204 THE CURIOUS LORE OF PRECIOUS STONES
only
became habitual at a later time, and he finds a proof of this theory in
the fact that unengraved Babylonian cylinders and Mycenean gems have
been discovered. This is, of course, perfectly true, but does not in
the least prove that such ornaments may not have be'en originally worn
simply for purposes of adornment; unquestionably, the custom of
engraving them so as to render them signets must have arisen at a much
later date.
Flacourt
stated that the natives of Madagascar used crystals to aid them in
divining. These stones, which were said to have fallen from heaven,
were attached to the corners of the boards whereon the sorcerers
produced their gRomantic figures.39 Here, however, the
crystals were not directly used, but were only supposed to attract
influences propitious to the diviner's efforts.
In
the notes to the 1888 edition of the Chinese criminal code, some
curious details are given of a practice called Yuan-kuang-fuchou (the
magic of the round glittering). While this designation certainly seems
to indicate the use of a polished sphere of some description, the
details given refer to a different practice. We are told that when
anything was stolen appeal was sometimes made to a certain Sun-Yuan
iSheng, who would then hang up a piece of white paper and utter a
spell, while a boy gazed upon the paper until he saw the figure of the
thief. This magician was punished for carrying on an unlawful practice.40
The
Mexicans made images of their god Tezcatlipoca of obsidian, and the
name of this divinity is interpreted as signifying "shining mirror."
This is supposed to refer to, or to have been expressed by, the
brilliant effect
38Lang, "The Making of Religion," London, 1S98, pp. 91-92. 40 Thomas, " Crystal Gazing," London, 1905, p. 48.
