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GEMS.
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us that this gem is found principally in certain mountains called Shekinim.
One of the finest balais known was in possession of the King of Oude. On it was engraved the name of one Julal-u-din, and from this it took the name at court of Lal-i-jaJadi. It was the size of a walnut, and very brilliant.
In
the middle ages it was thought that the balais and the red corundum had
certain occult and supernatural virtues. Eliano relates how a stork,
having broken a leg, was cured by an old woman named Eraclide ; he
afterwards flew away, and returning, placed in her bosom a very fine
balais which he carried in his bill, and gave to her as a token of
gratitude.
The
balais is easily cut on the wheel, as already remarked ; and I have
seen many of them engraved, but none that I could, with certainty, say
were of antique workmanship.
LXXXVII.
SARD.
Sard is that stone which is generally called sardonica, to distinguish it from sard-onyx, of which we shall speak presently.
The
sard, then, calling it by the name bestowed on it by the Romans, is an
agate· quartz of a dark colour, between red and yellow.
Consisting of the same components as the carnelian, it only differs from it in colour and fineness of texture.
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