their
weight withdraws them from the common ruck, and assures at once their
rarity and high price. When a perfect ruby of 5 carats enters the
market a price will be offered for it double the price of a perfect
diamond of the same weight; and if a ruby reaches the weight of 10
carats it will bring triple the price of a diamond of the same weight
(from three to four thousand dollars).
"
I have seen many collections of amateurs, visited and consulted many
lapidaries, and everyone admits that a perfect ruby is the most rare of
all the productions of nature. The tint of the ruby is as admirable by
artificial light as by the light of day."
The precious stone called the carbuncle by the ancients is the same as our modern ruby.
The
most fantastic qualities were formerly ascribed to these wonderful
stones. The carbuncle served to furnish light to certain great serpents
or dragons when old age had enfeebled their eyes; they constantly
carried these magical stones between their teeth, only dropping them
when it was necessary to eat and to drink. And according to St.
Epiphanius the carbuncle has not only the property of shining
brilliantly in darkness, but its light is of a nature so extraordinary
that nothing can arrest it; so that it shines, for instance, through
vestments with undiminished fire.
At the same time that it is averred that the car-
