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368 THE MAGIC OF JEWELS AND CHARMS
hand"
or into some other of the diverse forms to which a certain symbolic
significance has been given. One amulet of rock-crystal is reported,
which may have been taken from some old reliquary; this was used
against the Evil Eye. Amber also, in its way as generally popular as
coral, is freely used in Spain by the makers of amulets; being
generally given the form of beads. The wearing of these is regarded as
very effective in the case of teething children. For some reason or
other, a preference is given to facetted beads, in spite of the risk that the sharp edges may irritate the sensitive and delicate skin of an infant.36
Some
of the * ' fig-hand ' ' amulets made and sold in Madrid are of jet, the
peculiar hand form being in many cases so highly conventionalized as to
be barely indicated. These are believed to be efficacious not only
against the Evil Eye, as the other amulets of this form, but also for
the preservation of the hair. When worn for this purpose the women of
Madrid are said to carry them upon any part of the person, but those
of Toledo place them in the hair itself, so that the desired effect may
be more immediate.87
In
southern Russia amulets enjoy high power both among Jews and
Christians. Especially are they valued for the protection of children
and for the cure of their diseases. An imitation wolf's-tooth, made of
bone, set in a ring, is one of these amulets; however, while such
imitation teeth are used, the natural teeth are greatly preferred. As
an amulet against the Evil Eye the wing-bones of a cock will be used.
This malign influence is held in such awe by the common people that
they do not even dare to use the word "evil" of it and call it "the good eye." Carnelian beads purporting
"W. L. Hildburgh, "Notes on Spanish Amulets," Folk Lore, voL xvii, 1906, pp. 454-472. See Plate VIII, flg. 29, opp. p. 462.
" W. L. Hildburgh, " Further Notes on Spanish Amulets," in Folk Lore, vol. xxiv, No. 1, p. 66, March 31,1913; one of those amulets is shown in Plate I, fig. 4, p. 64.
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