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believe this ascription to be wrong) it has been stated that at times a red
point appears upon the ruby and spreads through the stone. When heated, this red point spreads and adds to the beauty of the stone, if the ruby be dark, its darkness is dispelled through this treatment. Jahiz has narrated the incident of a gem which belonged to a certain
person. It fell from his body and an ostrich perambulating nearby happened to swallow it. Only two persons belonging to the Manichean religion saw it gulp the stone. They came under suspicion and were given a thrashing. While one of them was being thrashed, the other pleaded his innocence. When it was finally discovered that both of them were Manicheans, the matter was further investigated. It was told by someone that the ostrich had swallowed the stone, but the Manicheans did not divulge the secret lest it be sacrificed. At last the ostrich was killed and its gizzard laid open. It was found that the stone had become lighter and its colour clearer and more beautiful. The heat of the gizzard had performed the function of fire. This incident gained wide fame. Imam Shafi'i was asked about the (juridical) nature of the incident. The Imam said: What else can I say about the owner of the stone except that if he is
wise, he should kill the ostrich and take out the stone, and pay the owner of the ostrich a price that is equivalent to the state between its life and death. Abu al-Qasim bin Babak said opposite to what the poet, Abu Tammam had said: He is covered with strings of pearls in between threaded rubies and
pearls. Al-Kindi writes: I bought some stones which had been brought from India. They had
not been cleaned by fire. When I heated them a very pleasing colour came out. There was a dark stone among them reflecting a little redness in its clear transparency. The other stone was slightly coloured. I melted them in a crucible for a period sufficient to melt 50 mithqals of gold. When both stones cooled, the one having a little colour gained transparency and became nearly pinkish. The other that was darkish assumed the form of the Serandibi crystal. It was found by me to be smoother than ruby. The practice is, therefore, to roast the reddish kind so that the mixed colours are made to disappear. Al-Kindi further observes: It should be comprehended that once a stone has lost its redness,
then it is not a ruby. But then not all stones that retain the red colour (on heating) are rubies, since iron is not a ruby, yet it retains its red coloration when roasted. And further: |
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