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48 NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
this quotation from Sotaous (elsewhere styled by Pliny " รจ vetustissimis
auctoribus ") we find the first allusion to the real Diamond and its
two distinctive characters, as well as to the popular Indian tale of
the Valley of Serpents' (known to us all from Sinbad's adventure), that
alone produced it. Sotacus adds that the hunters went in quest of it in
chariots, and when pursued by the serpent fled, strewing the ground in
their flight with some soporifio drugs by which the reptile was
overpowered, whereupon they turned again and made prize of his head.
Philostratus,
however, gives fuller details of the mode of capture (iii. 8). " These
dragons are thus taken: the: Indians having woven letters of gold into
a scarlet robe, spread it out before the den, but first of all
magically infuse a soporific power into these letters, whereby the
dragon hath his eyes overcome, losing all power to turn them away. They
also sing over him many spells of then-mystic art, whereby he is drawn
forth, and, putting his neck outside of his den, falls asleep upon the
letters. Then the Indians, assailing him as he lies, cut off his head
with their axes and make prize of the gems within it, for in the heads
of these mountain-dragons are secreted gems bright-coloured to the eye,
and reflecting all kinds of hues, of virtue moreover indescribable,
like the ring of Gyges. Often too doth the dragon seize the Indian,
axe, charm, and all, and escape with him into his hole, all but making
the mountain tremble."
The
Hyaania, existing within the eye of that beast, which was hunted for
its sake, being placed under the tongue conferred the gift of prophecy
; and lastly, the Saurites was to be procured out of the belly of a
lizard cut open with a knife made of a sharp reed.
Pliny concludes his alphabetical list with this not un-
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