thought
to ward off fevers ; whilst the Onyx, worn round the neck, was supposed
to prevent an attack of epilepsy. The Opal was believed to cure weak
eyes ; and the Topaz to cure inflammations, and keep the wearer from
sleep-walking. Lapis-Lazuli, worn as a jewel, acts similarly to the
Sapphire ; in ancient medicine it was given as a purgative. In the
Talmud it is said that Noah had no other light in the Ark than that
furnished by precious Stones.
Readers of The Arabian Nights, whether
as a fascinating delight of childhood, or as a mental recreation in
after life, will remember the Story of Sinbad, the Merchant of Bagdad,
who acquired great wealth by his commercial enterprise, and activity.
How he went seven voyages ; which he related to a poor discontented
porter, named Hindbad, the object being to show this man that wealth
must be gained by perseverance in trade, and personal exertion. It
happened to Sinbad in his second voyage that he was left during sleep,
on a desert island, where he discovered a " Roc's egg," fifty paces in
circumference. He fastened himself to one of this huge bird's claws,
and was deposited in the " Valley of Diamonds." Next day some merchants
came to the top of the crags ; and threw into the valley large joints
of raw meat;—to which the Diamonds stuck. And when the eagles picked up
the meat, the merchants scared these birds from their nests, and bore
off the diamonds. Sinbad fastened himself to one of the pieces of meat;
being thus carried by an eagle to its nest; from which he was rescued
by the merchants, having laden himself with diamonds, which he brought
home triumphantly.
Again, in the story of " Aladdin and the Wonderful
