or thi s pu r p ose as a fi g
,
“

JGF . . B ld th B ut if ul
r az e r , L d n 19 13
a er l p 142 cit ing
e ea ,
”
on o , , vo . 11 , .

Kal mtickisch e M ar ch en, p ig

1866 , No 12, pp 5 8 sqq
”
B J
. u l g, Le i z , . . .

‘5
W . L . Hil d bur gh , F r u th e r t
No es in S anis A m p h ulet s ” in Folk
, Lor e,
vol . xx iv , No 1, Mar ch
. 3 1, 19 13 , pp . 6 3—7 4 ; 2 a es pl t .
3 68 TH E M AGIC OF J E WE L S A ND C H RM S A
hand or int o s ome other of th e dive r se forms to which a
”

ce r tain symb olic significance h as been given One amule t .

o f r o ck cr y s t al is r e p ort e d which may h av e b e en t ak en fr om

-
,

s ome ol d r el iqu ar y ; thi s w as u s e d against th e E vil E ye .

Am b er al s o in its w ay as gener ally p opul ar as c or al is fr e ely

, ,

u sed in S p ain by th e mak er s of amule t s ; b eing gene r ally

given th e form of b e ad s Th e wear ing of the se is r e gar ded .

as very e ff e ctive in th e c as e of t ee thing child r en F or some .

r e as on o r o th e r a p r ef er enc e is giv en to fac e tt e d b e ad s in

, ,

s pit e o f th e ri sk th at th e s h ar p e dge s may i r r it ate th e sens i :

tive and de licate skin of an inf ant 36

.

S ome of th e fi g h and amul et s made and sold in Madr id

‘ ’
-

ar e of j et th e p eculi ar hand form b e i ng in many cas es s o

,

highly conventi onaliz e d as to be b ar ely indicate d These .

ar e b eli eve d to be effi c aci o u s not onl y agains t th e E vil E ye ,

as th e oth e r amul e t s of thi s f o r m but al s o f or th e p r e ser ,

vation of th e h ai r Wh en wor n f or thi s pu r p ose th e women

.

of M ad ri d ar e s aid to c ar r y th em up on any p ar t of th e
per
son but tho s e o f To l e d o pl ac e th em in th e h ai r it se lf so that
, ,

th e d e s i r e d e f f e ct may be mo r e immedi at e .
37

In south ern Ru ss i a amul e t s enj oy high p o wer b oth among

Jews and C hri s ti ans E s pe ci ally ar e th ey value d f or th e .

p r ot e cti on of child r en and f or th e cu r e of th e i r di se as e s An .

imitation wolf s tooth made of b one set in a r ing is one

’
-
, , ,

of th e s e amul e t s ; ho we v e r whil e such i mit ati o n t ee th ar e

,

u s ed th e natur al te e th ar e gr e atly p r e fer r e d A s an amul et

, .

agains t th e E vil E ye th e wi ng b one s of a c o ck will be u s e d -

.

Thi s mali gn influ ence is h eld in s uch aw e by th e c omm on

p eopl e th at th ey d o not e ven dar e to u se th e wor d “ evil ” o f
it and call it th e g ood eye
“
C arneli an b e ad s pu r p or ting .

W . L Hild bu r gh ,
. No tes on S panish Amulet s ” Folk L or e vol xvn , , . ,
19 06, pp . 454—472 S ee P a e . l t VIII fig 29 opp p 462 , .
, . . .

W . L H il dbu r gh , “ F r
.
u th er Not es on S panish Amul et s in Folk L or e ,
”
,
xiv No
vol . x , . 1, p . 66, Mar ch 3 1 1 9 13 ; one of those amule t s is shown in Plat e 1
, ,
fig 4 p 64
.
, . .
 AM UL E TS P RIMI TI V E MOD E RN ,
3 69

to h ave b een b r ought fr om P al e stine comm and wh at is r e

gar de d as a good p r ice thr e e r oubles b eing p aid f or a single ,

o ne ; th es e ar e g r e at f avor it e s with th e J ew s m o r e e sp e ci al ly ,

one of th e i r supp os ed vi r tu es b ei ng to p r e vent ab o r ti on

38
.

Th e r e li gi ou s fer vor of th e Ru s si ans is illu s t r at e d by th e

char acter o f th e amule t s aid to be const antly wor n by th e
C z ar as a p r ot e cti on agains t th e d ange r s which h ou r ly
th r e aten h im Thi s is a r ing in wh ich is se t a pie c e of th e
.

Tr u e C r oss th e s ac r e d mat e ri al which w as b e li e v e d to l e nd

,

a mighty p otency to th e f amou s Tali sman o f C h ar le “

magne ”
A l e s s ve ne r able b e l i e f is said to r ender th e C z ar
.

sup e r stiti o u s ly c ar e ful to s e e th at an anc e s t r al watch in his

p osse s si on is always ke pt wound up f or a family le gend tel l s ,

th at s h ould thi s watch e ve r s top th e glor y of th e r eigning _

h ou se would p as s a w ay .
39

Of b one amul e t s th e r e is a gr e at vari e ty A mong ithose .

u s e d in th e B r iti sh I sle s may be not e d a h amme r sh ap e d -

typ e fashi one d ou t of a she e p s b one wor n by Wh e l by fi sh e r

,
’
,

men as p r o t e cti on fr om d r owning ; simil ar ly s hap e d b one

am ul e t s fi nd favo r with s om e L ond o n lab or e r s as p r e v e ntive s

o f r h e umatis m T hi s is th e typ e o f Th or s H amm er still ’

.
,

p opular w ith th e Manx men Th e st r ange r es embl ance of th e .

os s ac r u m of th e r abbit to a fox s h e ad h as r e c omm end e d its

’

u se as a t ali sm an or luck b r inger and a L ond on so licit o r is

,
-
,

s t at e d to h av e owne d an e x ampl e which h e h ad mou nt e d as

a go ld s c ar f pin th e lik ene s s to an animal h e ad b e ing b r ought

-
,

ou t s till mo r e by th e inse r ti on o f onyx e ye s

40
.

Th e t ali smani c p ow er of th e tu r qu o i se is s till cr e dite d in

p r ovinci al E ngl and f or in th e counti es of H amp shi r e and ,

S u s se x it is b e li e ve d th at wh en tw o p er sons st ati on th em
S . We is senb erg ,
S iid ru s sisch e A m ul ette , in Z eit sch if t r f ur E thno logie ,

189 7 , pp . 3 6 7—36 9 .

8"
Fr om J w ll
e e er s C ir
’
ar Wee cul , Feb 5 , 19 13 , 153kly . p . .

“
A E . . Wr ight and E L o e , . v tt
S e imens of M o e r n Mas o pc d c t s and A h
c t
ien A m l e u t s of th e B r i is I s es,t h l
”
Fo Lo r e, vol x ix , lk
29 5 , P a e . p . l t V fig 1
, . .

24
370 THE M A GI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
se lve s on opp o site b ank s of a fr oz en st r e am or p ond on a ,

C h r i s tmas Day and e ach one slid e s a tu r qu oi se to th e oth e r

,

ove r th e ice b o th o f th em will be bl e s s e d with g oo d fo r tu ne

,

f or th e f oll owi ng y e ar and will p r osp e r in al l th e i r u nd er

takings If th e st r e am o r p ond we r e at al l wide th e fact of
.
,

having accompli sh e d thi s f e at succe s sfully might ind e e d be

t ak en as p r oof of consid e r abl e d ext e r ity and might p e r hap s
,

indicate th at o ne w h o could s ucce e d in thi s little expl oit h ad

a ch ance o f making h is w ay in m o r e im p o r t ant m att e r s .

Th e natu r al m ar king s on ag at e p e bbl es o ft e n p r e s ent d e

s igns h aving s om e s p e ci al s ym b o lic al s ignific anc e and c ould ,

th en be looke d up on by th e s up e r stiti ou s as amul e t s of no ta

bl e p owe r much e xc ee ding in effi c acy th o s e ar tifici ally
,

fo rm e d A s tr ange ins tance in illu st r ation o f thi s is an agate

.

p ebbl e picke d up no t l ong sinc e on Newp o r t B e ach Rhode ,

I sl and Thi s s t one is cl e ar ly and d e finit e ly m ar k e d with th e

.

my s tic C hine s e m onad a d evice th at is wid e ly known in th e

,

Unit e d S t at e s fr om its ad opti on as a sym b ol by th e No r th er n

P acific Rail r o ad .

A lim e s tone p ebbl e with p e culi ar m ar kings is in a p r ivate

coll e cti on in New Y or k Thi s some what r e s embl e s in sh ap e
.

th e fam ou s m agatam a j e w e l of th e J ap ane s e and th e mar k,

ings sugge s t that like th e l atte r it m ay h ave h ad a ph allic

, ,

s ignific anc e o r at l e as t o ne c onne ct e d with th e w o r s hip o f

,

th e r e p r oductive p o we r s Th e m ar king s indic at e an att empt

.

to figur e an u nd e v e l o p e d b e ing and p os sibly th e obj e ct w as

,

inte nde d f or u se as an am ul e t to facilitate p ar tu ri ti on .

Th e p r e vailing r e acti on agains t th e pu r e ly mate r i al i s t ic

b e liefs so gener ally acce pt e d a sc or e or mo r e of ye ar s ago ,

find s exp r e s sion in a mar ke d t endency t ow ar d a r enewal

in a g r e atly mo difi e d fo r m of c ou r se— o f th e ol d fanci e s or
,

instinctive ide as t ouching th e vi r tu e s of gems Thu s one -

.

mod ern wri t e r at l e ast w as b ol d enough to sugge st not l ong

s inc e th at th e effi cacy o f ch ar m s and p r e ci ou s s t one s ma
“
y
 AMUL E TS PRIMI TI V E ,
M OD E RN 37 1

be co gniz e d and pla c e d on a s ci entific b as i s b efo r e many

re

y e ar s a r e p a s s e d .
” 41

Th e b e li e f 1 n th e hidde n p o w e r s of p r e ci o u s s t one s w as
u ds e a s th e th em e o f one of H of f m an s nove l s “
D a s F r aul e in ’
,

vo n S cud er y H e r e th e h e r o Re ne C ar dil l ac is r e p r e
.
, ,

s ent e d a s a m an f or wh o m th e p o s s e s s i on o f p r e ci ou s s t one s

h as b e c ome i ndi sp e ns abl e and w h o is h appy only wh en h e ,

can h an dl e th e m and w atch th e pl ay o f light and c o l or em a

nating fr om th em Th e y e x e r t a kind of hypno tic influ enc e

.

o v e r him and s o i nt ens e and ab s o r bi ng i s h is d e vo ti on to

,

th em that h e e ve n r e s o r t s to mu r d er r ather than p ar t with

one o f h is d ar li ng s t o ne s .

I n th e cou r se o f a m e e ting of th e E ngli s h F o lk L or e -

S o ci e ty one of th e memb e r s e xp r e s s e d th e opini o n th at th e

,

r e viv al o f i nt e r e s t in amul e t s and t ali sm ans and in al l s o r t s

and ki nd s o f m as c o t s w a s l ar ge ly d u e to th e ar ticl es
“ ”

p ri nte d ab out s uch things in c e r t ain of th e daily and we ekly .

p ap er s The se item s put in a t aking w ay and r e ad with

.
,

avidity m or e e s p e ci a lly by th os e w h o w er e al r e ady p r e di s

,

p ose d to a b e li e f in th e mythical o r magical s er v e d to s p r e ad ,

th e s e fanci e s f ar an d wide th r ough o ut th e l and Th e p r e s i .

d ent of th e s o ci e ty Dr Gas t e r in cl osing th e di s cu ssi on

,
.
, ,

s aid th at fr om h is expe r i ence th e mo d e rn b eli e f in amul e ts

“

as aid s to luck w as ge nui ne and wid e ly s p r e ad

42
.

One o f th e l at e s t P ari s i an o r acl e s on my stic subj e ct s ,

th e B ar o ne s s d Or ch amp s s ay s th at em e r ald s sh o uld no t

’
,

be wo rn by w omen b e f or e th e i r fif ti e th y ear alth ough m en ,

may w e ar thi s gem with out d ange r at any age S apphi r e s .

,

on th e o th e r h and may be w o r n by b o th s e x e s at al l tim es

, ,

s i nc e th e y h av e a p o t e nt i nflu enc e f o r goo d luck H enc e .

S e e A E Wr i .
and E L o e
.
ght , v tt
S e ime ns o f M o er n M as o s and A n
. pc d ct
c t ien A m e s oul tf t h e B r i i s I s es ,
”
F o t h
L o r e , l
vo l x ix , 1 9 04 , lk
2 8 8—3 03
; . pp .

ct gi in B r at l y, Th e Po e r o f G e m s awn d Ch a r m s ,
”
L on o n, 1 9 07 d .

4“
A E Wr i . and E ght
Lo e , . v tt
S e ime ns of M o er n M as o s and A n p c d ct
c t ul t
ien A m e s o f th e B r i is I s e s, Fo
”
t h l
Lor e, vo l x ix , 303 lk . p . .
37 2 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

s p eculat or s and inde ed al l w h o h op e f or a f av or abl e turn

o f F or tune s wh e e l s h ould l oo k with f avor on thi s s t one
,
.

A s me dicinal gems th e r uby and th e moon s t one ar e esp e

,
-

cial l y r e c omm end e d ; th e fo r me r f or chr onic h e ad ach e s and

th e l atte r f o r th e manif old form s of ner v o u sness L as tly th e .

,

di amond if w orn on th e l eft side war d s off evil influ ences

, ,

and att r act s goo d f or tune Th e unju s tly maligne d op al is

.

as s e r t e d to be r obb e d o f al l p owe r to har m if it be as s o ci at e d

with di amonds and r ubi es .

M any of th e memb e r s o f th e F r ench nobility ar e th e

owner s and we ar e r s o f t ali sm anic o rname nt s o f o ne kind or

anoth e r A p ower ful combinati on of such life p r e s e r ve r s ”

“ -
.

is c r e dit e d to th e Du e d e Guich e On h is r ight h and h e we ar s .

thr ee cu r i ou sly ch ase d r ing s o ne on th e fi r s t finge r th e sec

, ,

o nd on th e middl e finge r and th e thi r d on th e , r i ng fi nger -

.

One of th e r ings is s et with a s ar d onyx engr ave d with th e

figur e of an e agl e the sec ond r ing b ear s a t op az on which
,

h as b e en gr av en a f alc on and th e thi r d r ing sh ows a b e auti

,

ful cor al b e ar ing th e d e sign of a man h olding a d r awn swor d

in h is r ight h and B oth th e s t ones and th e s p e ci al d e signs
.

engr ave d on e ach one ar e in acc or d with th e o ld e s t tr a

d itional l or e in r e gar d to t ali smans and th e s t one s th em ,

s elve s ar e th o se indicat e d by th e d at e o f th e duk e s bi r th and

’

by h is b apti sm al name While such an ar r ay of fi nger ri ngs

. -

would har dly app e al to th e t ast e of an Ame r ican man th e ,

fashi on o f we ar ing an app r op r i ate s er i es of rings h as met

w ith cons ider abl e favor among ou r Am e r ic an mond aine s
,

and c e r t ainly h as th e me r it o f l ending an individu al si nifi

g
c anc e to th e r ings s el e cte d f or we ar 43
.

Th e magnific ent s tar sapphi r e s et 1n th e hilt of th e r ichly

-

ch ase d and o r nament e d swor d given by th e Gr eek s of

A mer ica to King C onst antine of Gr e ec e on E ast e r Day , ,

1 9 13 ju st b efor e th e r e cipi ent s ucc ee d e d to th e r oyal dignity

,
,
“
. u
S t L o is Demo c at
r , 19 05 .
J E W E L LE D S W O RD G I V E N B Y T H E G R E E KS O F T H E U N IT E D
STA TE S . O N E A ST E R D A Y . 19 13 . T O C R O W N P R I NC E
C O N S T A NT I N E , L A T E R K I NG C O N ST A NT I N E XII OF
G RE E C E
S i d e vie w o f hi l t
.
37 4 THE MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND CH ARMS
Cap e A nn, in th e Ur al M ount ains in Ru s s i a I t h as r e
and .

centl y b e e n p r o p o s e d as th e s t one f or th e S u f fr ag e p ar ty .

Thi s amaz on s t one c ould be cut in littl e b e ad s of a b e autiful

-

p al e gr ee n and af t er app r op r i at e mounting th ey could be

wor n su s pende d by a ri bb on fr om th e butt on h ol e A s th e -
.

s t one is i ne xp ens ive it o ught to m e e t with f avo r am ong th e

hundr e d s of th ou sands w h o ar e aggr e ss ive in th eir advocacy

o f thi s c au se .

Am ong th e many p e r sons o f ou r d ay w h o s till h av e or

h ad a linge r ing faith in th e effi c acy of amul e t s may be men ,

tione d th e l at e actr e s s M r s A nni e Y e am ans w h o l e ft s p e ci al

, .
,

di r e cti ons in h er will th at a littl e amul e t att ach e d to a gold

ch ain which sh e c ons t antly w o r e s h o uld be l e ft on h e r b o dy
,

and bu r i e d with h e r We may call thi s sup e r s titi on or s enti

.

m ent as w e will but th e r e s e em s to be an almos t invi ncibl e

, ,

t endency to as so ci ate s ome thing of th ose d e ar to u s and los t

to u s wi th inanimat e obj e ct s th at may h av e b e e n th e i r s and ,

th e m emo ri e s c all e d up by s ome sim pl e t ri nk e t s h ow th at

p sych olo gi cally a c e r tain p owe r r e al ly d oe s exi st in such
o bj e ct s. Th e se ntiment th e y awak en is only in ou r s e lve s and ,

th e imp r e ss i on th at awak e s it a s w e ll but th e p r e s enc e of

,

th e inanimat e o bj e ct actu al ly c onditi ons th e awak ening of

th e f e eling Thu s w e can s c ar c e ly d e ny to amul e t s a ce r tain
.

inh e r ent qu ality in this r e sp e ct .

Ofte n some s tr ange qu aint o r biz ar r e d e sign se en in th e

, ,

sh o p o f a d e al e r in antiqu e s will m ak e a p e culi ar and i ndi

vidu al app e al to th e ob s e r ver and will be cho s en by him as

,

h is pe r s onal am ul e t as th ough f at e h ad d e s tine d th e obj e ct

,

f or h is sp e ci al u se S o w e ar e t o ld th at M r Augu s tin Osman

. .
,

th e arti s t secu r e d p oss e ss i on o f a singular g old o r nament

,

r e p r e s enti ng a hum an skull

; up on it w as figu r e d in Op al s
th e wo r d A ve On th e fi r st night aft e r th e acqui siti on o f
‘
.

thi s obj e ct th e ar ti st h ad a vivid d r e am in which th e im

, ,

p r es si on w as conveye d to him that h e would alway s enj oy

 AMULE TS P RIMITI V E ,
MODE RN 37 5

good for tune as long as th e golden skull r emaine d in h is p os

se ss i on . E vid ently th e o p al s t o ok no thing in h is opini on
fr om th e luck p r o ducing qual ity of thi s gr ewsome o r nament ;
-

inde e d it s eem s mor e p r ob abl e that they adde d to it

,
.

A cu r i ou s mo de r n tali sman is th e wor k of M Ch ar le s .

Rivau d w h o h as fr e qu ently exhibit e d spl endid sp e cimens of

,

ar ti s tic j e w e l r y at th e P ar i s S al o n ; thi s t ali sman cl e v e r l y

c ombine s ar ti stic me r it with a das h of Afr ican ma gic I t is .

a s l end e r b r ac e l e t c omp o s e d o f i nt e r l ac e d s pi r al s o f oxidiz e d

s ilve r and go ld ; ar ou nd th e ci r cl e t is twine d a h ai r t ak en

fr o m an e le phan t A mong th e tr ib e sm en of th e S ou d an th e
. a

hai r s of thi s animal ar e b e li e v e d to be endowe d with gr e at

tali sm anic vi r tu e ; inde e d th ey enj oye d a simil ar r eput e
,

am ong th e anci ent R omans Wh e th e r thi s b e lie f w as d u e to

.

th e id e a th at th e w e ar e r of th e h ai r w a s assu r e d a mighty
p r o t e cti on typifi e d by th e eno r m ou s str ength of th e e l eph ant
, ,

o r wh e th e r to th e fact th a t th e e l e ph ant w a s with s om e

p e o pl e s a divine symb o l w e canno t e as ily d et e r mine

,
.

Th e op a l h as l ong sinc e em e r ge d fr om th e slight cl oud

o f di s f avo r d u e to a m os t e r r o ne o u s f ancy th at it w as in s om e

w ay ass o ci at e d with ill luck-

Thi s id e a p o ss ibly in its o r i gin
.
,

e xpl ai nabl e by th e c om p ar ativ e f r agility o f th e gem f ou nd ,

a c ons i s t e nt and e ar ne s t o pp onent in th e l at e Q u e e n Vict or i a ,

whos e influ enc e did much to mak e op al s fashi onabl e Of l at e .

ye ar s th ey have b e come favo r it e b r idal gi ft s th e e xceptional,

vari e ty of col or in th e b e autiful ex ampl e s fr om th e Wh ite

C li f f mine s in New S outh Wal e s h aving al so c o nt r ibut e d t o
,

th e r e ne we d p o pul ar ity of th e s t one A p ar u r e o f th e se op al s

.

w as not l ong s i nce b e s t ow e d u p on th e E mp r e ss Augu s t a by

E mp e r o r W illi am of Ge r m any and one o f th e fines t A u str a
,

li an Op al s is a tr e asu r e d p os se ssi on of th e Duch es s of Mar l

b o r ough .

A ve r y attr active ex ampl e of symb olic j ewe lry h as l at e ly

b e en m ade by a j ewe le r s fi r m of B esancon F r anc e Thi s
’
, .
37 6 TH E M AGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
or na ment is
c omp o se d of thr e e k eys to which ar e given th e ,

r e sp e ctiv e name s Ke y o f L o ve K e y o f G oo d F o r tu ne and

, , ,

Key of H e aven The y ar e to o p en up f o r th e we ar e r th e

.

tr easu r e s of tr u e love of w e dde d bli s s and finally of p ar a

, , , ,

di se A le gend fr om th e time of th e C r u s ade s sugge s te d th e

.

for m of this p r etty j ewe l Mou r ning th e dep ar tu r e of a

.

knight on th e l ong and p e r il ou s j ou r ney to P ales tine a Pr o ,

ve ncal maid en w ande r e d th r ough th e w oo dl and s eeking ,

p e ace and conso lati on in its qui e t r e ce sse s A s sh e pass e d .

al ong th e l e afy p athw ay s s h e al l u nc o ns ci o u s ly g av e utt e r

,

anc e to h e r l ongings and fe ar s in s oftly s p ok en w o r d s All .

at onc e a b r ight light b e ame d ab o ut h e r and a r adi ant fai r y ,

a dvance d t owar d h e r and g ave h e r an iv or y c ask e t in which

l ay thr ee j ew el l e d keys mas te r pi e c e s o f th e gold smith s ar t

,
’
.

Th e fi r s t of th ese th e fai r y as su r e d h e r w o uld Op en th e

, ,

young knight s he ar t to r e c eive h e r image ; th e se cond would

’

o p e n th e chu r ch d oo r to a dmit h er a h appy b r id e ; and th e ,

thir d when life s j our ney w as o er would unlo ck f or h er

,
’ ’
,

th e ga t es o f P ar adi s e .

On th e d e s er v e dly p opul ar watch b r ac e l e t s things of ,

b e auty as we ll as utility th e pr e ci ou s s tone s u s e d f or de cor a

,

ti on ar e s ome time s se le ct e d f or th e significanc e of th e fir st

l e tter s of th ei r name s wh en r e ad in se qu ence Th e foll owing .

e x am pl e may be no t e d

D iamond
E mer s l d
’

A methyst
R uhy

S app h ir e
Ag t a e

R uhy
A meth yst

In thi s w ay nam e or en ear n d i g epithe t can be p r e ttily

e xp r e s se d .
378 THE MA GIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H A RMS

illu str at e d with a colo r e d pl at e Th e e f f e ct w as th at of a

.

S p e ct r u m r ath er th an th e i r i s e ff e ct o f th e c r y s t alli ne qu ar tz .

Thi s i r i s w as al s o highly v alu e d and gr e at f av or w as s et ,

up on b r illiant example s of wh at w as in r e ality r o ck cr y st al -

fr actu r e d th e small fr actur e plane s c au sing th e b r e aking

,
-

up of th e light and p r oducing th e r ainb ow or i r i s e ff e ct .

In f act it w as a sp e ct r um p r o duc e d by th e mixtu r e of qu ar tz

b e tween th e ch alc e donic l aye r s .

C ellini h as a mar v e ll ou s s t or y to t e ll of a luminou s car

bunel e A ce r t ai n Jacopo C ola a vine gr ow e r go ing int o h is
.
,
-
,

vineyar d one night notice d W h at app e ar e d to be a bit of

gl owing co al at th e foot of one of th e vine s but on r e aching ,

th e sp ot h e w as u nabl e to l o cat e th e s ou r c e of thi s r adi anc e .

Ver y wi sely h e r e tr ace d h is s t ep s to th e sp ot wh enc e h e h ad

fir s t ob se r ve d th e light which b e c am e again app ar ent and
, ,

wh en h e no w ve r y c ar e fully app r o ach e d th e vine h e found

th at th e gle am p r o ce e de d fr om a r ough littl e s t one which h e ,

j oyfully pick e d up and c ar r ie d of f with h im H e sh owe d it .

to a numb e r of h is fr i end s and am ong th em ch anc e d to be a

Vene ti an e nvoy an exp e r t on p r e ci ou s s tone s w h o imme d i
, ,

at e ly r e c o gniz e d th at th e fi nd w as a c a r bu ncl e Th e r e up on .

t aking a b ase advant age of th e fi nd er s ignor ance h e su c ’

,

cee d e d in buying th e s t one f or only ten s cudi and th en ,

h as t ene d away fr om Rome l es t h is de ce ption s hould be d is

,

cove r e d Not long afte rw ar d s thi s same V ene ti an went to

.

C onst antinopl e and s old th e st one to th e S ult an of th e time

f or s cudi a p r ofit o f p er c e nt Th e fact th at 2
.
,

th e vintne r c ould only s e e th e gl e am fr om a giv en s p o t is in

it se lf su fiicient pr oof th at wh at h e note d w as mer e ly th e re
‘

flection of some di s t ant light s tr iking a smoo th su r face of

th e s t one at a c er t ain angl e .

Among th e m any vir tu e s cr e dite d to car ne li an by th e

2
v ut ll
B en e n o C e ini, Du e t attat i u n
r , o in to r no ll
a e o tto pr inc ip al i ar ti
d ell ’
or efi cer ia,
”
Val nt i Pani
e tc , Fio r enz i,
. e zz i M ar c o Per i, 1568, f ol 10 . .
 F AC TS A ND FANC IE S AB OUT P RE C IOUS S TONE S 379

Moh amm e dans m ay be no t e d p owe r to p r e ser ve th e e qu a

its
nimity and g r avity of th e w e ar e r in th e mid s t of di s put e s o r
ino r dinat e laughte r A sp e cial and p e culi ar utiliz ation of
.

thi s mat er i al w as to employ splint e r s of it as toothpicks .

Th e i r u s e no t only whit e ne d th e t ee th but al s o p r e vente d

bl ee ding of th e gums Th e Pr oph e t accor ding to tr aditi on
.
, ,

asser t e d th at th e w e ar er of a car ne li an r i ng would ne ve r

ce as e to be h appy and ble sse d 3

.

Th e ch r ys olit e is now r e g ar d e d as a semi p r e ci ou s s t one -

onl y ye t S h ak es p e ar e p r es ent e d thi s gem a s th e typ e o f ex

,

ce l l ence in its ki nd wh en h e w r o t e Act V ,

S c ene 2 )

Nay, h ad sh e b een tr ue ,

If h e av en w o uld mak e me s uch anoth er wo r ld

Of one ent ir e and p er f e ct chr ys o lit e ,

I d not h av e sold h er f or it
’
.

int e r e sting to no t e that thi s app r e ci ati on of th e

I t is
b e auty of th e chr ys o lite is al s o shown in an ol d Gr eek glos
s ar y o f alch emic al t e rm s wh er e o ccu r th e w o r d s [ pa
, s 260 9 é z s 0 ar

s i é l
l /
e
o
' “
S acr e d s t one me ans th e ch r y so lite
t oc ,
”
.
4

S uch w as th e s ac r e d qu ality as cr ib e d to s t r ings of c or al

b e ads in s ome p ar t s of Afr ica not l ong since th at the y we r e
, ,

r e gar d e d as th e mos t p r e ci ou s gift s a ru l e r c ould b e s t o w .

I f th e f av or e d r e cipi e nt w e r e s o unf or tunat e as to l o s e thi s

r o yal d onati on which w as a mar k of high r ank h e himse lf
— —
,

as w e ll as al l invo lve d in th e th e ft i ncu r r e d th e p enalty o f ,

d e ath A wr iter of th e s ev ent eenth c e ntu r y Pal isot d e B e au

.
,

vai s r e l at e s that in B enin human victims w e r e s acr ifice d at a

,
“
c or al fe s tiva when th e c or al s of th e king and r oyal f am
ily we r e dipp e d in th e victim s bl oo d so as to pl acate th e ’
,

co r al fe ti sh and ensu r e a fur the r supply of th e p r e ci ou s

R
E d mond D ou tté,
“
M agic et R el ig ion ” A lge r , 19 09
, , pp . 83 , 84 .

‘
th l t
B er e o , Co e ll ct io n d es c
an iens al ch em ist e s g c
r e s,
”
Par is, 1888, 1889 ,
vo l . i, p 9 o f t xt
. e .
380 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE LS A ND CHARMS

mat e r ial 5 P ossibly human bl o od w as b eli eve d to s tr engthen

.

th e s p e ci al vi r tu e supp ose d to be inh er ent in this r e d su b

s t an c e .

Th er e is a not e of r epublic an simplicity in th e r ep or t e d

w e ar i ng of cor al or nament s on c e r emoni al o ccas i ons by th e
p r e s ent Q u e en of It aly Ind e e d th e ass e r tion th at thi s is
.
,

d one to stimul at e th e cor al indu str y in I taly may be tr u e ,

as no thing w ould b e tt e r t end to d o thi s than s uch an e x ampl e

of r oyal favo r f or c o r al C er t ainly thi s is in mar ke d con

.

t r ast with th e almos t exclu sive u se of p e ar l ornament s of al l

kinds so char acter i s tic of Q u e en Mar gar it a wh ose devoti on ,

to th e p e ar l now p e r h ap s th e mos t co s tly of gems h ad a

, ,

p o etic app r opr i at ene s s f or one b e ar ing h er name and w e ,

can s c ar c e ly imagine th e P e ar l o f S avo y with out h e r spl endid

p ar ur es and ne ckl ace s of p ear l s S till u ndoubt e dly thi s ne w .

,

de par tur e r ender s it p o ssible f or al l It ali an women r ich o r ,

p oor to l oyally fo ll ow th e example set by th eir Q u een H elena

, ,

and th e r e is littl e d ang er th at th e r ich will e v e r negl ect to

ava il th ems e lves of th e e xclu s ive p r ivil e ge th e y p oss e ss of

owning and w e ar i ng di amond s p e ar l s r ubi es s apphi r es and , , ,

em er ald s which su r p ass c or al as much in b e auty as th ey d o

,

in p r ice .

A comp ar atively r e c ent att empt to u s e di amond du s t as a

p o i s on is s aid to h av e b een made in 1874 on C ol one l Ph ayr e ,

B r iti s h Re s id ent at th e cou r t of th e th en r eigning Gaikwar

o f B ar o da Th e c ol onel w as in th e h abit of r e fr e s hing him
.

s e lf aft er h is mor ni ng w alk with a gl as s of sugar e d wat e r

fl avor e d with a littl e lime juic e One d ay on t aking a sip

-
.
,

of his cu s t omar y b ev er ag e h e no t e d th at it h ad a s t r ang e

,

tas te and instead of dr inking it h e s ave d it up and h ad it

,

analyz e d Th e analy si s r ev e al e d th e p r es enc e of ar senic in

.

qu antity suff ici ent to c au se d e ath and of di amond du st as ,

“
Ro th , Gr ea t Benin, I t s Cus t o ms A rt
, and Horr ors , l x
H a if a , En gland ,

19 03 , p . 95 .
3 82 TH E M AGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
But th e unsurmo unt able d ifiicu l ty h er e is to exp lain h ow th ey could wor k a ,

st one of such h ar d ness it be ing e v id e nt th at stee l and ir on w er e utter ly

,

known to th em Th ey p ier c e d emer alds and oth er gems with all th e delic acy
.
,

o f th e p r e se nt times f ur nis h e d w ith so many t ool s ; and th e d ir e ction of th e

,

hole is al so v er y ob ser v able ; in some it p asses thr ough th e d iameter in others ,

only to th e c entr e of th e stone and c oming ou t at its c ir c umf er enc e the y

,

f or me d triangl es at a smal l dist ance f r om one anothe r and thu s th e figur e o f ,

th e st one to giv e it r el ie f w as v arie d w ith th e d ir e ct ion of th e h ol es .

Th e xi stence of emer ald s in th e r e gi on ne ar B e r enice is

e

vouche d f or by Ptol emy Th e m ine s of eme r al d h er e we r e .

duly ent e r e d in th e m ap of th e p atr i ar ch and th e A r ab s ar e

s ai d to h av e dug f o r th em ; but P o c o ck w r it e s A s al l s t ones
“
, ,

that may be fou nd b e long to th e Gr and S igni or th e A r ab s ar e ,

ve r y w ell s ati sfie d th at th e p r e senc e of e me r ald s sh ould not be

s u s p e ct e d b e c au s e h e w ould h av e th e p r o fit and th e inh abi
, ,

t ant s might be oblige d to w or k in th e mine s f o r a ver y small

consid e r atio n .
9

Th e numb e r o f anci ent h ematit e ar t e fact s found in th e

Unite d S t at e s indic at e s th at thi s m at e r i al w as m o r e l ar ge ly
u se d within its te r r it or i al limit s f or impl em ents and or na
m ent s th an in any o th e r p ar t o f th e w o r ld ; i nd ee d th e 1°

s o m ewh at s w ee pi ng s t at em e nt h as b e e n v e ntu r e d th at it d o e s

not se em to h av e b e e n u s e d out s id e o f thi s s e cti on of th e

New Wo r ld ; how e v e r s om e e xc epti ons to thi s r ul e mu s t be
,

admitt e d Th at c e r t ain o f th e s e o r nam e nt s w e r e u s e d as

.

amul e t s is highly p r ob abl e and th ey w e r e u nd o ubt e dly r e ,

gar de d as obj e ct s of gr e at valu e since with th e p r imitive

“

to o l s at h is c omm and th e Indi an cutt e r mu s t h av e found h is

t ask a v e r y h ar d one r e qui r ing th e e xp enditu r e of much ,

tim e and p ati enc e In th e And over C oll e cti on th e r e is an

.

exc e pti onally fi ne s p e cim en fr om R oos C ou nty Ohi o It is , .

Pocock
’
s Tr a ve l s in Egypt ,
”
Pin k t er o n s
’
Vo yages and Tr a ve l s ,
”
vol .
xv ,

L ond on , 18 14 , p . 23 8 .

S ee War r en K Moo r e e a ,
1°
. h d H e ma i t t Impl em nt
e e s of t d t te s
th e Uni e S a ,

B ull t
e in V I of th e D e ar men p t t of Ar chaeology Ph ill ip s
, c d y
A a em , A n o d ver ,

. dv
Mass , An o er , 19 12 .
 FAC TS A ND FANCIE S AB OUT PRE CIOUS S TONE S 3 83

of h e avy pu r e h ematite which h as b e en wor ke d int o th e ,

fo rm of a p endant ; notch e s h ave b e en mad e at b oth e nd s as ,

a f or m of d e co r ati on and on th e l ow er b r o ad end fo u r t e e n

, , ,

line s h ave b e e n inci se d ; th e edges ar e sl ightly b eve l e d and

th e p atina indic at e s th e antiquity o f th e w o r k Th e line s .

have evidently b e e n mad e by a flint cutting impl ement -

.
11

Ano th e r p r ob abl e h em atite amul e t is a r ude ly fashi one d

fi sh effi gy H e r e th e app e ar anc e s o f e ye and gill ( only on
.

o ne s id e ) ar e e vid ently me r e ly natu r al i r r e gul ar iti es o f

s u r f ac e which it h as b e en c onj ectu r e d d e t e r m ine d th e cut

,

te r to ad d a m outh and r ou nd of f th e m at er i al so as to ap
p r oxim ate a fi sh form ; th e h ematit e is bl ack and o f fi ne
-

qu ality Thi s r elic c om e s fr om C ol e C amp B etnon C ounty

.
, ,

M i s s ou r i Th e l ar g e r numb e r o f th e s e h e m atit e ar t e fa ct s
.

ar e fr om M i ss ou r i s outh e r n I ow a I llinoi s I ndi ana Ohi o

, , , , ,

W e s t Vi r gini a and K entucky and c ons ide r abl e numbe r s ,

have b e en tu r ne d up in Tennes s e e New Y or k Wi sconsin , , ,

and p ar t s o f A r k ans as Only a r e l ativ e ly small numb er

.

w e r e t aken ou t of bur i als o r gr ave s th e m aj or ity of s p e ci ,

~

m ens h avi ng b e e n s e cu r e d on or ne ar th e su r face .

S h ah J ch angi r r e l at e s in h is mem oi r s th at Muni s Khan ,

s on o f Miht ar Kha n p r e s e nt e d him with a jug of j as p e r

,

( j ade ) which h ad b een made in th e r e i gn of Mi r z aUlugh B e g

,

Gfi r gan in th e h onor e d name of th at p r ince I t w as a v e r y

,
.

de licat e r arity and o f a b e autiful sh ap e Its st one w as ex .

cee d ingl y whit e and pu r e A r ound th e ne ck of th e jar wer e .

car ve d char acte r s e xp r e s sing th e au sp ici ou s nam e of th e

Mir z a and th e Hij r a ye ar J eh angir or d e r e d th em to in .

s c r ib e h is nam e and th e au s pici ou s name of Akb ar on th e

e dge o f th e lip o f th e jar

13
.

b d p 8 1 Fig 4 1
11
I i .
, .
, . .

m I bid p 9 1 Fig 4 7 . .

J J h ngi
.
.
, ,

Not e on j ad cop ie d f
13
e ro m t h e Tuz u k -i ah angir i -
, or memo ir s of a a r,
tr ans by A l exander Roger s
. , Lon don , 1909 , p . 14 6 ; Or ie n t . Tr ans F n
. u d , N S
. .
,

vol . x ix .
384 TH E MAG IC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

Jade or nam ent s of cient wor kmanship h ave b e en found

an

in S yr i a and it is quit e like ly th at in many cas e s wh er e th e

,

d e signati on pl asma is u s e d by anci ent wr iter s tru e j ade , ,

o r ne ph r it e w as th e mat e r i al
,
A s th er e w as no sp e cific
.

d e signati on f or j ad e th e dif fer ent var i e ti e s we r e as similat e d

,

to oth er s t one s of lik e c ol o r and app e ar anc e s o th at among

, ,

o the r s th e nam e s j asp e r pl asma and e ven s mam g d u s we r e

, ,

u s e d to d e no t e j ad e .

Mor tu ar y t abl e t s of jad e have b e en u s e d fr om time imm e

mor i al in C hina f or th e r e c e pti on of hi s t o r ic ins cr ipti ons ,

th e t oughne ss and du r ability o f th e m at e r i al m aking it e sp e

cial l y d e s i r abl e f o r thi s pu r p os e In th e c as e o f r ul er s such
.
,

t abl et s not o nly b or e th e nam e s of th e d e ce as e d s o ver e ign

but al s o an e pitome of th e le ading event s of h is r eign and ,

a dditi ons w e r e mad e to thi s r e c or d f r om time to time s o th at

in hi s t or ic v alu e th e y may be c omp ar e d with th e cl ay t abl e ts

o f B abyl oni a and A ssy r i a One o f th e s e i nt e r e s ting m onu
.

m ent s f ound its w ay to S an F r anci s c o aft e r th e l oo ting of

,

th e F or bidd e n C ity by th e i nt e r nati onal arm y o f r el i ef in

1901 . On it app e ar e d a r e c or d o f th e t r e aty b e tw een th e
Unit e d S t at es and C hi na in 1 86 8 and th e o th e r r e co r d s w ent
,

b ack to th e de ath of S hun Chi in 1661 P r ob ably ow ing to

.

exp o s u r e to th e w e ath e r th e e ar li er i ns c r ipti o ns w e r e no t

ve r y l e gible .

At al l imp o r t ant C hine s e mar r i age cer emoni e s th e p r i e st

c ar r i es what is known as a mar r i age s wor d ” Th i s is
“
.

u su ally ab out twe lve o r thir te en inch e s in l e ngth and th e

s h e ath is o ft e n s tudd e d with v ar i ou s pink s t one s cut an cab0
,

ch on . Th e s t o ne s m os t fav o r e d f or thi s d e c or ati on ar e pink

t ou r m al ine r ub e llit e fr om th e S han Mount ains or r os e
,
,

qu ar tz and th e natu r al col or of th e s e gem s is often intensi

,

fi e d by pl acing a pi nk p as t e or foil b e ne ath th em o ccas i on

;
386 TH E M AGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C H ARMS
Inc a gr aves of P e r u by S e iior E milio Montés and w as ex ,

hibite d by h im in th e C ent enni al E xhibiti on of 1 9 1 3 With .

th e e xce pti on of one c or ner th at h as b een chipp e d o f f th e ,

block is of symm e tr ic al fo r m th e dimensions b e ing in inches

, , ,

24 x 14 x 9 and th e w e ight 3 1 2 p ou nd s
,
Th e sm oo th e d su r .

face gi ve s e videnc e of c ar e ful and fai r ly succe ssful p oli sh

ing by th e native l apid ar i e s Thi s e xce pti onally fi ne s p e ci
.

men o f l api s l azuli is now in th e F i e ld M u se um of Natu r al

H i s t or y in C hic ago E vid e ntly in anci e nt P er u as in th e
.
15

Ol d Wo r ld th e c e l e s ti al h u e of l api s l azuli w a s th ought to

“ ”

r end e r it m os t app r op r i at e f or u s e a s a memo r i al of f e r i ng

to th e d e ad o r as a t ali sm an by th e aid o f which th e i r h e ave n

war d j ou rne y might be made e asi e r .

Th e so call e d bl ack onyx

-
“ ”
h as alm os t e nti r e ly r epl aced
jet Thi s is a ch alce d ony imp r e gnat e d w ith a c ar b onic m at
.

te r such as bl oo d o r a soluti on of sugar th e c ar b onate of

, ,

which is ch ar r e d by sulphu r ic acid gi ving a r ich ve lve ty , , ,

black h u e to th e s tone which tak e s a high p oli sh H owever

, . ,

a c er tain limit e d am o unt of th e o l d

“
Whitby J e t once so ”

highly favo r e d is s till mine d and wo r k e d up int o o r nament s

in th e ne ighb or h o o d of Whitby on th e no r th e as t c o ast of
E ngl and in th e di str ict of L ee d s alth ough but fifty p e r sons
, ,

ar e now engage d in thi s i ndu st r y which fifty y e ar s a o gave

g
e mpl oym ent to 1 500 w o r k e r s S ome S p ani s h j e t is al s o u sed
.
,

a m at e r i al har d er and m o r e b r ittl e th an th at fo und in

E ngl and .

Th e st or y w as cu r r ent th at P o p e L e o X ( 1475 1 521 ) h ad —

a p r e ci ou s s t one p r o b ably s ome typ e o f “ mo ons t one ”

,
1 5 9“
,

which gr ew b r ight e r as th e m oon wax e d e xhibiting th e soft , ,

s ilv e r y b r illi anc e o f ou r s at e llit e and th en gr adu ally l o st

,

its b r ightne s s as th e m o on wane d gr owing p al e r and dimmer ,

u c t d by D 0 C Fa ington
C omm ni a e r. . . rr .

“3
p f t h e m n tone th e p oem auto gr aphe d
S e e in r ais e o oo s f or this wor k by
th e p o t E dwar d For rest er Sutton
e , .
 M BeMQ
“
Sa m m f
U
B fl-

23
fl nt
$
4
i .

(0 M

A u to g ph
ra ed f or t h is w or kb
y th e au t h o r of the p oe m , D r E d w a r d F o r re s te r S u tt on
. .
388 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

Th e re cital
A r ab tr ave l e r s H asan ibn V az id and
of tw o ,

S ul aiman w h o vi s it e d I ndi a in th e ninth c entu r y c ontains a

, ,

cu r i ou s th eo r y of th e formation of p e ar l s o r r athe r of th e
p e ar l oyst e r Th e p r imal m att er is assume d to be a gelat
-
.

incu s moss analo gou s to th at of a sp e ci e s of alga Thi s

,
.

fl oat s up on th e wat e r and att ach e s it self to th e keel s of ship s ,

wher e it har d ens d eve l op s a sh e ll and finall y d r ops of f to

, ,
~

s ink i nt o th e d e pth s of th e s e a Th e formati on of th e p e ar l

.

its elf is th en d i s cu ss e d and th e th e or y no t e d in Pliny s Nat ’

u r al Hi st ory and so oft en r ep eate d afte r h is tim e namely , ,

th at p ear l s ar e for me d fr om th e d ew of h e aven is cited ;

“
,
”

but th e wr ite r adds Oth e r s s ay that th ey [ th e p e ar l s ] ar e

“
:

p r oduc e d in th e oys te r s th ems e lv e s Thi s app e ar s mor e .

p r ob abl e and is confirme d by exp er i ence ; f o r th e gr e ate r p ar t

o f th ose ob s e r ve d in th e o ys t e r s ar e fi r mly a tt ach e d th er e

and ar e i mm ov abl e Tho se which ar e m obil e ar e call e d bv

.

th e m e r ch ant s see d p e ar l s A s a t r u e M oh amm e d an th e

-
.
”

w it c clud e with t e pi ou s e j acul ati on : Go d knows

r e r o n s h “

h ow th e m att e r r e ally s t and s ! ” 19

Th e s ame t r av e ll e r s r e la t e th e s t or y o f th e di s c o ve r y o f a
p e ar l under ve r y singul ar c onditions A n A r ab c ame to .

B as sor a with a v e r y fi ne p e ar l H e t ook it to a d r uggi st .

wh om h e knew and ask e d th e l atte r h ow much it w as wor th .

Th e m er ch ant estimat e d it at a hund r e d pi e c e s o f silver to

,

th e gr e at su r p r i se o f th e A r ab w h o d emand e d wh e th er an , y
o ne c ould be f ou nd willing to p a
y s o much With out h esi .

tatio n th e mer chant d e cl ar e d th at h e w as r e ady to i v e th e

g
pr ice himself and imme di at ely p aid ove r th e mone y He
, .

then to ok h is pu r ch as e to B agd ad wh e r e h e s e cu r e d a l ar ge ,

pr ofit on h is inv e stment On concluding h is s al e th e A r ab .

t old th e B assor a d ruggi st h ow h e h ad s e cu r e d h is p e ar l One .

d ay whil e w alking al ong th e B ahr e in c o ast h e s aw on th e

, ,

19
c t cc u t
A n ien A o n s o f In ia and C ina d h by Tw o M ohammedan Travell er s
t r ans . by A bbe Renau d o t, Lon o n, 17 33 , 96 d p . .
,
 F AC TS A ND FANCIE S AB OUT P RE CIOUS S TONE S 389

d d e ad f ox who se m outh w as tightly comp r e sse d by

san s a ,

a s t r ange obj e ct On cl oser ob se rvati on thi s p r ove d to be

.

an enorm ou s p e ar l oys t e r sh e l l E vid ently th e f ox h ad th r u s t

-
.

his snout i nt o th e sh e ll while th e v alv e s w e r e op en so that

h e mi ght d e v ou r th e so ft conte nt s but th e v alve s sudd enly ,

close d up on h im and h e h ad di e d of suffo cation On p r ying .

o p en th e s h e ll th e A r ab f ou nd th e r e in th e p e ar l which w as

d es tine d to b r ing h im wh at h e r e gar de d as a fabulou s sum .

20

Th e wom e n of th e A r ab t own o ccupying a site cl os e to

th at on which st o o d th e B abyl on of ancient time s wor e as a , ,

favor it e ador nment no s e r ings of gold s e t with a p ear l and

,
-

a tu r qu o i se Th e E ngli sh t r ave ll e r J o hn E ld r e d w h o t r av
.
, ,

e r se d M e s op ot ami a in 1 5 83 f o u nd thi s cu s t om so g ene r al

,

that h e wr it e s Thi s th ey d o e be they neve r so p oo r e

:
“ ”
.
21

F or ye ar s a s tat ement h as b een g oing th r ough th e p r e s s

th at p e ar l s ar e liabl e to b e com e di se ase d and d ie and th at ,

th e famou s ne ckl ac e of p e ar l s p r e s e nt e d by P r e s id ent Thi e r s

o f F r anc e to h is wif e and b e qu e ath e d by Mm e Thi e r s to
‘
.
,

th e F r ench G o ve r nment h ad l os t th e i r lu s t r e and di e d p e r

, ,

h ap s o wing to th e de ath of th e owner F o r the r e is an ol d .

b elie f th at p e ar l s as w ell as opals and tur qu oi s e s l os e some

, ,

o f th e i r lu s t r e wh e n th e owne r o r we ar e r b e c omes ill and ,

ch ange to a dull and life l es s h u e when th e owne r di e s A n .

e x aminati on of th e ne ckl ac e by th e w r it e r s h ow e d th at th e

p e ar l s we r e in goo d conditi on and to confirm h is st atement ,

to thi s eff e ct h e h ad th e di r e ct or of th e L ouv r e Mu se um w r it e

h im a l e tt e r In thi s oflicial c omm unicati on th e di r e ct or not
.

onl y s t at es th at th e p e ar l s h ad not s ick ene d and di e d but ,

th at th ey wer e in as h ealthy a co nditi on as the y h ad e ve r

“ ’

b e en .

2" c t cc u t
A n ien A o n s of In ia and C ina d Tw o M o h by h amm dan T aveller s
e r ,

tr ans.
by
A bbe R enau d ot, L on on, 17 3 3 , d
9 7, 9 8 pp . .

21 kluyt
S e e Ha ,
cp l
Th e Pr in i a Na i a ions, o a vg t V y ges and Dis cover ie s of

gl h t d
”
th e E n is Na ion , Lon on, 15 89 .
3 90 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

Th e invar iabl e exp e r i ence of th e w r ite r h as b e en th at

w h ene ve r p e ar l s h ave b e e n said to h ave su f f e r e d in thi s
w ay th e t r u e e xplanati on h as b e en th at th e y w e r e ol d and
,

poo r at th e tim e o f th e i r pu r ch ase and th at thi s r omance ,

w as s t ar t e d on its t r ave l s a s an e xcu se to c over up th e d e fe ct

of such p e ar l s and to ar o u se th e b e li e f th at th ey h ad b een

r emar k ably b e autiful and v al uabl e wh en th ey w er e o r iginally

acqui r e d .

A s th ough to mak e am end s to th e Q u ee n Gem f or such

di sadvant age ou s r um or s consid e r abl e publicity h as r e c ently
,

b e en giv en to a r e p or t that in th e Mu sée d e M onac o th e r e

, ,

w as a lumi nou s p e ar l wh o s e b e auti e s w e r e r e v e al e d by an

inne r light so th at dar kne s s h ad no p o we r to d im its lu st r e
, .

In a tho r oughly imp ar ti al spi r it th e w r it er w ent to th e foun

,

tain he ad f or i nfor mati on in thi s matte r and r e c e ive d as

-

answ e r f r om th e di r e ct o r o f th e mu s e u m th at th e r e w as no

s uch p e ar l in th e c oll e cti on and th at h e h ad ab so lut e ly no

faith in th e luminosity o f p e ar l s .

A s h as b e e n s e en b o th of th e s e l e gend s mu s t be set aside

,

a s f al se and w e fe ar th e r e is ju s t a s littl e t r uth in a r e p o r t

,

th at a genui e p e ar l p owd e r is no w u s e d by th e fair

n
“ -
”

l adi e s of P ar i s and by th ei r nume r ou s imitat or s Th e st or y .

goe s that th e A r ab wo r kmen e ngage d in p e ar l pi e r cing in -

Indi a ar e no te d f or th e cl e ar ne s s w e can h ar dly s ay th e

—
,

lightne ss of th e i r compl e xi ons and th at thi s is supp o se d to

—
,

be att r ibut abl e to th e fact th at wh en r esting f r om th e i r

,

d iflicu l t t ask th e y ar e in th e h abit o f t aking up s ome of th e

,

p e ar l du s t that h as fall en on th e fl oor and r ubbing th e i r faces

-

wi th it A s th e c onditi ons u nd er which th e s e m en w or k ar e

.

em i nently u ns anit ar y th os e w h o no t e d th e cl e ar ne ss and

,

sm o o thne s s o f th e i r c ompl e xi ons c ame to th e c o nclu s i on th at

th er e mu st be some thing e sp e ci ally b enefici al in p e ar l du st ,

and b r ough t th e m att e r to th e no tic e o f a F r ench ch emi s t .

Th e l att e r p r o ce e de d to utiliz e th e sugge s ti on and com

 TH E MA GIC OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS
‘

39 2

tr anslucent ; it is comp o se d of th e p or cel anou s not of th e ,

nacr e ou s c ons titu ent of th e sh ell

22
.

I t h as b e e n s t at e d th at thi s S ulu sup e r s titi on is n ot

s h ar e d by th e nativ e s o f C e l e b e s I s l and ne ar B or e o
n f or , ,

h er e such p e ar l s ar e k ept as char ms and t ali sm ans One of .

an i r r e gul ar p e ar s h ap e w e ighing gr ains h as b een

-

, ,

found on th e nor the r n co as t of th e i sl and Th e finding of .

23

a nautilu s p e ar l by a C hi ne se w om an in B or neo is no t e d by

Ru mph iu s w h o d e s cr ib e s it a s b e ing as l ar ge as a b e an and

,

E ast I nd i an B ar o q p ue e arl . W ei gh t O ve r 1 7 00 g r ai ns . H ol l and , 1 7 7 5 .

whit e as a pie c e o f al ab as t e r har d and bri ght but of ver y , ,

i r r e gul ar shap e Th e find e r put it in a clo s ed box and w as

.
,

not a littl e su rp ri s e d to di s co v e r wh e n sh e o p e ne d th e box

af t e r a time th at th e o r i gi nal p e ar l h ad e ng end e r e d ano the r

one th e s iz e of a l entil ; l at e r it h ad tw o o th er small e r o ff ,

s p r ing . Th e wom an car e fully t r e asu r e d h e r fi nd as a lucky

s t one which w o uld b r i ng h e r g oo d f o r tune in h er s e ar ch f o r

mu s s e l s Ru mph iu s sh r ewdly c onj e ctu r e s th at th e small e r

.

concr e ti ons h ad b r ok en o ff th e l ar ge r one while it w as eu

cl ose d in th e box .
24

”
. yt J
H L s er ame son, in Na r e, ” Oct 7 , 1 9 12 tu . .

”3
See tu
”
Na r e , Oct 24 , 19 12, 2 20
. p . .

2‘
Ru mph iu s,
“
D A mbo inisch e R ar ite itsk am er , ” A ms
’
te dam
r , 1 7 4 1, p . 62 .
 F ACTS A ND FANCIE S ABOUT P RE CIOUS STONE S 39 3

Th e well k nown lines in S hak esp e ar e s

-
’
Oth ello

Of n wh h nd lik th b J d
o e ose a , e e as e u
’
ean s,

Cast a way a p ear l r icher th an al l h is tr ibe .

h ave b een expl aine d in many dif fer ent w ays by th e com
mentato r s one of whom ( S te evens ) s aw in them a r efe r enc e
,

to th e foll o w ing s to r y cu r r e nt in V enic e in th e s ixt eenth

c entu r y A J ew af t er long and p e r il ou s wande r ings in th e
.
,

E ast succ e e d e d in b r i nging with h im to Ve nic e a gr e at nu m

,

be r of fi ne p e ar l s Th e se h e di sp ose d of th e r e at s ati s factor y

.

p r ic e s with th e exce pti on of one p e ar l of imm ens e s iz e and

,

e xt r ao r dinar y b e auty up on which h e se t a p r ic e s o high th at ,

no o ne w as willi ng to p ay it F inally th e J ew i nvit e d al l .

,

th e l e ading gem—d e al e r s to m e e t h im on th e Ri alt o and wh e n ,

a s m an y o f th em as ans w e r e d h is c all h ad ass embl e d h e onc e ,

m or e and f o r th e l a st time o f f er e d h is p e e r l es s p e ar l f or
, ,

s al e d e t ailing al l its p er f e cti ons in e l o qu ent t e r m s

,
H ow .

ev e r h e mad e no c onc es si on in th e p r ic e and th e d e al e r s

,
.

unanimou s ly r e fu s e d to pu r chase it p r ob ably e xp e cting th at ,

th e J ew would at l as t be for c e d to mak e a r e ducti on but to ,

the i r am az ement inste ad of do ing thi s h e thr ew h is p e ar l

, ,

b e for e thei r ver y e yes into th e wat e r s of th e canal p r efe r r ing ,

r ath er to l ose it th an to ch e ap en it
25
.

Th e b e li e f th at th e gr owth of p e ar l s in th e p e ar l oy ster -

w a s d u e to r ain d r o p s is p e r p e tu at e d in th e A r ab p r ov e r b
-

“
Th e r ain o f th e m onth of Ni s an b r i ngs for th p e ar l s in th e

chill r
2“
S We k d by R B xbe ger vo l iv Be l in and S tuttga t
e
’
s r e, e . . o r , .
, r r ,

n. d pp 1 79 180 n t e ; f om a communic at i n to th e d it o by D R K6h l er

.
, .
, , o r o e r r. .

of W imar in illu str ation of th e f o llowing l in s o f S chiller s Don Kar l

e ,
e
’
os ,
”

A ct I I, S c 8 .

gro ssen Kauf mann gleich

D em
D er u nger iih r t von d es R ialt o s G ld
’
, o ,

U nd Konig n u m S ch iinpf e sein P le

‘

e z , e er

D em eich n M r e wied er gab

e u st o lt
eer ,
z z

S ie unt e ih m We t l os u chl ag n
r re r e z s e .
394 TH E MAG I C OF JE WE L S A ND CHARMS

s e a and wh eat on th e l and Thi s sp r ing month w as and .

26
,

is s till th e p e r i o d wh en p e ar l fi sh ing b e gins in th e Or i ent

,
-
.

Anoth er p ear l p r ove rb r ep e at s th e e vangelical saying in

thi s for m : “ D o not thr ow p e ar l s und e r th e fe e t of swine .

A Tonquinise le gend of th e ori gin of p e ar l s r e p r e sent s

th em as sp r inging fr om th e bl o od of a young p r incess w h o
w a s sl ain by th e king h er fath e r b e cau s e sh e h ad b e tr aye d
, ,

to h e r hu s b and th e se c r e t of a magic bow whos e d eath de al ,

-

ing ar r o w s alway s flew to th e i r mar k In h is anger at h is .

daughte r s act th e fath e r dr e w h is scimit ar and b e heade d

’
,

h er but with h e r l as t b r e ath sh e p r ay e d th at h er bl oo d might

,

be tu r ne d to p e ar l s H e r p r ay er w as he ar d and now th e
fine st p e ar l s o f thi s l and ar e found in th e w at e r s ab out th e
pl ace wher e sh e die d ” .

F r om blu e sapphi r e s th e c o l or m ay be e xt r act e d so th at

they b e come white in such sor t that the y e xcellently imitate
,

th e di amond s o w e ll ind ee d th at th e f r aud can only be

, , ,

de tecte d by an exp e r t j e well e r Thi s ar t w as known at an .

e ar ly p e r i o d and no d oubt i nduc e d many wr it e r s to as cri b e

,

ce r tain of th e qu alitie s of th e diam ond to th e s apphi r e A s .

illu str ating thi s a Rabbinic al auth or s tat e s th at a c er t ain

,

man we nt to Rome to s ell a s apphi r e Th e pu r chas er s aid to .

h im : I will buy it p r ovid ed I may fi r s t t e s t it

“
H e pl ac e d .

it on an anvil and s t r uck it with a h ammer ; th e anvil w as

split and th e h ammer w as b r ok en to pi e c e s but th e s t one

r emaine d in its pl ace u ni nju r e d .

28

Th e vi r tu e s of th e s apphi r e ar e e numer at e d at l en th
g
by B art ol omaeu s A nglicu s th e ol d sch ol as tic phil osoph er w h o ,
,

fl ou r i she d in th e fir s t h alf of th e thi r t eenth centu r y and

G . W . Fr e ytag , A r abum p rov biaer , B onnie ad R h eu m , 1843 , vo l iii,
p
.

Pt 1,
. . 49 5 .

2'
He lv t u
e i s, De l ’es pr it , vol . 11, p . 17 .

3’
J o h annis B r au nii, De V e stitu S acer d otu m H ebr zeo r u m ” Ams te l od ami
,
1680, p . 6 83 .
,
 F ACTS A ND FANC IE S AB OUT PRE CI OUS STONE S 39 5

taught the ology in th e famou s Univer sity of P ar i s Afte r .

29

no ti ng th e ol d dictum acco r ding to which th e sapphi r e w as

th e gem of gems and one w or thy to ad orn th e finge r s of
“ ”

kings B ar tol omaeu s p r oce e d s to ins truct his r e ade r s in r e

,

gar d to th e w ond er ful cu r ative p ower s of thi s b e autiful

ge m .Th e se app e ar always to be c onnect e d with its su p
po s e d c alming and c ooling influ enc e Thu s it r e duce d th e .

t empe r atu r e in fe ver s and ch e ck e d th e flow of bl oo d ; f or

instanc e if att ach ed to th e templ e s it stopp e d nose bl e e d ;
,
-

if th e h e ar t we r e unduly excit e d thi s agit ati on c ould be ,

contr o ll e d by th e p ower of th e s apphir e Too pr ofu s e .

per s pir ation w as also che cke d if a s apphi r e we r e wor n It .

s har e d with th e di amond th e vi r tu e of r e c onciling di s c o r d .

Its p o we r a s an antid o t e to p oi s on w as b eli e ve d to be p r o ve d

by an exp e r iment in which a spid er w as plac e d in a box w ith
a s apphi r e After a shor t time th e p oor Spider expi r e d
.
,

d one to d e ath by th e sup r eme vir tu e of th e c el e sti al s t one .

A lik e s t or y w as t old by ancient w r it er s in r e gar d to th e

e m er ald Of cou r se th e ch a s t ening vi r tu es of th e s apphi r e
.
,

ar e no t f or g o tt en vi r tu e s which h av e c au se d it to be s el e ct e d
,

as e s p e ci ally app r o p r i at e f o r th e r ings of c ar dinal s and

high chu r ch dignitar ies ; thi s b e li e f ar ose fr om th e as s o ci a

ti on of pu r ity with th e co l o r o f th e he avens th e pu r e nu , ,

adult e r at e d blu e o f th e cl o udl ess sky .

One o f th e r ar e s t and m os t b e autiful of th e cor undum

gem s o f C eyl on is l oc ally known th er e by th e name p ad p am
s h am I t is of a mo s t r ar e and d e lic at e or ange pink h u e th e
.
-
,

v ar i ou s s pe cimens sh owing many di ff er ent bl endings of th e

pink and o r ange Th e si gnific ance of th e Cingh al e se name
.

se em s to be s ome wh at ob s cu r e but a p r ob abl e c onj e ctu r e ex

,

plains it to me an hidden y light ; anoth er e tym o lo gy

“
r a o f ”

F m ro XI II c ntu y MS f h i w k D P p i t tib R um f l
a. e r . o s or , e ro r e a us er ,
”
o .

clxi ecto and vers o Th is ve llum MS w as or ig inally in the pos se ss ion of th e

, r . .

Car thu sian Monas tery of th e Ho ly Tr inity at Dij on Now th e p o pe ty o f . r r

I M a tini of New Yor k

. r .
3 96 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

would se e in th e fi r st syll able p ad an abb r evi ati on of p ad ma , , ,

l otu s th e p e t al s of thi s fl ower oft en having a soft or ange

,

tint In thi s case th e me aning would be hidd en lotu s as

.
“ ”
,

though th e ve r y color e s senc e of th e fl ower we r e enclose d -

within and sh one th r ough th e gem 30

.

A P er si an t r e ati se on p r e ci ou s stones w as comp o se d by

Mohamm e d B en Mansu r in th e thi r t e enth c entu r y of ou r 31

er a .Thi s w or k w as wr itt en f or S ult an Abu Nacr B eh ad ir

chan and c onsi st s of tw o divi si ons th e fir s t t r e ating of
, ,

p r e ci ou s stone s and th e se cond of me t al s It is int e r e sting .

to not e in thi s t r e ati se th e r e c o gniti on of th e e ssenti al lik e

ne s s of th e Or i ental r uby s apphi r e t o p az e tc ; th e s e var i e , , ,
.

ti e s of cor undum ar e al l gr oup e d under th e single de signa

ti on yaku t “
B en Mansu r wr it es :
.
” 32

yakut is six f old 1 th e r e d ; 2 th e yello w ; 3 th e bl ack ; 4 th e white ;

Th e -
, , , ,

5 th e gr een or p eac o c k hu e d ; 6 th e blu e or smo ky—hu e d

,
-
S ome d ivid e th e
, .

y akut int o f our classe s : r e d yell ow d ar k and white r e ckoning th e p eac ock
, , , ,
hue d and th e blue among th e d ar k Th e yakut cuts al l st ones exce p t c arne .

l ian and d iamond .

Alth ough th e Or i ental carne li an is har d and diffi cult to cut

o r p oli sh only p o pul ar p r ejudic e acc o u nt s f or thi s s t at em ent ,

as it f all s f ar s h o r t o f th e di amond in h ar dne s s .

P seudo Ar i s totl e wr iting some time fr om th e s eventh to

-
,

th e ni nth c e ntu r y A D w as th e fi r s t to d efin e cl e ar ly th e thr ee

. .
,

l e ading v ar i e ti e s of th e c or u ndum gems ( yakut ) as th e s ame

mine r al sub s t ance and di f fer ing only in c o l o r , Th e se ar e .

th e r uby th e Or i ent al t op az ( jacinth u s cit r inu s ) and th e

,

sapphi r e Ins t e ad o f acc or ding di f fe r ent m e dicinal or t ali s

.

manic vi r tu e s to th e s e th r e e p r e ci ou s s t one s thi s writ er ,

s t at es th at e ach and al l o f th e m wh en s et in r ings or w or n ,

L p ld C l m t
eo o S i gh l G m
ar e i Th J w l
on nd M t lw k
, n a ese e s, n e e e er a e a or er ,

pp . 19 36 a—19 3 6g, D e cemb er 15 , 19 13 .

a“
A br id gme nt by V on H ammer in th e F n u dgr ub en d es Or ien ts Wien
, ,

18 1 8, Vol . vi .

8“
I i bd p .
, . 129 .
39 8 THE MA GI C OF JE WE LS A ND CHARMS

f or h e ys that a Mau r it anian me r ch ant owne d a b as in of

sa

r o ck c r y s t al within which fou r men c ould se at th emse lve s

-

at th e s ame time It is t r u e th at thi s b asin w as c omp o se d of

.

two pi e c es of th e m at er i al
“ .

Th e C hinese wor d f or cr y st al ching w as o riginally r ep r e , ,

sente d by th e s ymb o l 0 0 ; th at is th r ee s uns an att empt to

0
, ,

figur e th e r efr acti on and d i sp e r si on of light by th e crys tal .

36

Th e s oui ch e st one of th e C hine se which is said to qu ench

thir st if it be placed in th e mo uth is al m os t c e r t ainly r ock ,

cr ys tal f or th e C hinese in comm on with th e ancient Gr e eks

, ,

and Romans b e li e v e d thi s s ub s tanc e to be a t r ansfor mati on

,

of w at e r a ki nd o f fossil ice
,
. A simil ar p ower w as att rib .

u te d by Pliny to one o f th e v ar i e ti e s of ag at e
37
.

L ab r e ts of qu ar tz ar e u se d in C ent r al Af r ica and w e h ave a

ve r y inte r esting des cr iption by M A L acr oix r e gar ding thes e . .

or nam ent s as w o r n by th e native s o f a p ar t o f th e F r ench

p osse s sions In th e l and of th e B andas th e natives highly

.

pr iz e a pi ece of r o ck cr ys tal s o sh ape d th at it can be int r o

-

d u ce d int o th e l owe r lip Thi s u s age is c onfin e d to th e b asins

.

of th e Ombel l a, th e Kemo and th e Tomi , afliuents of th e

Ou bangh i .

foll owing descri ption of th e lab r e t s w as communi

Th e
cate d to M L ac r o ix by M L uci en F ou r ne au Admini s t r at or
. .
,

of th e C ol oni e s

These obj ects , l d baguér és c ons is t of hyal ine quartz p er f e ctly tr ans
cal e , ,

p arent ; th ey are ver y r egul ar ly cut and meas ur e f r om f our to se ven cm , .

( tw o to thr ee inche s ) in length S ome h ave th e f orm o f a v er y elongate d and

.

p oint e d c one with o ut any p rotub er anc es th e gr e atest diamet er be ing ab out
, ,

one cm ( ab out h al f an inch )

. th e o th er s th inner and s h arp er h ave at the , ,

base a rim d estine d to h old them in pl ace ; in all cases a p ad of thread con
s tituting a kind of p er manent pl u g assures and c omp lete s th eir stability .
,

Some w omen w ear as many as thr ee of th ese singul ar ornament s t hr ust , ,

p oint d ownwar ds int o th e s ame l ip , .

“
A R Tutt on in S ciety o f A r ts Lo ndon
. . , o , .

C hal f ant E ar ly C h ine se W it ing

, M en o f C ar neg ie M u seu m vol iv
r ,
”
. , .
,

No 1 Pitt sburgh 19 06 PI VI N 7 5
.
, , , .
, o . .

De Mely Les lap idaires ch inois

, Paris 1 89 6 p lxiv ,
"
, , . .
 F AC TS A ND FANCIE S AB OUT P RE CIOUS S TONE S 399

Th e mo s t gular qu ar tz cr yst al s ar e s e l e ct e d and the s e

re
,

ar e chipp e d o f f and r oughly s h ap e d by blow s s tr uck with a

h ar d sub st ance ; th e qu ar tz is the n se t in a woo den h andle ,

and th e final s h api ng and p o li s hing ar e acc ompli s h e d by

fr iction up on a r ound sl ab of qu ar tzit e or s ands tone The s e .

s l ab s s h o w gr oo ve s al ong which th e c r ys t al s hav e b e e n

r ubb e d .On an av er age th e tim e r e qui r e d is f ou r o r fi ve

days of fi ve h ou r s Th e compl e te d o r nament is val ue d at
.

nine p ou nd s of r e d w oo d w o r th ab out s om e tim e s one

can be se cu r e d f o r th r e e chick ens w o r th s ixty c ent s Th o se 38

, .

w h o c anno t a f fo r d qu ar tz l ab r e t s sub s titute w oo d gl ass o r , ,

p ewt e r M Lac r oix dr aw s ou r attenti on to th e fact that a

. .

s tudy o f th e p r o c e s s e s emp l oy e d in s h aping and p o li s hing

the se pi e ce s of qu ar tz is of gr e at impo r t ance f or th e e l u ci

dation o f th e me th od s in u s e duri ng th e S tone A ge .
39

A no se j ewe l fr om th e New H ebr ide s consi st s of a cr yst al

-

of hyaline qu ar tz r educ e d to a cylind r ic al f orm o ne e xtr em ,

ity h aving b e en p oint e d while th e other r e tains th e natu r al

,

face s of th e cr ys t al Thi s w as p as se d thr ough th e s eptum

.

of th e nose and w as mo s t lik e ly w o r n as an amul e t

40
.
,

Ro ck cr y s t al h as b een u s e d e xt ens iv e ly in th e p as t ye ar
-

w ith or nam ent s of ri bb on lik e o r pl aqu e lik e e f fe ct s-

S om e- -
.

time s al l th e par ts ar e made into th e exact shap e of a bow

kno t with a b o r de r ing of pl atinum and diamonds o r of pl ati
, ,

nu m and di am ond s with a c al ib r e cut onyx ; th at is th e r o ck -

,

cr ystal mat e r i al is cut int o minut e s qu ar e or oblo ng st one s ,

which ar e r un into double t r i angul ar e dges that h old them .

Th e cr yst al s ar e dull e d and fr e qu ently h ave th e app ear ance

,

“
In
L acr oix , t v l p
S u r l e r a ai d e l a ier r e o ie ans l e H a p l d
O an i ut ub g
-
La
Geogr aph ic, bull t c t
e in of th e S o ié é d e G eogr aph ic, Par is, Oct 1 5 , 19 09 , . pp . 201
206 ; figur es .

t v l
S u r l s r a ai d e l a ier r e o ie p p l
ans l e H a d
Ou bangh i, ” C om e s ut -
pt
du ’
Ren s d e l A cad .d
S e , vol . . iii, 19 09 ,
. cxlv
17 25 p . .

i
G igl io l , M a e r ia e t l
p er l o s io e a E ta tud
e a Pid ll
e r a,
”
A r i io per d ll t ch v
l A ntrOpol g
’
o ia e l
’
E tnol ogia, vol i, . xxx p
85, Fir enz e, 19 01
. .
400 TH E MAGIC OF JE WE L S A ND C HARM S

of moons t one s At time s indee d m o onstone s ar e u se d in

.
, ,

the ir place S ome time s the s e panel s o r bits and pi e ce s of

.
,

r ock c r y st al ar e d r ill e d di amond s s e t in pl ati nu m ar e in

-
, ,

s e r te d i nt o th e d r ill h ol e s and th e o r nam e nt is engr av e d in

-
,

classic de signs of Watte au like e f fe ct s -

.

Th e o r igin o f B u r me s e r ubi e s is thu s e xpl ai ne d in a Bu r

me se l e gend cu r r e nt in th e r e gi on o f th e Ruby M ine s A c .

cor ding to thi s l ege nd in th e fir s t centu r y o f ou r e r a thr ee

,

e ggs we r e l aid by a fe mal e wag e or s e r p ent ; o u t o f th e fi r s t ,

w as b o r n Pyu s aw ti a king of P agan ; o u t o f th e se c ond c ame

,

an E mp e r o r o f C hi na and o u t of th e thi r d w e r e emitt e d th e

,

r ubi es o f th e Ruby M ine s

41
.

D e aling in p r e ci ou s s t one s w as by no m e ans an unu su al

o ccup ati o n in E u r o p e m o r e th an f ou r hund r e d y e ar s ago a s ,

is s h own by th e f act th at a c e r tai n P e te r one o f th e s e c r e t ,

agent s o f P e r kin Wa r b e ck a p r e t e nd e r to th e th r one of ,

E ngland in H enr y VII s r e ign w as c all e d in th e se c re t ’

,

c o r r e s p d c o t e co spi ato r s Th e Me r chant of th e

o n e n e f h n r
“
,

Ruby . S uch d e al e r s fr e qu ently t r av e ll e d fr om pl ace to

pl ace and u su ally o f fe r e d th ei r war e s to p r ince s and nobl es ;
,

h ence th e s tateme nt in a l e tte r that th e Me r ch ant of th e

Ruby w as not able to s e ll h is w ar e s in F l au nd e r s might
“

not s e em su spici ou s if th e le tt er w e r e int er c e pt e d and r ead

,

although th e me aning w as th at th e emi ss ar y h ad b e en nu

abl e to o bt ain succ o r in F l and e r s f o r th e c au s e o f th e

pr e
t end e r P r ob ably thi s d es ignation al so c ontained a c ove r t
42
.

allu si on to th e R e d R o se o f Y o r k f o r P er ki n War b e ck gave ,

himse lf out to be Rich ar d Duke of Yor k , .

A sixt eenth centu r y t r ave ll er th e P or tugu e se Du ar t e

-
,

B ar b o s a aft e r saying th at “ th e ru bi e s gr ow in Indi a ” p r o

, ,

ce e d s to s t at e th at th o s e o f fine s t qu ality and gr e at e s t v alu e

wer e f or th e most p ar t gath e r e d in a r ive r call e d Peygu and

C omm ni u cation f rom Taw S ein K0 .

“
A r ch aeol gia vol xxvii pp 1 7 5 207
o , .
, .
, . L ond on , 183 8
.
402 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S A ND C HARMS

men would se ll f o r as much as f or ty gold pi e c e s H is st at e .

m e nt th at th e se st one s c am e fr om C ar thage and Mar s e illes

s h ould not induce u s to p r ejudge th e qu e sti on as to th ei r r e al
char act e r as m any ar ticl e s of A si atic c omme r c e we r e d is
,

t ri but e d fr om th e s e p ar t s mor e e sp e ci ally fr om th e gr e at ,

C ar th agini an s e ap or t 44
.

A var i ety of s apphi r e h aving to a ce r t ain extent th e , , ,

col o r ati on of th e r uby w as call e d by native s of C e yl on in ,

th e S ixt eenth c entu r y nil acand i; thi s might be r end e r e d 45

s apph ir e r uby Th e s e s t one s ar e pu r pl e r e d by d aylight but

.
-

ar tifici al light kill s th e blu e and th e y app e ar r e d Th ey ar e .

fr e qu ently c alle d ph enomenal s apphi r es o r al ex andri te sap

phir e s .

In di an p o e tic fancy h as conne ct e d th e cr e ati on of s ap

phir e s in C e yl on with th e fai r maid ens of th at i s l and

46
.

Wh en th e y oung Cingalese tip s of their fingers

m aid ens s way with
,
the ,

th e stems of th e l av al i bl os soms th en d o th e tw o d ar k blue e yes of the ,

D aity a f al l e yes with a s h een l ike th at o f the l otu s in f ull bl oom

,
.

H enc e it is th at th is is l and with its l ong se a c oast and its interminabl e

,
-

f or ests of kets k as ab ou nd s in magnifi c ent s ap ph ir e s which ar e its glor y

, , .

following p r e tty bit of Ori ent al im age r y o ccu r s in a

Th e
C ingh al es e p o em o n th e d e e d s of C ons t anti no d e S é a P o r tu ,

gu ese C apt ain G ene r al H e r e th e p oe t w r iting of a r ive r

-
.
,

that fl owe d th ough t e i l a d call s it th at l ove ly st r e am

r h s n
“
, ,

th e K alugang a wh ich m e and e r e d a s a s apphi r e ch ain ov er

,

th e sh o uld er s o f th e m aid en L ank a L ank a is a Cin .

” 47

gal e s e name f or C eyl on .

Th e d e pth of th e c ol or ati on of s apphi r e s and o th e r s t one s

d by J h H ill L nd n
“ “
Tt ph ti D l p id ibr as (P i , e a us er e . o n , o o ,

1 74 6 ; cap. 31 .

c
G ar ias ab Or a, t
A r om atu m is or ia ( L at e r sion h t
C l u s ius ) , A nt . v by
vcr piae, 1 5 7 9 , l ib i, 17 5 . p . .

4”
Fino , t l pd
L e s a i a ir es ind icns, ” Par is , 189 6 , 39 , f rom t h e R atnapa p .

o f Bu dd h abh atta .

Ri e iro s b
’
His or of C e on, tr t y yl
P E P ie r is, Ga e , n d , Pt I I , . by . . ll . . .

p . 3 17 .
 F AC TS A ND FANCI E S AB OUT PRE CIOUS S TONE S 403

w as b e lieve d to indicat e th e i r de gr ee of r ip ene s s ” th e p ale ,

st s b ei g unr ip e A s an illu s t r ati on of thi s C ar d ano

“ ”
o n e n .
,

inst anc es a s apphi r e h e h ad ex amine d a small p ar t of which ,

w as blu e whil e th e r e s t r e sembl e d a d i am o nd

, S p e cimens o f .

thi s kind e xi s t in sever al c oll e cti ons } Th e wr it e r h as s een 8

many that ar e d ar k blu e wh e n vi e w e d fr om ab o ve and almo s t ,

whit e wh en vi ewe d th r ough th e b ack Th e C ingh al e s e lapi .

d ar i cs h ad ve r y cle ve r ly cut a c r y s t al th at w as whit e with a ,

thin c o ating of blu e s o th at th e blu e w as at th e b ack fully

, ,

r e al izing th e wo nd e r ful di s p e r s iv e p ow e r o f th e s ap hi r e
p ,

and th at it w o uld app e ar d ar k blu e if vi ew e d fr om ab o ve .

Th e valu e w as natu r ally only t r ifling c omp ar e d with th at o f

a p e r fe ctly e ve n c o l or e d ge m -
.

A l B e r uni ( 9 73 1 04 8 A ) gi ves as th e hu es o f th e r e d
-
D — .
“
.

yaku t ( r uby ) p om e gr anat e col o r e d s afr an ( h enna ) pu r pl e

-
, , ,

fle sh co l or e d r o se c o l or e d and of th e sh ad e o f a p ome gr an
-

,
—
,

ate bl o ss om Oth er c o l or s o f th e yaku t ( c o r undum c r y s tal s )

.

we r e ye ll ow ( Or i ental t op az ) gr ay gr e en ( Or i ent al eme r , ,

al d ) whit e ( whit e s apphi r e )

,
and bl ack A henna colo r e d ,
.
-

yaku t if w eighing one mitq al ( ab out 24 car at s ) w as valu e d

, ,

at 5000 di nar s if its w eight w as half as much or ,

ab out 1 2 c ar at s it w as e s t e em e d to be w o r th 2000 di nar s

,

but f o r one weighing as much as 2 mitq al s ( 48 car

ats ) no d efinit e p r ic e c ould be give n p r ob ably b e c au se of its ,

gr e at r ar ity and cos tlines s .

49

Th e S ansk it a e or t e t op az p ita s ignifi e s th e yel

r n m f h “
, ,

l ow s t one Thi s S ansk r it w o r d is th ought by many to be

”
.

th e o r iginal of th e H eb r e w p itd ah a s t one o f th e high ,

p rie st s b r e as tpl ate Anoth er S anskr it name is pu sh p ar aga

’
.
,
“
flow e r col or e d ) ”
-
I t mu s t be b or ne in mind h ow ev e r
O
, ,

4“
C a r ani, d Ph il osoph i o er a ae am l e ctu p qu d
i na, Ba si ese, 15 85 , 3 29 dg l p . .

4°
E il h ar d Wie mann Ue er d en We r von E e s e inen be i d en M s imen,
d . b t dlt ul
l
in D e r I s am, vol ii, 19 11 ,
”
3 4 7 sqq
. pp. .

5°
Gar e, bD ie in is e M iner a ied ch
n ; Na h a r a r i’
l
s R ajanigh antu , ar a III , V g X
p g
Le i z i , 1882 , 79 p . .
404 TH E M AG I C OF J E WE L S A ND C H ARM S
that th e se name s r e fe r not to ou r top az but to ye llow cor un
d u m o r Or i e nt al top az as it h as often b e en call e d
, ,
.

A top az o f e xce pti onal siz e is th at known as th e Max “

well S tu ar t Top az
- fr om th e nam e of th e owne r It w as
” 5’ .

b r ought fr om C eylon to E ngl and with a l ot o f infe r i or r ubie s

a d
n s ap phi r e s f o r u se in w atchm a ki ng and w as b e li e ve d to
,

be simply a pi e ce o f qu ar tz S o littl e w as it app r e ci at e d th at

.

wh en so ld at aucti on it only b r ought £ 3 l os Wh en .

on clos e r e x am inati on its t r u e qu ality be c am e app ar ent ,

th e o wne r d e cid e d to h ave it cut in b ri llia nt fo r m Th e o p e r .

ati on r eq ui r e d tw enty e ight d ay s conse cutive wor k th e ’

-
,

di amond whee l b e ing u s e d and r e sult e d in th e p r oduc

-
,

tion of a fi ne cut S tone of a pur e white h u e we ighing ,

3 68 ca r at s When th e cutting w as p ar ti ally compl e t e d

. ,

a
“
fe athe r b e came app ar ent th at w ould hav e s p oil e d th e
”

tabl e but as it w as still p o ss ibl e to r e v e r se th e p osition of

,

table and cul e t thi s w as done and t h e fe ath e r r emoved

,
“
,
.

At thi s time in 1 87 9 thi s t o p az could l ay claim to b e ing th e

, ,

lar ge st cut s t one in exi s tence alth ough its s iz e is consider ,

ably su r p as se d now by th at o f th e l ar ge s t C ullinan di amond ,

car ats .

Th e same e xce pti onal p ositi on t ak e n by j ad e am ong th e

C hine se is o ccupi e d by tu r qu oi se am ong th e Tibe tans ; th e se
ar e s o emph atic ally p ri mat e s am ong gem m ine r al s th at th e -

ve r y name stone s e em s a de signati on unwo r thy of th em

“ ”
,

and as a C hi ne s e w ould s ay it is jad e not a st one so

“ ”
, , ,

would a l oyal ib e tan e xcl aim of h is favo r ite gem it is a

T “
,

tu r qu ois e not a s t one A no th er indic ati on o f th e ex cep

”
.
,

tional r ank o f tu r qu oi se in Tib e t is th at as with th e famou s ,

Ori ent al and E u r op e an di am ond s an d al so with some ce l e

br ate d b al as r ubi e s c e r t ain of th e fi rs t tu r qu o i se s of Tibe t
-

have r e ce ive d individu al name s such f or exampl e as “ th e , , ,

m
J H C llin Th Hi t y f R m k bl G m Th M xw ll Stu t
. . o s, e s or o a e ar a e e . e a e -
ar
To paz . M ine r alog ica l Magaz ine No 1 3 , 1 87 9 . .
406 TH E MAGI C OF JE WE L S AN D C HARMS

o ne p r et ext th er F inally as Anti o chu s r e fu se d to

o r ano .
,

t ake th e mor e than b r o ad hint s th at th e p r e ci ou s obj e ct s

S h ould be b e s t ow e d as gift s Ve r r e s s p r e ad th e r umo r that a
,

pi r atical fl ee t w as on its w ay fr om S yr i a to attack S icily and ,

for ce d Anti ochu s to l e ave th e i sl and th at v e r y d ay r e taining ,

th e b or r owe d ve ss el s in s pit e o t c “
f a l l r e m o n s r an es .

Th at p r e ci ou s s t one s s h ould be u se d to d e c or at e th e t e e th
s eem s a r ath er qu e er d e ve l o pm ent of ar t alth ough th e p r ac ,

tice is not alt oge the r unknown at th e p r e se nt d ay wh en w e ,

h e ar now and again of diamond s b e ing s et in te e th to s ati sfy

th e v anity of s ome e ccent r ic individual I n p r e C ol ombi an
‘

-
.

time s howe ver th e r e is abund ant evidenc e th at thi s st r ange

, ,

form of p e r sonal ador nment w as by no me ans r ar e seve r al ,

e x ampl e s h avi ng b e e n u ne ar th e d fr om bu r i al s in E cu ad or ,

and e vid e nc e o f th e u s age b e ing o f fe r e d by r emains f r om M ex

ico and al so fr om C e nt r al Ame r ic a Among th e M ay ans h er e .

j ade it e se ems to h ave b e en th e st one p r i ncip ally favo r e d f or

thi s pu r p ose whil e in Me xico h ematit e h as b e en m e t with in
,

Oax ac a tu r qu oi s e in Ve r a C r uz and at oth e r pl aces in th e

, ,

land r ock cr ys tal and ob sidi an F or th e inse r ti on of th e

,
-
.
55

s t one s th e p ri mitive d ent al ar ti s t s ca r e fully and skilfully

,

cut or r ubb e d away th e e nam el fr om a se cti on of th e fr o nt

p ar t of th e t oo th to be de co r ate d and th en appli e d th e p r e
,

ciou s s t one cut to th e r e qui r ed s h ap e as an i nl ay

, Th e w ay
, .

in which thi s w as d one give s e vid e nc e o f a r emar k ably high

de gr e e of S kill in thi s line o f w or k ; in many c ase s an inlay
o f gold w as u s e d i ns t e ad o f a p r e ci o u s s t o ne and it h as ev en
, ,

b een conj e ctu r e d th at s ome of th e s e gold inlays r ep r e sent a

kind of gold filling f or th e p r ote cti on of th e tooth Whil e .

this is op en to qu e stion th e und oubt e d fact th at new tee th

,

we r e occ asi onally inser te d to t ake th e pl ace of th o s e which

“
M Tull n Cicer onis, In V er r em, l ib iv, Or atio nona,
.
. cap. 27 .

“
M a r sh all H S av ille in th e A mer ic an Anth r op ol ogist , vo l xv No 3,
J
.
. .
,
uly- S ept ember, 19 13 .
 F ACTS A ND FANC I E S AB OUT P RE CIOUS S TONE S 407

h ad fallen ou t o r de caye d as shown in s e ve r al s p e cimens

, ,

might be r e ga r de d as c or r ob or ative o f th e b r o ad e r assu mp

ti on Th e e xp e r t wor km anship of th e se pr e C olombi an
. —
“
dental su r ge ons is cl e ar ly manife st e d in th e good con
”

diti on of th e t e e th wh ence s o much of th e enam e l h ad b e en

r e m o v e d s h o wi ng th at th e i nl ay s mu s t h ave b een s o cl o s e ly
,

adju s t e d tha t th e t ooth w a s e ff e ctive ly p r o t e ct e d fr om th e

intr o ducti on of moi stu r e .

One of th e l at e s t f ashi onabl e fad s sugge s t e d by th e gr e a t ,

var i e ty of b r ight col or e d c os tume s wor n by th e m ond aines

-

( and o the r s ) at th e p r e s e nt d ay is th e s e le cti on and w e ar of

,

j e we lr y se t with s tone s of th e s am e c ol or as th e s tr iking

gown Thu s with a co stum e o f glo wing r e d th e r uddy ru by
.
,

would be ch os en a sky blu e c os tum e would insu r e th e w e ar

,
-

ing of th e ju s tly p o pul ar s apphi r e d r e s s o f a go ld en ye ll ow ,

-

h u e w o uld call f o r o ne o f th e sh ad es o f t op az e s whil e th e ,

new b r own now so much in v o gu e find s its compl e me n

“
, ,

t ar y s t one in t op az o f a slightly d ar k er S had e Th e gr ass .

gr een co s tume would sugges t one of th e many b e autiful

S had es o f th e t o u r m aline and j e w e l r y o f th e pink t ou r mal i ne
,

would be app r op r iat e to gar ment s of thi s c o lo r With th e ir .

w onder ful play of co lor o p al s w ould accor d with al l var i e ti es

,

of h u e in c o s tu m e and m ight thu s be w or n with e ith er of th e

o th er m o r e e sp e ci ally match e d s t one s .

A n ol d a cc o u nt o f th e L ond on t r a d e s and guild s in w r it

-
,

ing of th e j e w e ll e r s ar t m ak es th e fo ll owing s t ate ment r e

’
,

gar ding th e qu alificati ons of a j e we lle r as app r op r iat e to ,

ou r ow n time s as to any o th er
56
.

He ught
to be an e legant D esigner , a
o nd h av e a quic k Inv ention f or
new Patt er ns, not o nl y to r ange th e sto nes i n s uch manner as to gi v e Lus tr e
to one another , but to c r eate Tr ad e ; f or a new Fash i on t akes as much Wi th
h
t e L ad ies in ew e l s aJ
s in anyth ing e l se ; h e th at
can f u r nis h th em o f t e nest

with th e ne west Whim h as th e b est C hance f or thei r C ustom .

“
R . C am pb ll
e ,
T h e L on d on Tr adesm an ,
”
Lo n d on, 17 4 7 , p . 14 3 .
4 10 INDE X

Am ul ets and tal ismans f r agments f , o A nna, S an ta , dent

Pr e s i of Mexic o ,

kull u d as 3 3 1 334
S se ,
-
25 6
f om Pu bl B on t o u ins 3 5 2
r e o i r ,
A nne , S t , 25 3 , 27 2
.

f m Ru sia 36 8
ro s ,
d e B eaup hr é, s r ine o f , 25 4—2 5 6

G n s t ic with s v en v w l s 3 28
o , e o e ,
j wl d dc td
e e e i a e to , 2 5 6
h i tikis of New Z ealand j ad e
e -
,
lc
r e i s o f , 25 5 , 2 5 6
361 t h lg d
A n ar , Pe r s ian e r o , e en o f , 88, 89
du
H in , 3 3 9 , 3 4 0 t y du
A n h o n , S t , o f P a a , 2 5 3 , 26 6 , 2 7 2
.

in th e Bi e, 27 8, 322, 3 23 , 3 25 , bl ll
med a ion gv chu ch
i en to r of ,
3 60 by p ul V
Po e Pa , 25 4
cu d
in E a o r , t o aro se o e, 3 5 0 u l v A nt h r ax , 401
in Eg , 3 1ypt
7—3 2 1 A ph d t
r o i e, 81
t l
in o l d I a ian MS , 3 2 7, 3 28 . p ll
A o o, 3
in Per s ian r a e , 3 24 g v p ll lx d
A o onia, St , of A e an r ia, 27 2
.

j d
a e , in Panama, 3 49 lg d
e en of , 2 5 7
l
if ep r es er in , s or of , v g
3 66, t y p ll u y
A o oni s o f T ana , 8 1
367 A qu g v d w th h d
am ar ine , en r a e i ea of
u y y uv
m mm -e e s, ” Per ian, 3 5 0 Jul ia, 2 88
of a a e and g t c l p
or a in S a in, 3 6 7 , A qu a Tof ana , 26 6
3 68 t
A r is on, S t , 252 .

of C a th dc
e r ine d e M e i i, 3 3 4
’
t ph
A r is o anes , 284
of h tt
e ma i e , 383 t tl p ud
A r is o e, se o 5 , 6 9 , 7 0, 16 3 , 3 9 6
xc d
o f Me i an I n ians, 348 l d
A r nobio, O ean r o, 140, 14 2
o f Par is , 3 2 9 A r nobiu s, 7 4
o f th e C z ar , 3 6 9 A r ph c, E nr i e
’
qu d
, 29 4

c l ’
Pas a s, 3 3 7 A s ch e nt r ekk cr ash -a r a or a D tt ct utch
p l
ea r s as , 39 2 d g t
esi na ion of t u l
o r ma ine, 5 2, 5 4
Qu l
e en E iz a e
’
s, 3 3 7 b th t u
A s is A r a , Fr an is o
’
c c d
, 29 5

set in th e s in in B r ma, 3 4 5 k u t
A s k a l , s one s ai to r ead b k
th e d ia
“
l
Ta isman o f C ar ema ne, 3 29 h l g d
m on , 6 9
331 A sso s , A s ia M inor , s one of , 3 t
t th
ee and o ne se b
as , 3 68 . 3 6 9 u d t t
A s ar e, 8 1, 83
bt
Ti e an, 3 4 3 - 34 5 t
A s er ia, 29 1
u d by
se E s imo s , 3 5 8, 35 9 k A s tr oites, 1 9 9
A natganor , an e o f De em e r , 24 8 gl c b t
A t nongar a s o nes o f A s r a ian me i
-
ut l d
A nax agor u s , p ed ict s f all o f
r m et e c ine m en, 1 6
-

o r ite , 80 A ub yre , Jh
o n, 26 0

A nge i a s l c l tone , f or v isions , 16 A u s piciu s, S t 25 5

An g l 24 1 2 5 1
e s, - A u to gl yph u s , 19 6
figure f on me d ieval g ms 245
s o e
“
v t t
A ia or s o ne , 1 1 6 , 1 17
gua dian 244 246 248 24 9 250
r
, ,
vc
A i e nna ( Be n S ina ) , 90, 125, 13 8
in S ong of Mos es 250
, ,

,
, ,
gl
Az ael , a n e , 246
L uthe s op inion ofr gua r dian
’
, B
250
Moh ammedan, wor ld bea -
r er , on
Ba cci , d
A n r ea , 1 53
B aetyl i, 7 6 , 82
uby ro ck 24 8
r ,
B aj az e t I I , S an, 29 1 ult
n t to be wo s h ipp ed o ut id th e
o

chur ch 244
r s e
l
B a as r -
uby , 401 , 404
, B anno ckbu r n, Ba e of , 25 ttl
of month s in S eph e d A dam , r e-
b
B ar ar a dc Por a , tug l
e e n of S Qu pain ,
Kad mah , 247 , 24 8 29 5
v
se e n good , and v
se e n h ad , 24 6, b
Bar ar a, S t , 2 7 3 .

24 7 lg d
e en of , 258
An gl o Saxon
-
L aece Bok , of Ba ld , b u t
Bar os a, D ar e , 4 01
33 1 b
Ba r na as , S t , 26 8, 27 3 .
 INDE X 411

d
B aro a, G ai ar kw
of , 3 80 td
B r ez ina, A r is i es, 9 0
gl cu
B ar th o l om aau s A n i s, 14 7, 3 9 4 , 39 5 t h u u
B r i is M se m, 3 2, 3 07
th l
B ar o ome w , S t , 27 1 . c
B r o a , Pa , 3 3 2 ul
ll
B as i a, S t , 25 2 . Br o ich an th e D r i and S t C o m a,ud . lu b
B a t té h a —ne p h e s h o f H e r e s , 3 60 b w 24, 1 5 6
Ba uh in, C as ar , 2 02 p B r ontia, 16 2, 1 9 7 , 19 8
u ch
Ba s , 17 5 , 17 6 w h
B r o ne, S ir T omas, on am e s , 3 14 ul t
l l
B e a caz a r , S e as ian d e , 3 1 1 b t Br uc b t
e , R o e r , , 25
l t
B e emni es, 1 12, 16 1, 19 1 B r iick ma nn, U F B , 1 2 7
Jh J ch
. . .

Bel l er ma nn, o ann oa im, 27 8 B u cwr d i t es , 1 9 6

B el u cci, Pr o f G i s e . u pp
e , 107 , 14 5 , 2 00 B uddh g
a, gem on ima es of , 29 7
g
Benz in er , 7 8 j w ll d p g d v
e e e a o a o e r sa r e f oot c d
Be r gh e m , L od ow yk van, 29 5 p t r in o i, 29 9
l c d y
B er in A a em o f S ie n es, 5 4 c c l d g ld
so i g
o ima e o f , 3 03 , 304
p
B er th ol in, C a s ar , 1 3 9 v d
a se s off er e to , 29 7
l
B ery , 2 87 , 3 17 t dt
B u f owitis , o r oa s one, 16 3
cu t v
r a i e u se of , 1 3 0 u ckh dt
B r ar , 85
t
s one o f G ad , s m o i a me an y b lc l ug d
B r ar e , S t , 2 6 7 .

ing o f , 28 3 ut
B r on s
’
t yA na om of M e an o , l ch ly
Bez o ar , 1 3 , 1 7 , 123 , 1 2 6 , 160, 1 7 0, t
on s one ch ar ms , 3 3 6
201—220
c
Am er i an, 2 18, 2 19 C
e ty mo o l gyof name , 203
f r o m m o n e s , 203 ky C af tanz ogl u , 3 7 3
f rom s kull
of r h inocer u s , 2 1 1
C al bimus , in clu sio n in az tites, 1 7 4, 1 7 5

g enes is of , a cor in c d g to Per ians, uv ll t tu

C a is r a s, 6 2
2 10 C a l l istu s, St , 25 2
.

l
miner a , 2 1 1 C al oce r i, S t , 25 1
.

cc d t l
O i en a , 2 1 2—2 1 5
dl
C an ema s D ay, 26 9 , 272
p c
r i e s o f , 204 , 208 , 2 14 , 2 1 6 , 2 1 8
bl
C anon D ia o me e or i e , 9 9 —101 t t
Qu ee nl b th
E i z a e
’
s, 2 15 d d
iamon s in, 100, 101
Rud lpho
’
I I s , 2 1 5 , 2 16 t cl
C an i e s, 284 , 322
t t p
of , as td t o is o n an i o e, by C ant impr é , Th omas d e, 1 2, 1 3 0, 16 4,
es
b 1 7 2, 1 80, 285 , 3 3 6
A m ro ise Par e, 205— 207
by p ud lp
E m er o r R o h II , 2 08, Ca ep Y k
or t t
m e e o r i es , 9 6—9 8
209
ch c l c p t
em i a om os i ion of , 9 8

B l ck
a gc m a i
”
29 Car bu cl n e, 2 7 9 , 3 87

B al ck t s o n e
”
,

o f Kaabah at M ec a, c cu t v r a i e u se of , 130

7 3 , 84—88
lu u t y
mino s , s or of , o d t l by
l
B ais e , S t , 2 5 6 , 25 7 , 26 7, 27 3
llC e ini, 3 7 8
B a e , W W , vii
l k
.

d l
C ar ano , G i r o am o , 14 4 , 16 7 , 3 3 6
l dt
.

B o o s one , 12 1, 286
.

g
C arew , S ir G eor e, 2 14
c
Boma r , V a mon d e , 155 , 2 1 7l t l
C ar ne ian, 29 1, 29 7 , 3 00, 3 1 7 , 3 24,
k h D
”
d xt ct
s f rom , 3 6 1, 3 6 8, 3 7 8
B oo o f t e e a e ra

3 18—3 20
,
r in sg,
M o a mhm e
’
s oo d a rg d ugu y
of , 3 7 9
t
Boo , A nse l mu s d e, 65 , 14 4 , 145 , 1 5 1 .
y b lc l
1 6 2, 1 65 , 19 2 , 199 , 204, 223 , 226
t
s one of R e e n, ub s m o i a

B or o inod a e b ttl
of 96 me anin o f , 28 1g
,

B o r r ich iu s, Pl ans, 15 4
,
u d se f or am e s ul t
in an ien c t
t u u
Bo s on M s e m of F ine A r s , 3 17 t Eg ypt
, 3 20
uld lg d
’
e e n s of , 3 8 s qq , 263
C ar pof or u s, S t , 252
Bo
.
er s ,
gt w d
.

yl b t C ar r in on, H er e ar , vii
Bo e , Ro e r , 1 05 , 125
dd ck h l
Br a o , C ar e s , vii
th
C a e r ine II , E m r ess , 3 87 p
t u
B r an ome, S eigne r d e, 3 05 , 306 th
C a e r ine, S t , of A e an r ia, 259 ,
. lx d
B rer e on, S ir Wi iam, 11 1
t ll 29 5
412 IND EX

Ca tl in George 35 3 6
, , ,
Co lor har mony of between gowns and
, ,

Ca tlinite 3 5 3 7 , ,
j ewel s 4 07 ,

Ca t s eye 1 1 29
’ -
, ,
C o lumba St and wh ite p ebble
, .
, s,

Ce c il Henry 23 5
, ,
l egend o f 24 25 15 6 , , ,

Ce c il Sir Rober t 214

, ,
Co n a d I II King of th e Germans
r , ,

Ce ll ini Benv enuto 20

, , , 3 78 2 90
C er au niw , 82 C o nstantine th e Gr eat 3 29 ,

yl t pl t
C e on, em e r eas r e in, 29 8, 29 9 u C o nstantine XII of G r eece star , ,

h lc d y
C a e on , 3 0, 3 1, 123 , 13 1, 287, s apph i e in swor d of
r 3 72 —37 3 ,

2 9 1, 296 , 3 01, 3 03 , 3 6 1 C o a l 3 0 1 1 9 120 12 1 123 124

r , , , , , , ,

h lch hu tl
C a i i , 3 04, 3 05, 3 07, 3 4 8 126, 29 8, 3 01, 3 04, 34 1, 3 71
h l g
C a r ema ne, Em er or, 1 89 , 2 55, 2 88, p am ul t
e s o f , in S ain, 3 6 8 p
29 0 C spi s am e of , 3 39
r i ’
ul t
t l
a isman of , 3 29 - 3 3 1 cu t v
r a i e u se o f , 13 1- 13 3

h l
C ar e s V , E m eror , 29 4 , 306 p gr eatly v
f a o r e in Ti e , 3 43 d bt
h
C ar e s l V of Fr an e , 1 77 c in Be nin, A f r i a, 3 7 9 c
h l
C ar e s I X o f Fr an e, 294 c o mino s u ch ange of h u e , 1 3 2, 13 3
h l
C a r e s th e Ba , 288 ld se e l ct d
e f o r D a ai Lama’s in l ~

h
C ar m in ol d I a ian M S t l
3 27 3 28 cens e v l esse , 303
C h e l id onius , or s a o s one , w ll w t
1 19 , -
t ctu
in r e of ,
”
13 2
1 72 wor n by Qu ee n He ena of I a ,
l t ly
Ch e l onia, 17 0, 17 1, 1 9 8 3 80
h p u y
C eo s , m mm d c t d w th
of , e or a e i C om a am monia, 19 7
p c u t
r e io s s ones , 27 9 C o rtes, H e r nan, 3 05 , 3 07
ypt
C h ech at , E g l p
ian name of a is u du
C o r n m , 13 3
l ul
az i, 149 v ta r ie ies of , 3 9 6

h ck t c d
C i en I z a, S a r e ll We of , 3 07 , b
C r a ’s eye, ” 16 7
3 08 C r abst one, ” 121, 122
ph l t
Ch ink stone ( ono i e ) , 2 t
C r an z , D a i , 3 5 9 vd
hl d
C a ni, 95 , 104 C r apau d ine, o r o a s one , t dt
hl ph
C o ro ane, 23 7 165
h t h d
C r is , ea v do f , engr a e o n e me r C r es cent iu s, S t , 25 2 .

al d , 2 9 1, 2 9 2 p
C r is i Fran es o , 3 3 9
, c c
h t
C r is ian I I o f De nmar , h is ma i k gc p
C r is in and C r ispian, S S , 2 5 9 , 2 7 3 .

p e bbl
e, 21
C ros s , j w ll d
e e e , uk of D u e of B r ns
h t
C r is ian IV of D enmar , 14 0 k w ck
i , 2 89
h t p
C r is o h er . St , 25 8, 25 9 of Z cc
a ar ia, 290, 29 1
w V
.

C r o n of t h e irgin,” 287
h
C r is ty c ll ct
o e ion, 309
h ty vd
C r is , D a i , 218 y t l gc j
C r s a , ma i , o f a F i ian, 3 6 4—366
C h r ycocol l a, 53 y
Cr s a t l b ll
a s as-
cu t v ul t
r a i e am e s , 25

hy lt p d t
C r so i e ( er i o ) , 287 , 2 9 1
ul tw t
C in, S e ar , 3 58

c d t
a s a re s o ne, 3 7 9
u
C ra i e tv cyt l
r s a s ut l of A s r a ian
h k p ’
in S a e s eare s O h e o , 3 79 t ll dc
me i ine-men. 16
hy p
C r so r ase , 123 , 2 7 7, 287
d
of Kainu ea I n ians of Par a

Cinwd/iac, 169
g y u a , 18

l ud
C a ian s e i r ams on r o
’
pg r s a , ck c y t l
-
u dc
of New G inea me i ine-me n,
19
32 u tv
l v
C a u s, S t , 2 52
C r a i e u se of ems . 1 18- 1 5 9g
l
C emens, St , 25 2
.
f or “
B a D ea l ck th
l t
C emen V II , Po e , 3 87
.

p a pl gu
e, 12 0

l c
C er , G vii
c c
Fr an e s o In ia’s o inion d p
of ,
.

C l o th aire I I, 262 in Bo emia, 12 1 h

c
C o h r ane, Ca pt h l
C ar e s S ar
. 3 12 tu t in D enmar , 126 k
l y
C o ign , G as ar d e, 207 p d in Le en, 126, 127 yd
MA INDE X

E ulal ia St , 26 9 .,
G es ner , Conr a , 4, 54, 7 3, 144 d
E v il ye
e ,
”
13 1, 265 , 3 15, 3 20, 3 39 , t
Ges a Romano r u m , sna e s o r k t y
3 44, 3 4 5—347, 3 6 7, 3 68 f r om, 23 8
E xp d
an ing s one, 45 t G igl iol i, E nr i o H , 3 64 c .

G ir aso , 29 1 l
F l su m ( am er ) , 6 0 b
b u
Fa ian s, S t , 25 1 , 25 3 . Gl os sop e trce, 1 6 1, 180, 188—190
b k
Fair an s, A r r , vii thu tc
G no s i s, magi e e s of , 3 2 8 c j wl
Fair y t s ones,
”
37 G o d st ones ” r ie i th e ea , bu d w th d d
t
Far r ing on, 0 C , vii . . 23
t
Fa ima s band ,
’ ”
34 7 ld
G o en C a i e c qu
( E l Dor a o ) at d
Fe ave a r year , A W , vii k
L a e G a a i a, 3 1 1 u t vt
Yug
. .

ld p
F e s ar , 3 0, 7 7 , 3 24 d
G o r ian th e o n e r, E m eror , 3 26 p
in k
Boo o f th e D ea , 3 18, 3 1 9 d G o rgonu s, S t , 25 2 .

Fel icis s imus , S t , 2 5 2 . Gr amma tiae, ar ie of jas e r , 284 v ty p

lct
Fe i i as, S t 25 1, 25 3 , 2 74 G r ee n, M iss Be a Da C os a, vii ll t
X
.

l
Fe ix , St , 25 2 g y
G r e or Po e , 1 19 p
X
.
,

d d
F er inan III, Em er or , 15 p g y
G r e or II I , P o e, 212 p
Fie ld u u
M se m of Na r a His or , tu l t y g y
G r e or of To r s, h is a o n of u cc u t
hcg
C i a o, vii t l
Par is a ism ans, 3 29
F il ippu s, St , 252 . u t vt
G a a i a, La e of , re as r es ro n k t u th w
u
Fil o ca l u s, F r ia s D io n s i s, a en y u c l in, 3 10—3 12
d a r of , 25 1 G u l igas ( ez oar s ) ar i ia b in t fic lly
l t g t
F oa in -s ones, 223 d uce d by
D a a s o f Bor neo , 2 17 y k
lw jwl
F o e r e e s, 342 , 3 4 3
t
Foo e, A E . 101 H
l c c t
F os s i s and on r e ions , ir es o f , v tu B ah er den Will iam h is r esear ch s n
, , e o
160—1 9 0 tou mal in 5 6 5 7
r e,
Jh
,

Fox , o n, J r s
’ “
Tr ai of th e Lone
. l H a d r ian E mp e 1 , r or ,

so m e Pine, 3 7 H ah e dan ang l f Octob er 24 8

, e o ,
t
Foy, S ain e , s a e e o f , 26 1, 26 2t tu tt Hair ball s 22 0 221
-
, ,

c
F r an is I o f A s r ia, 89 ut H aj ar al h a t taf h e n s tone
-
18 1 , or
“ -
,
kl j
Fr an in, Ben amin, on to rma ine, 5 7 u l Haj ar al h ayyat -
2 25
Fr ed er i ck
I II o f D enma r , 126 k H aj er Kal b d og s tone
-
l l 12 ,
“ -
,
”
,
Fre n ch c d y
A a em o f S ie n es, 54 c c H aj er al ma th ar A r ab ic rain stone 5
-
,
-
,
H ammer Pu r gs tall 89 -

H ar r ingt on S ir Jam es 120

,
G “

, ,
G abe l ch over, Wo f an , 15 3 , 158 lg g H aupt Paul 2 7 7
,
b l c
G a r ie , ar hange , 243 , 245, 246, 250 l H auy Abbé 5 6
, .
,
,

3 34
Ha e Ol iv ier d e l a h is poem n
l ct t
G a a i e, 3 , 4 yBla ck Dea th 120
,
”
, o

lb
G a a, E m er or , 83 p Hei t ik is c ar ved j ad es of New Z a
,

l
G a en, 136 , 13 7 , 14 6, 188, 232
-

land 3 6 1
, e

c
G ar ias ab Or a, 6 8, 2 04 t ,

G ar cil asso d e l a e a, 2 14 Vg H el ena Q u e n 380

, e ,

t
G ar ne , 123 , 29 1, 2 9 6 3 09 , 3 17 , 3 30 H e l ena St 3 29 .
,
“
G as oc g
i n e
’
s o er , p wd
1 2 7 , 12 8 H e l iot r ope 29 1 ,

t
Gas er , 3 7 1 H mat ite 1 24 125 3 20
e , , ,

Gem of S o r an v or Go ty of th e Amer ica n Indian art ef act of s ,

g
Kin of K n s , l li ”
g 3 82,
3 83
G em- cutt
e rs , A me r i an I n ian, 3 81 c d bl ck b
a , A r axas gem o f , 2 87
Ge or e g V , Kin , 3 6 2 g cu t v
r a i e u se of , 1 36—1 3 8
g
Ge o r e, St , 26 1, 2 74
.
qu
Heno, I r o ois god of n er , 1 07 thu d
lg d
e en of , 2 6 0 H enr i II , o f F r an e, 3 34 c
th l
a e r s, 26 0 H er cul anu s, S t , 25 2 .
 IND E X 4 15

H er mete s, S t , 25 2 . Jd a e, C ine seh

gir dle p endants of 3 4 1 ,

H er o d ian, 7 4 C h in se wands of 384

e ,
H er tz , B , 4 8 . cu ative u se of 139 143
r ,
-

Hil d bu rgh , W L , 3 6 7 . . di k of in Templ e of He aven

s , ,
H i ld egar d, S t , h er th eor y . of cur ative Pe king 3 02 ,
t
s one s, 13 E s k imo t al isma ns of 3 5 8
H ill S ir John 1 18
,

, , h s tibi amul et s of
e - f rom N w ,
e

H ipp ocr ate s of C os 3 3 3 Z al and 36 1

e

Joh ann Peter

, ,

Hof nar a lchemist in E gypt 3 19

é ig
, , , ,

l in N w Cal ed onia 363 3 6 4

e , ,

Hofi rnan s
'
’ “
Fr li u l e in von S er , cud y mor tu ary tablet s of C h ines e 3 84 , ,

37l of New Z eal and 3 62 ,

l d m
Ho me, S a e psen on x ) , 51 r name nts of
o f r om Syr ia 3 84
Que en A lexandr a s 3 62
, ,

H o l me s, w H , vii ’

Jad ite 7 7 304 305

. .
,

p y h l p c ll
H o e, Henr P i i , o ection of , 48 e
t Qu
H or ense, een, 3 30 Jagannath 339 340
, , ,

James I of England 49 301

, ,

u V ct
H go, i o r , 15 3
Jm
, ,

H n in o n, O W , 101
u t gt a es , St 27 1, 27 4
J g
. . .
,

H uth t
E r ns , 235 a r oon, 12 0
,

u ly h
H x e , T omas, 105 J p
as er , 4 , 3 0, 5 3, 1 24 , 14 8, 286, 287 ,
y c th
H a in pph( sa ir e ? ) 2 82 2 9 6, 3 17, 3 24, 3 83
H ywm a, 169
‘

cu t v
r a i e u se of , 14 4 , 1 4 5
H yd aspes Ri er , s one of , 2 v t k
E s imo t l a isman o f , 3 5 8
yd j
H e, Ma or , 309 t h
s o ne of A s er , s m o i a me an y b lc l
yd ph
H r o ane, or ma i s one, 240”
gc t ing of , 283
H ye ter ol ith/us, 7 5, 195 , 19 6 t l a ismani c v tu
ir e of , 284
J h g
e an ir , M og ul p
E m e ro r, 9 2, 208,
I 3 01 , 3 8 3, 4 05
Ibn A l e ith ar , 11 , 14 8, 16 7
J er e m ie ] , an e , 25 1 gl
I bn Batou tah , 84 J er ome , St , 17 6 , 2 74
.

I bn Kad h o S o a , 4 h b b on j p
as e r ta ismans, 284 l
Ichthy s, ange , 246 l jwl
on e e s of Pr in e o f T re , 280 c y
l d
I ia , 13 8 J u l
er s a em, Tem e of , 9 pl
Inclu cyt
s ions in r s al s, 3 1 , 3 4 t s one s of th e New , 7 0

d
In ia , Fran es o, 121, 124 c c J t
es sen, Pe e r , vii

d
I n ian s o , t
ne
”
16 3 J e t , 35 2, 3 86
I nno ce n tV
I II , Po e, 29 1 p cu t v
r a i e us e of , 146 , 14 7

bl
Is a e of Ba ar ia, r e ious stone v p c -
J ’
ew el l e r s i d ctu
m in ol d L on on, d
r em e dy
of , 1 7 7 407
v y
I o r , 3 03 J ob, Boo of , 25 0k
Ixmar acd u s, S t , 252 Jho n XXI, P0pe , 1 19
Jh
.

o n, S t , 26 7, 2 7 1, 2 7 4
J Jh
.

pt t
o n th e B a is , 290, 3 06
J cinth 127 , 1 84, 29 1, J ph
ose St , 26 6
1 2 3,
J ph
.
,
a
29 6
,
os e p ine, E m r ess, 3 3 0
cu t v
r a i e u se o f , 13 8
Judd l , Ne i M , vii .

J u l ianetes, S t 252
J acintu s, S t , 252
J ck son, H e en H n , 5 1
.

l u t Jul u p
i s 11 , Po e, 26 7
a
Jcb
a o s s one at B e
’
t e , 76, 78 th l Jup t hu d
i e r th e T n er er , 82
Jda e, 4 , 77 , 121, 283 , 2 85 , 3
24 , 348, Juv l ena , 60
3 5 9 , 3 83 , 384 , 404 K
am ul t
e s of wh t
i e, 3 42
Mecca, black stone
as p v tv
r es er a i e of ea o ,
14 2 d d b dy Kaabah at

c v d
am e s of , in Panama,
ul t 7 3 , 84—88
ar e
3 48, 3 4 9
p
Kaem f er , E nge lber t , 207 , 209
 M6 I NDE X

Khu sr au Nu sh irw an, 89 L oadstone 6 4—6 8 1 19 3 13 , , ,

Khu sr a u II, 6 9 as e l ix ir of yo uth 6 8 ,

K ien lung, E mp eror , 302 o r acle D e Boo t

’ ’
-
65 66
,
s, ,

King Rev C W , 6 2, 3 28
, . . . f or t h e gout 6 8 ,

Kir cher A thanas iu s, h is

,
of Manio l ze I l ands 6 4 s ,

M us na tur ae, 5 0 Rob er t Nor man s p em on 66

’
o , , 67
Koenig, 9 9 , 100 Lo ch mo naire in S co tl and leg end
- -
, of ,

Kohut, 24 3 15 5 , 15 6
Km l l e-natain 19 3
’
Lo a s s dtone o f p w 35 o er,

L o s M uer tos Zuni j ar with tu quo ise

,

Kr ishna, 3 7 , , r

inlays f ound at 3 09 ,

L ough Neagh I r el and l egend o f ye l

L , ,

l ow c r yst al th er e 3 5 ,

Lacr ima. car e t, ’

s ag s e ar , 17 0 t t L ou is XIV 1 3 3 ,

t Jh
L ae , o ann d e, 53 , 54, 14 1 , 19 0, 19 2 L o uis XV I 15 3 ,

k
La e G eo r e iamo n s, 26 g d d L uv r e M useum 280 29 1 3 89
o , , ,

L amice , 19 0 L uc ia S t 258 27 1 2 7 5
, .
, , ,

L anciani, 7 5 l egend of 25 7 ,

L angm er , o r ”
t t Lucky stone 28
'

es er , 181 ,

Lanne s, Ma r s a , 29 5 h l Lumino us s tone of ma l e co br a 23 7 ,

L ap id es caymamu m, 181 L u u s Natu r es s tones b ea r ing nat

s ,

L apis A r menus , 124, 149 u r al l y mar ke d im ages 4 7—51 ,

cu t v
r a i e us e of , 14 7 , 148 L uthe r M ar t in 249
, ,

L ap is carp io mls , 168, 169 L ych nis of Pl iny ( t ou rmal ine i ) 52 ,

L apis J u d aica s , 187, 1 9 4 L ych nitis, 17 6
L apis l az u l i, 7 8, 123 , 124, 14 8, 1 49 ,
-
y
L san e r , 7 9 d
280, 2 84, 2 9 7, 298, 3 01, 3 1 7 ,
3 2 0, 3 24
M
k
in B oo o f th e D ea , ” 3 18 d
l g
ar e ma s s of , f o n d
in I n ian u d Maccabse u s, ud as, 3 25 J
g ave 3 86 “
M ud s tone s, ” 225 eg
g
r ,
.

r l ig iou s use of
e in E cuado 3 08 , r, M a f k at ( Egypt ian or tu r qu oise i ) ,
t n o f I sachar symbolica l
s o e s 3 16
m a ning of 282
e
,
c t
M agi s ones, 1- 7 1, 109 s qq .

L apis Mal acensis , 204

,
l
be ie f in, on emned C r c d by hu ch
L apis mana ti, 18 1, 182 u cl
Co n i s , 3 8, 3 9
L ap-is nep h r iticus ( a e ) , 1 40 j d day-s one t
and nig -s one, ht t
u
L a f e r , Ber o , 3 04 th ld 70
o f Gue r nse 40
u c
L a r en e , S t , 26 7
l d
.

o f I s an 0 A r r an, 40
L au r entu s , S t , 2 52
v
La oisier , 9 4
.

o f I s an l d
o f Fl ad d a, 4 0

bu
L e o r , Mr s Nona, vi i
s one t t t tt ct h
h a a r a s air , 6 9 , 7 0
y
L emer , M L o is, 5 4
.

u l dt
M agnes ( oa s one ) , 124
M agnu sen, Finn, 19 8
.

L eo IV , Po e, 126 p M a/m d e gl oire, 3 3 4

Le o X , Po e , 3 86 p l ch t
M a a i e, 14 8, 29 1
p ld
L eo o , E m er or , 16 p cu t v
r a i e u se of , 1 5 0
L icet i, F or nio, 3 44 tu l d ct
M a e i ion s ones t
in I r e an , 46 , l d
Lingu es M e li t ens es, 189 47
u
Linnae s, 5 4 lt
M al e , F H , 2 33
ph c p tones
. .

Lith ica, Or i oem on s , u

M amo n, K a if , 27 9 h l
13 7, 2 24 qu
M a am I r a im, s a r e b h s one in c d t
Lith omania, 19 Kaabah at M e a, 88 cc
“
Li evr s nts
o e ,
-
”
186 M ar bod u s o f Renne s, 1 7 4
v
Li ia, w
if e o f A s s, 3 9 7 ugu tu c
M ar o P010, 343
4 18 IND E X

Nash, Thomas, 16 6 P ar is , Matth ew, 152

Naut ilu s p ear ls, 3 9 1 Pa r i s tal ismans, G regor y of u
To rs
’

Nebuch ad nez z ar I , 7 8 a cc unt

o 3 29 of ,
Necklace of t h e E gypt ian Pr ince s s Pa r th enu s, St , 25 1 .

S at-Hath or -A nt, XII Dynasty, 3 1 7, c l

Pas a , B a ise, am e l of , 3 3 7, 338ul t
3 18 Pa ter d e away, or
“
oo r osar ,
"
bl d y
t
Nesh em-s one, 3 20 133
ld
New C a e onian s tone amul t s 4 5 e , t ck
Pa r i , S t , 43 , 225 .

New Z ea l and j ad e p a na ma , Pa ul II, Po e , 126 p

gr e en stone ul V p
“
3 6 1 36 3
-
,
-
Pa , Po e, 25 4
Newton H uber t A
, 72 7 3 7 4 .
, , , ul
Pa , S t 26 9 , 2 7 5
Nicholas I Emp er or 285 , , at M a a, 16 1, 1 89 lt
Nich ol as St 2 7 5
, .
, Pau saniu s , 2
l ege nd of 258 , Peace S one, 58t
Nich o l as S t of Bar i
,
manna
.
, ,
. l
Pea r s, 20, 120, 124, 126 , 127, 277,
26 6 280, 29 1, 294 , 29 9 , 3 00, 3 04.
c tratus S t 25 2
Ni os , .
,
3 05 , 3 3 0, 3 4 1, 380, 3 87
Noah s r ain s tone 4 5 b c th y
o f gene s is of , 388,
’
-
, , Ara i eo r
Nonnus, S t , 25 2 . 394
Nor dens k io ld, Baron N A . . E .
, 97 cocoanu s uppos ed , 391
Nor man, Rob er t, p oem o n l a ds t
o o ne, h l pp
f r om P i i ines , 3 9 1, 3 92
66 imm ense aro b qu
e, 3 9 2
Nu ng gar a,
-
or A u st ral ian me dic ine M me . T ier s’ ne h ckl c
a e of , 389
men, 1 7 ne a eckl c of , in Per sian gr a e. v
3 24
0
o f na ut lu
i s, 39 1
Ol eu m su cci/mi, 64 “
o p wde r,
”
390
Ombria, 16 2, 1 9 7, 19 8 R u m ph iu s on s os e upp
r ee in d b d g
yx
On , 277, 3 3 5 , 3 6 9 of , 3 9 2
cu t vr a i e u s e of , 1 5 1—1 5 3 t y
s or lu
of a u mino s, 3 9 0
t
s one of e on, s m o i a Z bul y b lc l t y
s or th w
of , t V
r o n in o enet ian
meaning of , 282 c l by p l d l
ana ear - ea er . 3 9 3
w d ul cup
on er f bl g g of , e on in to t g t l
s r an e a e of , 3 88, 3 89
uk
D u w ck
e of Br ns i , 38 7 y d l b t
P ear , A mira Ro er E , 9 6
p l
.

O a , 3 72, 3 74, 4 07 Pe bbl e m ania, 19 , 20

v d by Qu
-

f a or e ee n i or ia, 3 7 5 V ct amon g b d ir s, 20
p uar r e of , f or E m re s s A u s a, p gu t Pe bbl e s, t l
o r name n a , 19 —3 1
3 75
c p
Or h am s, Bar onesse
’
, 371 d w by
o rn du
H in s, 3 7
Osman, A ugu t
s in, 3 7 4
gl
Pene l , an e , 24 6
Os tr ea Singapor e , 39 1
pp g
P e er , G e or e H , 352 .

Os trites, 224, 225

d t ch y l t
P er i o ( r so i e ) 28 1
P er in Wa r e , 4 01
k b ck
tl
O i ia, S t , 26 7
v bu y
.

O er r , S ir T omas , 381 h p u
P er et a, S t , 25 1, 25 3 .

vd
O i , 13 1 p c j wl
Per s ian r in es s, e e s in h er gr a e, v
Ova -m anguinu m, 162, 19 7 , 22 1—224, 3 23—3 2 5
22 6 c d
Pe s a e ro B e a , Cal , ch
e es f ro m,
. p bbl
d
Oyar on, In ian amul etr cont ro l , 3 54 30
t
P e er , S t , 25 0, 2 5 1 , 27 6 , 2 9 0
.

t
Pe e r s , S t , in Rome, 5 1
’
.

t l d
P e r ie , F in e r s, 3 17
Padpams ha/m-gem ( or un c dum ) of t g d u u
P e ro r a M s e m of Na r a H is tu l
yl
Ce on, 39 5 t y
or , 9 5
ll d
Pa a ins, 6 4 tu
Pe r s Hispanu s ( Po e p
o n XXI ) , Jh
b
Par e, A m r o ise, 206, 207 119
 IND E X 4 19

h ladelph ia A cademy f
P i
Sciences 3 2
o Natur al Qu t p bbl
ar z e es, 19 s
qq ’ .

, d klt h d 28
in I n ian s e e on s an
P h il ipp ine p a l
,
39 1 3 9 2 e r s, p h t cg v
in r e is o r i r a e s, 24
Ph il sophe s S t one 14
’
16 l h d by w t
po is e
o r , ,
gl a a er or c1 al
Ph ono l it e 2 , ct a io n,
Pier r e d e s ant é, 1 5 3 w th clui in s io ns, 2 9 , 3 0
Pierr es d e f ou d r e , 9 4 Qu u ir in s, S t , 26 7.

Pi err e s to u r m r ess es , or ir in wh l g
t
s ones , 3 9

Pie tr a gr amd e , or
'

r e nan s one s, p g t t du
Ra i m, 12 9
17 8
tu
P1 1a s u t
M o n ain, L a e L er ne , k uc
Ra gu le , an e , gl 24 5
o f M ay, 24 7
g l ct t
a a i e f o n on, 4 u d b g t
R a in o w a a e, 3 77 , 3 78
p t
Pi e s one , 35 Rain o bw d ise as e , 1 14
Pir op h ol os , s one f r o m te ar of a h t k g t
Rain-ma in s one s, 4—7
p d
oisone m an, 12 bc
A ra i , 5
Pi tchbl d en e , 12 9
f r om Kar mania, 5
t
P i td ah , s o ne of h igh pr ie s t s
’
r e as b t of A f r i a c t b r i es, 5 , 6
pl t
a e, 4 03
of ut l t b
A s r a ian r i es, 6
l
P a sm a-em er a , 20 ld of h
N oa , 5
l t
P a o ’ s Ph aad on, d ad/mon, or ar ian gu d Pe r s ian, 5
g l
an e in, 246 t
s one c
r os se s as, 7
l y
P in , 3 , 3 2, 5 2, 6 2, 80, 82, 129 , 13 7 , uk
T r is , 4 h
1 4 6, 1 69 , 1 7 0, 17 2, 1 7 3 , 188, 19 6 , ph l ch g l
R a ae , ar an e , 243 , 2 45 , 25 0
22 1, 222, 22 4 , 226 l
Raz ie , an e , 24 7 gl
P lut ch
ar 80, 82 d c c
R e i, Fr an e s o, 2 32
u J
P og e, os e E , 353ph .
d d
Re on o B ea , C al , ch e es p bbl
f r om ,
t E s im os , am le s o f ,
w k u t .

Po in B a r r o 3 0, 3 1

c
Pon e d e L e on, 1 4
p t
-
pl
R ed ain Pe o e o f M aine , 2 8

t
P once , C ar es h l es, 2 10 J c qu d h l
R ee , S ir C ar es H er es , vii cul
t u
Po n ian s, S t , 25 2
a
ch vd
R ei , D a i , 19 2, 19 9

Por cup t ine s o ne ,

”-
.

184 , 185
lg u
Re i io s u s e o f p c u
r e io s s one s , t
2 7 7 —3 12
c u t
Pre io s s o ne s ro n th w up
on co ast u g
Re no f , P Le Pa e, 3 19
lx d
of A e an r ia, E , 3 21 gypt vl t k
R e e a io n, Bo o
.

o f , 243
c pu
P ro o i s, 6 4
h d t u d t
R o oni e se f o r om of Ni o a s b ch l
Protu s , S t , 25 2
I , 2 85
.

Ps el l u s , 129 , 135
tl
P o em y
t h e G e o r a er , 3 82 g ph as
“
t
E as er S one , t 2 85

F w d/r e s er ,
“
t
s ar rot,
”
104—106 -
v d h l
Ri an , C ar e s , 3 75
y t
P r i e, cu t v
r a i e u s e o f , 153
ch
R o , S t , 25 9 , 26 7 , 27 6
.

ck c y t l
Ro - r s a , 123 , 1 7 0, 285, 29 7, 3 1 7
as a r ain-s one 6 , 7 t
Qu t 3 24
h
C ine se name of , 3 9 8
ar z
f or
,

l b t
a re s and f or nos e e e s j wl cu t v
r a i e u se o f , 1 5 3 15 7
—

c v
imme ns e es se s o f , 3 9 8 l
in A f r i a, 3 9 8, 3 9 9
d
f r om I n ian mo n s, 26 u d
“
per f e ct jew e
”
l
of a anes e , Jp
3 45
k
f r om L a e G eor e, 26 g c dd u t by
f r om Yuc t
a an, 26
r e omm en e
t ph
A r is o
in l aw s i
ane s , 3 9 7
of l g
ar e s iz e, f r om Nor C aro th
l ina, 26
l Qu t
S ee a s o ar z

ut l t d
r i a e , 32 h
Roe, S ir T om as , 301
u d by
se A r a ar ian me i ine uc dc Ro l d
a n
’
t t
s F oo ,
”
s o ne at Tou f ail l e s,

w ome n, 3 5 1
c
Fr an e, 4 3
w th clu
i in s ions, 3 0—3 4 tg y
Ron e n r a s to d t ct e e am e s, 3 58 ul t
4 20 IND EX

Ro sar ies, 29 2 c ll ct
S auvageot o e ion, 2 9 1
du
H in , 29 3 c b
S ar a s , 3 2 0, 3 2 1
lg d
e en o f , 29 3 S chliemann, H e inr i , 3 23 ch
Ro se qu t
-
ar z , 3 84 ch l l
S o a S a e r ni ana, 120 t
y l t
R o a Na iona M se m of M ni , l u u u ch ch tt
S ro , Jh
o n, 2 30

2 88 S ch wind el s tem ( er i o s one 15 3 v tg t -

y l t
Ro a s one, ”
f ro m ea
’
e s ea , 13 gl h d cp
S i io A f r i an s , 7 4 c u
R ub ll t
e i e , 3 84 b t
S e as ian, S t , 2 5 1, 259 , 27 6 , 29 0
.

R uby , 1 1, 16 , 5 8, 12 3 , 125 , 2 9 1 , 2 9 4, cu du
S e n s , S t , 2 5 2, 27 6 .

29 6 , 29 7 , 29 9 , 3 14, 3 4 3 , 4 07 S e i er , We nz e , a
l l
em is , 1 5 lch t
of P e , gu 4 01 l uc t
S e e ia, me eor i e o f , 8 1 t
o n m mm u y o f C eo s, 2 7 9 h p S e mne s , S t , 25 2 .

h d
M o amme an A a s s an s on, tl t d S empr onianu s, St , 25 2 .

24 8 c
S ene a, 82
g
o r i in o f B r me s e, 4 00 u S eph er d e-A am Ka dmah , d”
24 7
t
s o ne o f Jud h y b l c l
a , s m o i a mean p t
S er e n ine , 3 20, 3 5 0
S p nts ggs
“
22 1—224, 22 6
’ ”
ing of , 282 er e e ,

ch t
Th e M er an o f th e , 400
”
S eu e r ianu s, S t , 2 5 2
Jwl
.

R ud lph
o p
I I , E m er or , 208, 2 15 S h ah k e vh er e n, o r K in o f e e s,
”
g
Ru mph iu s, G eo r g b h d
E e r ar , 18, 23 8, 6 8, 6 9
244 , 39 2 S h ahf m u h r a, Pe r s ian ma i s one , gc t
13
h k p
S a es e are , 1 6 2, 2 60, 3 3 7 , 3 7 9 , 3 9 1,
S abasth , an e , 24 5 gl 3 93
c d
Sa re th d l
s r ine
”
ofh Ca e r a of yt
S h am z r , m s e r io s H e r e u
s one, b w t
h t
C ar r es, 29 ] 7 -10
c d t w d
Sa r e s one o f K io a In ians, 44 bc lg d g d g
A ra i e en r e ar in , 9
dl h l
S a ie r , R ev C ar es , vii . bl
in th e Bi e 7 , 8
t
S ain s y’
lp b c l l
D a s, a h a et i a ist of , bb c l l g d
in R a ini a e en , 8

2 72 276-
h k t t
S ar s
’
ee h ,l f oss i , 19 0
t
S d l agr d ma s one o f H in s , 19 6—19 8
-
du h
’
gl p l
S e f ie l , a n e of A r i , 24 7
em bl
em of V is n , 19 6 h u t
S h o h am s o ne 2 77
-

th ud h g l c c t j wl
_

ne i er S r a nor Par ia may S iam es e ir s onse r a ion, e e s

w
e ar , 19 8 wo r n at , 342

S ammo nicu s , S er enu s , 3 26 g tu

S i na r es , d ct o r ine o f , 1 18
l u
'

S anch oniath o n, 8 1 S i an s , S t , 25 2
Jud
.

t
S an a C asa o f L ore o , 186 , 26 7 t S im on and e , S S , 27 1 .

t u
S an os D mon s oad s o ne , 26 4
-
’
t l t S ku s,ll d k l
is s i r om, as ta ismans ,
Sa pph ir e , 1 1, 16 , 3 1, 5 8, 1 19 , 123 , 3 3 1— 33 4
124 , 125 , 2 84 , 285 , 2 87 , 2 9 0, in B uddh t l g d
is e en , 3 32, 3 33
29 1, 29 4, 2 9 9 , 304 , 3 30, 3 3 6, in ne o i i l th c t ime s , 3 33
343 , 4 07 on b clt
ra e e th
of C a e r ine d e’
th l
B ar o omae s A nge l icu s on, 39 5 u dc
M e i i, 3 34
c vd
ar e , f r om I n ia, 3 00 d S mar agd o s , 3 1 9 , 3 20 3 84
cu t v
r a i e u se o f , 1 5 7 . 1 5 8, 184 k t
S na e s one ,
-
2 2 1— 24 0
t l
in a isman of C ar e m a ne , 3 29 h l g S nou ck Hu r gr onje, D r C 87
-
.

yl
of C e on, 402 c t
S o r a es, 3 9 7
t
s o ne o f o se , s J ph y b l c l
m o i a mea n l
S o om on, 9 , 10
ing of , 282 So uth er n s one t in Kaabah at
t tes of a, 39 4 cc
M e a, 87
c ph gu t
S ar o a s s one , 3 -
S pange nber g’s S a o n C roni e , 103 x h cl
d
S ar , 287 pd
S i er -s one, t 183 , 184
d yx
S ar on , 12 3 , 29 1, 3 7 2 ane cd t
o e of , 1 83
g vd
en r a e gem o f , 288 p l
S ine , 2 9 6
S atu rninu s , S t , 25 2 . p t c ll ct
S i z er o e ion, 185
422 IND EX

T u quo ise
r , off er e d to image of San to Walpu rgis S t Day 2 1 , ,

D omingo, 3 09 War d W Hayes vii

. .
.

of L os C er r i os , 309 ll Wat e r me l on stone ” v ar iety , of tu o r

lg u
r e i io s f a or i en to, in Ti e , v gv bt mal ine ,
-
58
3 04 We igh ing M ogul E mp eror 3 01
of th e ,
’
set in s ee s e es , 3 16 h p y We ll s T Tile stone 3 73
, .
'

Shyl cko
’
s, 3 3 7 Wenc esl au s C hape l in S t Veit s at .
’

v lu d by
a e Pima In ians of A r i d Pr a e, gu a or ne i d
re io s d w th p c u
z ona, 353 t
s one s, 2 9 6

T ych o Br a e, 1 7 9 h W i h tby je t , 380

W i e , H C , 23 9
ht . .

U “
W i e ma i , 29
ht gc
Ul er anen, an egl of Novemb er , 2 48 W ieh t qu tar z o f C an Donnach aid h , l
Ul tund a-s tones of A us tr a l ia n me di 24 , 2 5
c inme n, 16 e- in In ian mo n s , 27 d u d
Um bil icus ma rina s , 19 1 f r om P e o regio n of S o u bl uth
Ur ie l , ar change l , 24 3 , 245 , 24 6 , 25 1, es , 27 w t
3 34 W i e s one s in r ia s, 23 , 24, 27
ht t bu l
Ur im and T hummim , 27 8 In I s e of Man, 3 4 l
oa s th t k
a en o n, 35
V h tfi ld J
W i e , E , 9 8, 9 9
j J
. .

Val ntine S t 270 276

e , .
, ,
Wi es, M a or
lk D , 2 18 . .

Va s ofler ed to th e Buddha 29 7
se
'

,
Wil ame e me eor i e, 9 8, 9 9
l tt t t
Ve Cains 4 05 406
r r es, , , ch c l c p t
em i a om os i ion of , 9 9
V u Lucius 3 9 7
er s, Wi son, Ro er , 154
l b t
V ict r ia Qu een 4 8 3 7 5
,

o Wi -s one s,” 200

tch t
tt ch J h
, , ,
V ictor inu s S t 25 2 Wi i , o ann, 13 2
l Jh
.
, ,

Vi nna Natural History Museum of

e , ,
Wo ff ,o ann, 126
90 Wr i , T o mas, 153
ght h
V gil 82
ir , W n , Wi e m M ax , 3 13
u dt lh l
V i gin s milk 4
r
’
,
”

Vishnu double f ootpr int f l g end

, o , e
r gar d ing
e 3 40
Vitus S t 270 27 6 .
, Xy tu
s s, S t , 252 .

, ,
Y
,
V l as to, D , 3 73
Y
.

V ol mar, 13 ea mans , M rs A nnie, 3 7 4 .

Ypol it us, S t , . 252

Wada T , ., vn Z
Walpole , H or a ce , 3 81 Zemz em well of , at Me cca, 87
,