Quantcast
  We apologize for any slow response. This will be fixed before October 31st Portal logo
Login/Register
Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
/gemstones/king-gems-decorative-stones/page_074 - 2
 

Callais, Turquois

Callais, Turquois Page of 384 Callais, Turquois Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
CALLAIS AND CALLAINA.
65
Mexican remains confirm Garcilasso de la Vega's statement that the country possessed the Turquois as well as the Emerald and the Pearl, and show that its mines must still exist in some undiscovered locality of the ancient Aztec empire. It does not, however, appear that the Spaniards ever came to the knowledge of them ; otherwise the high, value of the gem in the age of the Conquest would have rendered them as much an object for exploration as those of the Emerald itself.
Few gems were invested with more wonderful proper­ties than the Turquois by the credulity' of mediaeval naturalists. A long list of them is given by De Boot, who vouches for some of the strangest upon his own experience. For example, besides strengthening the eyes and cheering the soul of the wearer, it took upon itself the consequences of any fall that might happen to him, by cracking itself, saving him the fracture of a bone. It grew pale as its owner sickened, lost its colour entirely on his death, but recovered its full beauty if placed again on the finger of a new and healthy proprietor. Suspended from the thumb by a thread and over a drinking-glass, it told the hour by the exact number of strokes against the sides : " a thing which, if not occasioned by the pulsation in the holder's hand, is unquestionably due to the Devil," remarks the puzzled old physician.* But let him speak for himself; nothing can be more characteristic of his age :—" The Tur­quois is believed to strengthen the sight and spirits of the wearer, but its chief commendation is its protective influ­ence against falls, which, as everybody is assured, it takes
Callais, Turquois Page of 384 Callais, Turquois
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page