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MAGIC STONES AND ELECTRIC GEMS 27
Diamonds."
In marked contrast with the large examples we have noted, many crystals
of quartz are so small that 200,000 would have an aggregate weight of
but one ounce and yet many are perfect crystals and doubly terminated.
The
presence of white quartz pebbles in some graves of the Indian
Moundbuilders, appears to be indicated to a satisfactory extent in the
case of certain specimens from the Etowah Mound in Georgia; these
pebbles, which form part of the Steiner collections in the United
States National Museum, were not, however, worked or polished in any
way, nor are there any traces of use for ornament or decoration. On the
other hand, white quartz pebbles from the Pueblo region of the
Southwest offer undeniable signs of having been long used and are of
frequent occurrence ; some of these have been found in graves. In
connection with the probable reasons determining their presence the
designations "fire stones " or ' ' charms ' ' have been given them ;
some specimens of this worked quartz had evidently been worn as
pendants, while others had probably been regarded as fetishes.45
It
is most interesting to note that the superstitious use of these objects
in burials was so widespread as to prove that it must have been due to
some inherent property or properties in white. stones, and especially
in pebbles of white quartz, which appealed very strongly to the mind of
primitive man. That, as has been noted above, the conception of purity
should be associated with whiteness, in its contrast to any obscure
color, is natural enough, and rests upon the association of spotless
cleanliness with moral purity, and very probably the sparkles of light
emitted by a bright piece of quartz, normally or on percussion, brought
this material into some connection with the worship of fire, or of
fire-gods.
*
From letter of Mr. Neil M. Judd, Assistant in Archasology in the United
States National Museum, communicated by Dr. W. H. Holmes, Head Curator
of the Department of Anthropology in that institution.
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