304 THE MAGIC OF JEWELS AND CHARMS
idol consists of magnificent diamonds, rubies, emeralds and indranila or
Indian sapphires. Pearl, turquoise and coral necklaces are twined
around the figure's neck and crossed over its breast; on its head rests
a golden coronet with a setting of turquoises, and rising from the rim
of this coronet are five upright leaves within each of which is a small
golden image of the Buddha ; from one of these hangs as a pendant a
remarkably fine, large and flawless piece of turquoise, measuring six
inches in length and four inches in width. All these splendors lavished
upon the image of the great apostle of the simple life show but a poor
comprehension of the deep meanings and tendencies of his early career.
Treating of the religious associations of turquoise among the Tibetans, Dr. Berthold Lauf er writes :3T
Turquoises,
usually in connection with gold, belong to the most ancient
propitiatory offerings to the gods and demons; in the enumeration, gold
always precedes turquois as the more valuable gift. They also figure
among the presents bestowed on saints and Lamas by kings and wealthy
laymen. The thrones on which kings and Lamas take their place are
usually described as adorned with gold and turquoises, and they wear
cloaks ornamented with these stones. It may be inferred from
traditions and epic stories that in ancient times arrowheads were made
not only of common flint, but also occasionally of turquois to which a
high value was attached. A powerful saint, by touching the bow and
arrow of a blacksmith, transforms the bow into gold, and the arrowhead
into turquois.
In the native languages of Mexico and Central America the name chalchihuitl most
frequently designates Jadeite, but it appears sometimes to have been
applied to other stones of a green or greenish-blue color, such as the
so-called amazon-stone from the region of the Amazon Kiver, and even
occasionally to the turquoise. Thus the talismanic value of the
chalchihuitl seems to have depended rather upon its hue
**
Berthold Laufer, " Notes on Turquois in the East," Field Museum of
Natural History, Anthropological Series, vol. xiii, No. 1, Chicago,
July, 1913, p. 11.
