The
Indians believe that a diamond taken with them in their long journeys
is a certain earnest of safe return to the bosom of their families.*
In
the East, the ruby is a stone of good augury, provided it is never
shown to friends ; it presages evil when it has a blackish spot, f
The same stone is given by the Chinese in token of sincere friendship. J
Even in the present day the Persians believe that wearing the spinel causes joy and prevents evil dreams. §
Not a few people, even in Europe, think it very unlucky to receive the gift of an opal or to possess a sapphire.
One of the principal deities of the Peruvians—Esmeralda—had a niche formed of an enormous emerald.
Now
in speaking of the value of gems we must mention a term known to all,
and commonly used to distinguish broadly the most precious stones—the
term Oriental gems.
In fact, the gems discovered in the East generally excel in beauty those found in the West.
But
the qualities by which precious stones are distinguished from each
other, and which in a greater degree prevail in the Oriental, are, as
we have already stated,
